What is a plant-based diet?
A plant-based diet is built around foods derived from plants, including fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds, with few or no animal products.
What's the difference between a vegan and plant-based diet?
While these two dietary approaches are very similar, a plant-based lifestyle allows for the occasional consumption of animal products, should an individual choose to eat these. On the other hand, veganism avoids consuming all animal-based products and by-products.
Best plant-based recipes
Chickpea curry with spinach and potatoes
This easy curry serves four and makes for a wholesome midweek meal packed with chickpeas, spinach and fragrant spices.
More like this
Vegan jackfruit massaman curry
A tin of jackfruit (which you can pick up at almost any supermarket) is the magic ingredient in this vegan massaman curry served with salted peanuts.
Slow-cooker cashew and potato curry
A creamy, aromatic Sri Lankan curry, made simply in a slow cooker. This recipe doesn't require any fancy ingredients and offers a great plant-based dish the whole family will love.
Vegan Thai green tofu curry
We've swapped chicken for smoked tofu and crunchy veg to transform this Thai green curry into a vegan option. It can be made in just 25 minutes and it's low in calories, too.
Aubergine dhansak
Cook aubergine pieces with fragrant spices and red lentils for a healthy midweek meal. Serve with naans for a hearty dinner.
Chickpea chana masala
Make chickpeas the star of the show with this vegan curry that can feed a hungry crowd. Scoop up with roti for a filling dinner.
Creamy vegan aubergine curry with peanut butter
This creamy coconut and peanut aubergine curry is a comforting dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes. It serves four, but any leftovers can be enjoyed for lunch the next day.
Hummus, kale and coriander noodles
Check out this easy vegan salad recipe with crunchy kale and fiery ginger, topped with a creamy hummus and peanut butter dressing – an easy midweek meal for two.
Whole roast cauliflower with warm harissa hummus
Make cauliflower the star of your Sunday roast with our vegan recipe. Served on a bed of warm harissa hummus, the gentle spices give this dish a fragrant flavour.
Vegan chilli non carne
A sweet 'n' smoky chilli non-carne recipe (see what we did there?) made with vegan mince, two types of beans and plenty of spices for added kick. For a truly vegan chilli, look for vegan mince here or use Quorn for a veggie chilli (Quorn mince contains egg white).
Vegan quinoa chilli with black beans
This quinoa and black bean chilli recipe is high in protein and happens to be vegan, but still tastes impossibly creamy.
Sweet potato chilli con carne
Our low-calorie veggie chilli contains under 500 calories and is packed with flavour from the sweet potato and quinoa – a perfect warming midweek meal. Try more easy vegan dinner recipes.
Vegan black bean chilli
Check out our easy slow-cooker chilli with fiery chipotle. This is a hearty take on the classic chilli con carne that the whole family will love. To make it vegan, serve without the soured cream addition.
Vegan coronation tofu salad
We’ve swapped chicken for tofu to give coronation salad a vegan twist. It’s easy to make and low in calories, too.
Gochujang roast sweet potato salad with mixed grains
Pack plenty of texture into this low-calorie salad with roast sweet potatoes, mixed grains, radishes and cucumber, and lift with a punchy Korean dressing.
Vegan Thai noodle salad with herbs and watermelon
Ready in 20 minutes, this vibrant vegan salad is packed with juicy watermelon and crunchy peanuts for a fresh dinner for two.
Roasted courgette, chickpea and lemon salad
Ready in just 20 minutes, this vegan salad makes an ideal side dish, packed with chickpeas, baby courgettes and punchy rose harissa.
Crunchy veg and smoked tofu salad with sesame dressing
Crunchy veg and smoked tofu add great textures to this vegan salad, with a nutty sesame dressing bringing the whole dish together.
Buddha bowl salad
This vibrant vegan bowl is easy to make – just throw grains and veg together, then drizzle with a spicy tahini dressing for a punchy kick.
Tray-roast squash, sweet potato and grain salad
Get ahead with your weekly meal prep by roasting a batch of squash for this grain salad. It’s easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes.
Wholewheat spaghetti with long-stemmed broccoli, chilli and lemon
This vegan recipe for wholewheat spaghetti with long-stemmed broccoli, chilli and lemon is quick and easy to make. Plus, it's pasta for under 500 calories – yes, please!
Tomato, lemongrass and rice soup
Use up tinned chopped tomatoes and infuse with punchy spices to create this nutritious vegan soup.
Tofu fried rice
Check out our vegan fried rice with smoked tofu. Make this quick and easy recipe for a low-calorie midweek meal for two.
Jackfruit tacos
Smoked paprika jackfruit tacos, served with homemade tomato salsa and plenty of chilli sauce. The perfect party food for your vegan friends!
Sweet potato linguine with vegan puy lentil ragu
Sweet potato linguine is more robust than courgetti, so can withstand a bit more cooking. Served with a warming vegan bolognese-style ragu, this gluten-free, low-calorie main is perfect for dinner.
Vegan moussaka bowls
Check out this easy alternative to oven-baked moussaka. Ready in just 15 minutes, these vegan moussaka bowls contain the flavours and textures of a slow-cooked dish without the wait.
Vegan tempeh and pineapple kebabs
Chunks of tempeh are marinated in soy, rice wine, garlic and Chinese five-spice before joining juicy pineapple on skewers and hitting the grill in this easy vegan BBQ recipe.
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Tracey Raye is the health editor for olive and BBC Good Food. Tracey, MSc, is a registered nutritionist, holding a master’s degree in Personalised Nutrition. She is passionate about harnessing the power of all things health and well-being – in a way that enhances, rather than limits our lives. She covers our nourishing recipes and collections, oversees our health strategy and stays adrift of the latest health and lifestyle trends in order to bring you the tools and inspiration you need to find what health means for you.
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What is a plant-based diet?
A plant-based diet is centered around foods derived from plants, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. It emphasizes the consumption of these plant-based foods while minimizing or excluding animal products. A plant-based diet can be beneficial for health, as it is typically high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and low in saturated fats and cholesterol.
Difference between a vegan and plant-based diet
While a vegan diet and a plant-based diet share similarities, there are some differences between the two. A plant-based diet allows for occasional consumption of animal products if an individual chooses to eat them. On the other hand, veganism is a lifestyle that avoids consuming all animal-based products and by-products. Vegans not only exclude meat, poultry, and seafood from their diet but also avoid dairy, eggs, honey, and other animal-derived ingredients in their food and other products.
Plant-based recipes
The article mentions several plant-based recipes that are both delicious and nutritious. Here are some examples:
- Chickpea curry with spinach and potatoes: This easy curry is packed with chickpeas, spinach, and fragrant spices, making it a wholesome midweek meal.
- Vegan jackfruit massaman curry: This vegan curry uses jackfruit as the main ingredient and is served with salted peanuts.
- Slow-cooker cashew and potato curry: A creamy and aromatic Sri Lankan curry made in a slow cooker, requiring simple ingredients.
- Vegan Thai green tofu curry: This vegan option of Thai green curry replaces chicken with smoked tofu and crunchy vegetables, and can be prepared in just 25 minutes.
- Aubergine dhansak: Cooked aubergine pieces with fragrant spices and red lentils for a healthy midweek meal, served with naans.
These are just a few examples of the plant-based recipes mentioned in the article. Plant-based diets offer a wide variety of delicious and nutritious meal options.
Please let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!
