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Zucchini pesto pasta -

Zucchini noodles are super easy to make and soak up the flavors of anything you cook them in. Fry up your noodles with garlic and onion and throw in some pesto. It's an instant low-carb dinner that's full of flavor. If you don't have a spiralizer, a julienne peeler is a much more affordable option to make your noodles.

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Lentil coconut curry -

Curries are an ideal option for weeknight dinners. Dried lentils, coconut milk, and spices are all accessible long-lasting ingredients you can store in your pantry and throw together for a delicious meal within 30 minutes.

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Lentil Bolognese -

Lentils work surprisingly well as a substitute for ground beef in a Bolognese, and they're packed with protein. Once you've cooked your lentils in the tomato sauce, add some extra vegetable stock to the pan and cook your pasta in it so it absorbs all the flavors!

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Barley risotto -

Pearl barley is a wonderful grain that can reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It swells when cooked, and is a great alternative to rice. A barley risotto with pumpkin and mushrooms is hearty and delicious with white wine, garlic, and fresh herbs.

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Kimchi stew -

Kimchi stew is a spicy, flavorful dish made with a few simple ingredients from Asian supermarkets. If you can get your hands on some kimchi, gochujang (Korean red pepper paste), and doenjang (soybean paste), you're in business. These fermented ingredients are full of flavor and will last in your fridge for ages. They can be used to give a quick boost to all sorts of meals.

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Thai peanut ramen -

This simple but delicious dish requires coconut milk, peanut butter, and Thai curry paste. Add in the noodles of your choice (preferably buckwheat or a whole grain option) and tofu or vegetables.

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Homemade ramen -

Ramen is a super easy dish to make at home if you have a few of the basic ingredients. The broth can be made with vegetable stock, soy sauce, mirin, and garlic, and the noodles and toppings are up to you!

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Ratatouille -

Ratatouille is a classic French dish consisting of a variety of vegetables in a rich tomato sauce. For a simple tomato sauce, you can add tinned tomatoes and a dollop of basil pesto for flavor. It can also be bulked up by adding chickpeas and served over couscous or any kind of grain.

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Minestrone soup -

Minestrone is a tomato-based soup flavored with onion, garlic, and Italian herbs. You can add whatever Mediterranean vegetables you prefer and throw in some wholewheat pasta and white beans to make it even heartier.

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Butternut squash soup -

There's nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a cold night! Butternut squash is naturally creamy and delicious, but you can add some coconut milk to make it even better.

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Moroccan harira soup -

This meatless twist on a Moroccan classic is a heavily spiced tomato-based soup with chickpeas. You can swap chickpeas for lentils and add quinoa too! The unique spice blend includes cumin, cinnamon, smoked paprika, and nutmeg.

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Tortilla soup -

Chunky tinned tomatoes and vegetable broth are the base of this flavorful soup, but the spices are what make it. Chipotle peppers or smoked paprika will give it that rich flavor that is rare to find in a meatless dish. It works great with bell peppers, sweetcorn, and black beans. Top with toasted wholewheat tortilla strips for dipping.

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Sweet potato hash -

Sweet potato hash is a simple recipe that works for a cooked breakfast, or any other meal! Fry up small cubes of sweet potato with onions, garlic, and spices. To make it more interesting and nutritious, add in some black beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, and hot sauce.

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Vegetable moqueca -

Moqueca is a traditional Brazilian stew made with coconut milk. It usually contains fish, but the plant-based version is great too! The fresh, tropical flavor comes from garlic, fresh ginger, coriander, and chilis.

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Kitchari -

Kitchari is a delicious dish used in ayurvedic cooking. It's made to be very gentle on the digestive system and good for the gut! The two main ingredients are basmati rice and yellow lentils. They're cooked together in vegetable broth with a variety of detoxifying and anti-inflammatory spices. The flavors are amazing and you can add in your favorite vegetables to bulk it up.

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Pasta alla norma -

Pasta alla norma is a simple but tasty Italian dish that combines eggplant with a seasoned tomato sauce. Boil wholewheat pasta in the same pot before making your sauce to save on washing up!

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Vegetable paella -

Paella is the ultimate one-pot meal! All the ingredients are thrown into the pan bit by bit as it slowly simmers and grows in flavor. Garlic, smoked paprika, and lemon are the stars of this dish. The rice soaks up all of the flavors and the trick is not to stir, so you have a crunchy, caramelized base at the end.

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Shakshuka -

Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern dish that has become a staple at bougie brunch cafés. It's a great filling breakfast, but it works at any time of the day! The tomato sauce is flavored with garlic, chilli, paprika, and cumin. You can add vegetables like bell peppers and aubergine, and traditionally it's finished by dropping a few eggs into the sauce to cook. To keep it really plant-based you can substitute the eggs for silken tofu.

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Thai red curry -

Thai curry pastes are another great ingredient to have in your pantry for a quick, delicious meal. Add coconut milk to the paste and whatever vegetables you like. Pumpkin, snow peas, and bell peppers work great.

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Corn chowder - Chowders are usually made with milk or cream, but plant-based corn chowder is an easy switch. The soup is thickened with almond milk and potatoes, with a bit of nutritional yeast thrown in for extra flavor (it's the secret weapon in every vegan's cupboard).

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Dairy-free mac and cheese -

Mac and cheese might be the last thing that comes to mind when you think of a plant-based diet, but miracles can happen! Choose a wholewheat macaroni if possible and substitute the cheese sauce for a blend of sweet potato, plant milk, and nutritional yeast.

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Arroz rojo -

Arroz rojo is a simple Mexican side dish of rice that's cooked with garlic, onions, tomato paste, and vegetable stock. It can be spruced up into a nutritious meal by throwing in black beans, sweet corn, and coriander!

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Vegetable fried rice -

Fried rice is a great one-pot meal that uses up any vegetables you've got in the fridge. Oyster sauce is the best addition to give it a deep flavor, but you can also use soy sauce and garlic. Brown rice is a little crunchier than white rice, so it's a great alternative here.

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Mushroom stroganoff -

A plant-based mushroom stroganoff can be just as rich and delicious as the classic beef version. Standard button mushrooms are fine, but adding in a few dried porcini mushrooms will really deepen the flavor. The sauce uses plant milk, white whine, and cornstarch. The great flavors come from a mixture of garlic, smoked paprika, soy sauce, and fresh herbs.

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Lemon spinach spaghetti -

This quick recipe relies on the flavor of fresh lemon. Boil the spaghetti in a combination of coconut milk, vegetable broth, and lemon juice. Once it's mostly absorbed, throw in the spinach, season to taste, and it's done!

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African peanut stew -

This stew is a staple in many African countries. The basic ingredients are peanut butter, vegetable broth, and tomato paste. You can add garlic, ginger, and cumin, and throw in vegetables like sweet potato and collard greens.

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Bean chilli -

A chilli is so fast and easy to make, and a great source of plant-based protein. Throw in whatever beans you like and some butternut squash to make it extra hearty.

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Vegetable tagine -

A Moraccan tagine can easily be made plant-based. Replace any meat with chunks of aubergine, butternut squash, and zucchini. The vegetables absorb all of the rich flavors from the sauce.

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Chana masala -

Chana masala is a classic Indian dish based around chickpeas. For the best result, it's good to use fresh ingredients like garlic, ginger, coriander, and chilis. Grind them together with spices to get the flavor base for your sauce.

Sources: (BBC Good Food) (Minimalist Baker) (Harvard)

See also: Colorful and vibrant vegan cuisine

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