Are you doing Veganuary, or maybe you’d like some ideas for vegan meals on a budget
Or perhaps you are a new vegan and haven’t really got to grips with what it means yet, many people are turning to plant based eating, not just for veganuary. Do you need or want some ideas of what to eat? I did this post a couple of years ago, and have updated it with new recipes posted since then. This isn’t a veganuary meal plan, but an accumulation of ideas to create your own. In fact, it’s turning into ideas for vegan meals on a budget!
Trawling through the Thrifty Lesley archives, where I knew there were loads of ideas that just happened to be vegan, I extracted some in the hopes that you might like them, or maybe give you inspiration.
Table of Contents
What is the difference between vegan, plant-based and vegetarian diets.
A vegetarian diet excludes all flesh, so no meat, fish or fowl.
A vegetarian vs plant based diet or a vegan vs plant based diet – a plant based diet is mainly fruit, vegetables, grains etc, but will also include things like milk, cheese, eggs and dairy, plus small amounts of meat and fish. A vegetarian will eat milk, eggs, dairy and honey, whereas a vegan will not
Breakfasts
Vegan Bean & Spicy Katjan Sauce Sandwich Paste
Vegan bean and spicy katjan sauce sandwich paste, 12p a sandwich, LOADS of variations
Bean and Spicy Katjan Sauce Sandwich Paste on 2 x toast, or use in a sandwich for lunch. Or use the drained baked beans and flavour them with many other things eg brinjal pickle, any pesto that is vegan, horseradish, miso paste, jaggery and dates. See the post for more ideas.
Can 1 Sausage Make 2 Sandwiches?
Can 1 sausage can make 2 sandwiches? Plus a sublime fruit and nut case paste
A Sublime Fruit & Nut Case Paste
Can 1 sausage can make 2 sandwiches? Plus a sublime fruit and nut case paste
Breakfast Bhaji’s
Breakfast Bhajis 31p, abortive plans and huge panes of glass
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Carrot & Sultana Loaf
Cinnamon Toast For Breakfast
Granola
use a non-dairy milk
Raisin Pancakes
Gorgeous Granola Breakfast Bars
I love these! Substitute a vegan spread for the butter
Apple Curd
Apple Curd – a huge jar for 85p, and that’s if you have to buy the apples!
replace the butter with coconut spread or other vegan spread
Overnight Oats – LOTS of ideas!
Or baked oats – ALSO lots of ideas
using nut milks, soya milk or fruit juice
Jammy Oat Bars
a good grab it and go breakfast. Any jam can be used in the middle, or value marmalade or lemon curd. Or a paste made from dried fruit or dates.
More Ideas on the Recipes Tab
many other ideas on the Recipes tab under Breakfasts are also vegan
Lunches
Couscous Snacky Lunchtime Bites
A Trio of Vegetable Hummus
Another Trio of Vegetable Hummus
Another Trio of Vegetable Hummus – Beetroot, Parsnip and Swede
Lentil Pate
Soups
Most of the soups on the Recipes tab are vegan.
Tomato & Chive Soda Bread to go with your soup
A chunk of this Tomato and Chive Soda Bread would be lovely with a warming bowl of soup.
Red Pepper and Onion Loaf
Butternut Squash, Ginger & Coconut Soup
Butternut Squash, Ginger & Coconut Soup – GF, NF, DF & Vegan
Roasted Vegetable Soup with a Scone & Roasted Onion Topping
Roasted vegetable soup, with a scone and roasted onion topping, 32p
Carrot Hummus, Creamy with Tahini
change the honey to another sweetener
Hummus & Grated Carrot Sandwich
this was one of the favourite lunches of my girls
Individual Lunchtime Pies
Individual lunchtime pies, a bargainous 20p each. Won’t get these in Greggs 🙂
Rocket, Watercress, Basil & Sunflower Seed Pesto
Rocket, watercress, basil and sunflower seed pesto. Nut and gluten free
use a vegan cheese instead of Parmesan
Home Made Bread Rolls with Added Stuffing Mix
some Stuffing Rolls would go very well with a lovely, warming bowl of soup
Home Made Hummus
A hummus can be made very cheaply using drained basics baked beans and flavoured with a great many things, giving loads of options for sandwiches, toasty lunches or breakfasts, or with veggie dippers
Tomato & Almond Pate
Dinners
Red Pepper and Walnut Tart with Winter Coleslaw
Vegetable Fritters
Great hot and crispy for dinner, or at room temperature for a packed lunch.
Green Pea Hummus Lasagna
swap the butter to vegan spread and the milk to a plant milk
Mushroom Ragu Lasagna
my absolute favourite! Sub vegan plant milk, I would simply leave out the cheddar
An Autumn Panzanella
Celery, Swede & Chickpea Bake
Cabbage, Sultana and Nut Pasta Bake
Omit the cheese
Lentil Ragu with Spaghetti
Avocado, Tomato & Orange Salad
Chickpea Crumble
Vegetable Crumble
Vegetable Crumble. Root veg in a tomato sauce, topped with oats, cheese and salted peanuts
Omit the cheese in the topping
Walnut & Chestnut Crumble
Vegetarian Christmas Meal Plan – Vegan Walnut and Chestnut Crumble
Gorgeous Chickpea Mango & Coconut Curry
Green Lentil Cottage Pie
Green lentil cottage pie, 4 very generous portions, 56p each
Olive Drop Scones, Crispy Fried Onions and Carrot Ribbon Salad
Olive Drop Scones, Crispy Fried Onions & Carrot Ribbon Salad
Puchka Tart
Puchka tart. What’s that? Complete deliciousness on a plate, that’s what
Sag Aloo
Chow Mein
Beetroot Burgers
Beetroot Burgers, omit the egg
Raw Chickpea Carrot Falafel
Raw chickpea carrot falafel, 15p. Delicious, with sweet variations too
Pea Crumb Fritters
omit the egg. Very, very cheap!
Goan Curry
Goan Fish Curry, made with chicken, 56p. Plus the original fish recipe
Goan Curry, add a vegan protein
Fiery Potatoes
Stuffed Potato Cakes
Stuffed potato cakes, the perfect example of ordinary vegetables made into something interesting
Bean & Quinoa, Lemon & Herb Salad
Onion Bhajis
Bean Burgers
Hazelnut Butter Vegetable Bake
Barley Salad
Barley Salad, 59p. Versatile, delicious and very easy to make
Green Lentil, Mushroom, Raisin, Cucumber Salad, with a Brinjal Pickle Dressing
Green lentil, mushroom, raisin and cucumber salad, with a brinjal pickle and yoghurt dressing
Gajar Matar – Everyday Vegetables Wearing A Sari
Sweet Bean Curry
Vegetable & Hummus Pie
Pasta Sauce
Gnocchi Made With Dried Mash
Green Thai Curry
Vegetable Casserole & Dumplings
Toasted Nan & Dahl
Butter Bean, Pepper & Carrot Salad with a Lemon & Coconut Dressing
Butter bean, pepper and carrot salad, with a lemon juice and coconut dressing, 84p
Lentil Dumplings with Tomato Sauce
Lentil Dumplings, with Tomato Sauce, 20-30p a serving, + green vegetable
Sweetcorn Fritters
Pea Fritters
Panzanella
Roast Parsnip & Apple Salad with a Carrot, Peanut & Raisin Jacket Potato
Roast Parsnip & Apple Salad, with Carrot, Raisin & Peanut Salad and Jacket Potato, total of 54p each
Spicy Cabbage & Lentils
Punjabi Cabbage
Spinach Dumplings with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Oaty Fritters
use vegan yogurt
Butter Bean & Vegetable Curry
Tomato Dhal
Lemon Dhal
Lemon Dahl from 18p to 24p depending on if you use value or basmati rice
Coconut Dhal
Coconut Dahl, from 17p to 23p a portion depending on if you use value or basmati rice
Spinach & Coconut Dhal
Parsnip Dahl
Christmas Leftovers – part 3. Turkey Burgers; Cheesy Pasta; Parsnip Dahl; Parsnip soup
Dahl Sambar
Dahl Sambar 31p a portion, diet ideas, progress today & other kitchen happenings
Chole & Nan
Peanut Butter Noodles
Peanut Butter Noodles. Add chicken or fish, or keep it vegan
Peperonata
Courgette Pasta
A Valentines Menu
Tapas – Patatas Bravas, Spinach Dumplings in Tomato Sauce, Lemony Butter Beans with a touch of Honey.
Lentil & Nut Loaf
This is an absolute cracker. I’ve had it hot with hot veg or salad, cold in toast and in a sandwich. Very variable, change the veg to whatever you have.
Tomato Stewed Cauliflower
Kounoupithi Yiahni or Tomato Stewed Cauliflower. A traditional Greek food
Greek Fried Caulflower
Pancakes
Make pancakes with just water and they are vegan. I can’t tell the difference between these and those made with eggs and milk, although they do have to be eaten fresh, they go a bit flabby if left. This post has many vegan ideas to fill your pancakes
Pancakes, with lemon and sugar, the classic, and SUPER cheap!
Pancakes and 101 ways to fill them
Pancakes and not quite 101 ideas, sweet and savoury to fill them
Many of the ideas suggested for this jacket potato round up post are vegan
Jacket Potato Fillings
Falafel with Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
To liven up something plain, try
Something different to do as side dishes with everyday vegetables
using plant milk and spread
Amazing Gingery Soy Sharp Apples
Onions in Sweet & Sour Sauce
Roasted Spiralised Veg
BBQ Sauce
Red Onion Chutney Marmalade
Using a plant based spread in place of the butter
Magic Dough
You can make many bready things very cheaply using Magic dough – pizza dough, flatbreads and wraps, pittas
Lots of different things you can make, all using Magic Dough kept in the fridge
Two Ingredient Cake
How to make a cake with just 3 ingredients, or maybe even 2! For when the SHTF?
A good hollow leg filler
Honey Smoked Walnut Butter
Home made honey smoked walnut butter. Easy, cheap, versatile and super delicious
Nut butters can be made with any nuts or mixture of nuts you have available and can be flavoured with things like raisins or miso
Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding
Because we all like a cheeky pudding now and again
Mulled Wine Crumble
Got any mulled wine leftover? Try Mulled Wine Apple Crumble
Homemade Nutella
Home made Nutella is divine, much healthier than shop bought, without any palm oil, and can be made vegan
Tomato Scones
Tomato scones are a very popular recipe
Apple & Spice Muffins
Apple and Spice Muffins, using no egg and my apples, 4p each, 9p if you buy the apples
Muffins can be made vegan by simply leaving out the egg, using vegan spread or oil and using a vegan milk. No other adjustments are necessary
Anzac Biscuits
Use a vegan spread
Honey Smoked Walnut Butter
Use dark brown sugar in place of the honey
Home made honey smoked walnut butter. Easy, cheap, versatile and super delicious
Quick Banana Bread
Use a vegan spread and an egg substitute
Chocolate Muffins
Chocolate Muffins. Quick, easy, great for packups and very cheap
Chocolate Scones
A sugar free way to get a chocolate fix
The Recipes Tab
There are lots of other vegan ideas too on the Recipes tab. I’m not vegetarian or vegan, although my sister is, it’s just that meat, fish and dairy are the expensive ingredients quite often and when I twiddle a recipe, or find one that prices up, it often works out to be vegan.
So there’s a sample of delicious (I hope you think so too) food, that just happens to be vegan. If you aren’t normally vegan, it might be proving a bit difficult to do Veganuary and these recipes might just help you get through
Hi Rob – I have just tested several links and they all seemed alright. Can you tell me a link or two that didn’t work for you?
Hi, links don’t appear to be working
That granola recipe sounds delicious, and it’s so cheap to make! Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!