Need some ideas for Veganuary?

Dec 31, 2020 | 3 comments

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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

Broccoli Pesto & Pasta – 28p a serving

Carrot & Sultana Loaf

Carrot & Sultana Loaf

Cinnamon Toast For Breakfast

Cinnamon Toast for breakfast, 4p a slice

Granola

Granola, 8p a serving, 14p including the milk

use a non-dairy milk

Raisin Pancakes

Raisin Pancakes

Gorgeous Granola Breakfast Bars

Gorgeous Granola Breakfast Bars. Super simple to make

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!

Overnight Oats – squillions of ideas

Or baked oats – ALSO lots of ideas

Baked Oats

using nut milks, soya milk or fruit juice

Jammy Oat Bars

Jammy Flapjack. This vegan oat bar can be savoury too

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

Couscous Snacky Lunchbox Bites


A Trio of Vegetable Hummus

A Trio of Vegetable Hummus

Another Trio of Vegetable Hummus

Another Trio of Vegetable Hummus – Beetroot, Parsnip and Swede

 Lentil Pate

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.

Tomato & Chive Soda Bread

Red Pepper and Onion Loaf

Red Pepper & 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

Carrot Hummus, creamy with tahini

change the honey to another sweetener

Hummus & Grated Carrot Sandwich

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

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

Things You May Never Need To Buy Again – 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

Tomato & Almond Patè


 

Dinners

Red Pepper and Walnut Tart with Winter Coleslaw

Red Pepper & Walnut Tart with Winter Coleslaw


Vegetable Fritters

Great hot and crispy for dinner, or at room temperature for a packed lunch.

Vegetable Fritters

 


Green Pea Hummus Lasagna

swap the butter to vegan spread and the milk to a plant milk

 

Green Pea Hummus Lasagna


Mushroom Ragu Lasagna

my absolute favourite! Sub vegan plant milk, I would simply leave out the cheddar

Mushroom Ragu Lasagna


An Autumn Panzanella

An Autumn Panzanella


Celery, Swede & Chickpea Bake

A Vegan Vegetable Bake – Celery, Swede & Chickpea


Cabbage, Sultana and Nut Pasta Bake

Omit the cheese

Cabbage, sultana and nut pasta bake


Lentil Ragu with Spaghetti

Lentil ragu with spaghetti


Avocado, Tomato & Orange Salad

Avocado, Tomato & Orange Salad, 62p


Chickpea Crumble

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

A gorgeous Chickpea, Mango and 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

A delicious Sag Aloo that really hits the spot.


Chow Mein

Chow mein – just like the takeaway?


Beetroot Burgers

Beetroot burgers, 41p

Beetroot Burgers, omit the egg


Raw Chickpea Carrot Falafel

Raw chickpea carrot falafel, 15p. Delicious, with sweet variations too


Pea Crumb Fritters

A kitchen experiment, Pea-Crumb Fritters, 6p

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

Fiery Potatoes, spicy and delicious


Stuffed Potato Cakes

Stuffed potato cakes

Stuffed potato cakes, the perfect example of ordinary vegetables made into something interesting

Bean & Quinoa, Lemon & Herb Salad

Bean and Quinoa, Lemon and Herb Salad


Onion Bhajis

Onion Bhajis


Bean Burgers

Bean Burgers


Hazelnut Butter Vegetable Bake

Hazelnut Butter Vegetable Bake – GF, DF & Vegan


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

Gajar Matar. Everyday vegetables wearing a sari


Sweet Bean Curry

Something I’ve been making for decades – Sweet Bean Curry


Vegetable & Hummus Pie

Vegetable and hummus pie


Pasta Sauce

Things You May Never Need To Buy Again – Pasta Sauce


Gnocchi Made With Dried Mash

Gnocchi made with dried mash! Served with tomato sauce


Green Thai Curry

Green Thai Kidney Bean Curry, 59p


Vegetable Casserole & Dumplings

Vegetable Casserole & Dumplings


Toasted Nan & Dahl

Toasted Nan & Dahl, 38p a portion


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

Sweetcorn fritters, wedges & peas


Pea Fritters

Meal plan 10 – Pea fritters and chips, vegan


Panzanella

Panzanella with lovely sun ripened tomatoes.


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

Spicy Cabbage, Lentils & Nan


Punjabi Cabbage

Punjabi Cabbage

Spinach Dumplings with Spicy Tomato Sauce

Spinach Dumplings with Spicy Tomato Sauce


Oaty Fritters

Meal plan 8 – Oaty fritters, veg, chilli & yogort

use vegan yogurt


Butter Bean & Vegetable Curry

Butter Bean and Vegetable Curry


Tomato Dhal

Simple Vegan Red Lentil Tomato Dahl


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

Spinach & Coconut Dahl


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

Chole Masala & Nan


Peanut Butter Noodles

Peanut Butter Noodles. Add chicken or fish, or keep it vegan


Peperonata

Aldi bargains (1) Peperonata, 53p


Courgette Pasta

Courgette Pasta


A Valentines Menu

Valentines Day vegetarian menu

Tapas – Patatas Bravas, Spinach Dumplings in Tomato Sauce, Lemony Butter Beans with a touch of Honey.


Lentil & Nut Loaf

Lentil nut loaf vegan, versatile & rather delicious

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

Kounoupidi tiganitó or Greek Fried Cauliflower


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

Jacket Potato Fillings


Falafel with Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

Falafel & 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

OMG! These are AMAZING! Gingery soy sharp apples


Onions in Sweet & Sour Sauce

Cipolline in Agrodolce (Onions in Sweet and Sour Sauce)


Roasted Spiralised Veg

I’ve found a new favourite thing!


BBQ Sauce

BBQ Sauce, it’s vegan too

Red Onion Chutney Marmalade

Using a plant based spread in place of the butter

Lesley’s Red Onion Chutney Marmalade

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

Old fashioned self saucing chocolate pudding. Quick and easy, no complicated method, and a mere 20p a serving

Because we all like a cheeky pudding now and again


Mulled Wine Crumble

A brisk Sunday walk and a mulled wine apple crumble

Got any mulled wine leftover? Try Mulled Wine Apple Crumble


Homemade Nutella

Healthier Nutella Alternative

Home made Nutella is divine, much healthier than shop bought, without any palm oil, and can be made vegan


Tomato Scones

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

Anzac Biscuits


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

Quick Banana Bread


Chocolate Muffins

Chocolate Muffins. Quick, easy, great for packups and very cheap


Chocolate Scones

Chocolate Scones


A sugar free way to get a chocolate fix

Sugar Free Chocolate, Cranberry and Walnut Tea Bread


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

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Thrifty Lesley

    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?

  2. Rob

    Hi, links don’t appear to be working

  3. Jaimie

    That granola recipe sounds delicious, and it’s so cheap to make! Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing!

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