With the goal to inspire some plant-based creativity in the kitchen – and show you just how easy it is to be meat and dairy free, we’re sharing five easy vegan recipes to help anyone trying Veganuary.

1. Vegan Superfood Salad

One of the best things about a plant-based diet is that it is such a healthy option. And to all those under the assumption that vegans don’t get enough protein, think again. This superfood salad is packed full of protein, as well as additional essential nutrients such as Vitamins, iron and antioxidants.

INGREDIENTS

• Mixed leaves
• Rocket leaves
• Kale
• 1 large cucumber sliced
• Roasted red, yellow and orange peppers
• 1 large red onion (thinly diced)
• 1 handful of fresh parsley
• Cooked chickpeas
• 1 can of edamame beans
• Cooked mixed red and white quinoa
• Cooked black rice
• Handful of Primes Food dried cranberries
• Handful of Primes Food pumpkin seeds
• One lemon and olive oil for the dressing

METHOD

Cook the rice, quinoa and chickpeas. Meanwhile, prepare the fresh ingredients, then mix everything together is a bowl and dress. Eat immediately while all the ingredients are still fresh.

2. Black Bean Chilli

This hearty plant-based chilli is a deliciously comforting meal for the whole family. As warming as it is filling, this vegan chilli is packed with flavour. Moreover, it is also particularly healthy, with black beans bursting with nutritional benefits. Make a big batch and freeze some for easy meals on those evenings you don’t want to cook.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 jar of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• Handful of fresh spinach (chopped finely)
• 1 large red pepper (diced)
• Handful of fresh mushrooms (diced)
• 1 jar or sweetcorn
• Fresh coriander
• 1 large onion (chopped finely)
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp Cottage Delight Flaming Naga Chilli Sauce
• Cooked black beans
• Cooked brown rice

METHOD

First cook the brown rice. While the rice is cooking, fry the onion, mushrooms and peppers on a low heat for 10 minutes, before adding the cumin, oregano and cinnamon. Next, stir in the chilli sauce, chopped tomatoes and maple syrup and stir. Add the black beans into the mixture, then let simmer for another 10 minutes. Finally stir in the spinach until wilted and serve up with brown rice and fresh coriander as a garnish.

3. Pumpkin Mac & Cheese with Breaded Crab Cakes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pack of Fusilli or Penne pasta
• 1 onion (finely diced)
• 2 boxes Good Catch® Plant-Based Breaded Crab Cakes
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1½ cups pumpkin puréed
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1⁄3 cup nutritional yeast
• 1⁄4 cup plant-based parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1⁄4 tsp Epic Spice BBQ rub
• 1 tbsp smoked Cyprus salt
• 1 tbsp unrefined coconut oil
• 1 tbsp rice flour
• Fresh parsley for garnish

METHOD

First cook the pasta, then drain and set aside. Next fry the frozen crab cakes in a large pan over medium heat until lightly crispy. Now make the sauce by blending the pumpkin purée together with the coconut milk, all the spices, the flour and the coconut oil. Return the cooked pasta to the pot and add the sauce. Mix together over a low heat, then season to taste. Serve with the Good Catch vegan crab cakes and garnish with parsley.

4. Greek Vegetable and Butter Bean Stew

This dish is a delicious one-pot meal that the whole family will love. It is easy to make and uses loads of fresh vegetables, making it a great healthy dinner that is perfect for a cold winter night.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 red onion
• 10 baby potatoes
• 1 aubergine
• 1 courgette
• 1 sweet red pepper
• 1 stick of celery
• 10 mushrooms
• A handful of green beans
• A handful of black and green olives
• A handful of spinach
• 1 jar of plum tomatoes
• 1 large cup of vegetable stock
• 1 tbsp of tomato puree
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• Black pepper
• Sea salt
• Mixed Italian herbs
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 lemon (juiced)
• 1 garlic clove

METHOD

Firstly, chops and fry the onion in a large pot on a medium heat. Next, add the diced potato and pour in a small amount of water. Steam for around 10 minutes or until the potatoes have softened, then add the rest of the chopped vegetables. Stir in all the spices, then add the jar of chopped tomatoes and vegetable stock. Bring to the boil and let simmer for 20 minutes. Finally, add the spinach until wilted and serve with fresh crusty bread.

5. Beyond Meat Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese

Even the most ardent meat lovers in your life will be converted by this mouth-watering dish. In fact, with the Beyond Meat, this spaghetti Bolognese tastes so meaty that you might even be tricked into believing its real meat. In fact, it is made using pea protein, and is gluten and soy-free. When you add all the fresh vegetables, you’ve got a healthy meal, that is completely plant-based and delicious.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 red onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 red peppers
• 2 carrots grated
• 10 mushrooms
• 1 jar of plum tomatoes
• 1 pack of Beyond Meat burgers ground into mince
• 1 tbsp of tomato puree
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• olive oil
• 1 pack of spaghetti pasta

METHOD

First fry the onion and garlic in a large pan on a medium heat for about 10 minutes until soft. Next add in the chopped mushroom, grated carrot and diced red peppers. Mix in the herbs and spices before crumbling the Beyond Meat burgers into the pot and stirring all together. Now, stir in the tomato puree, then add the jar of plum tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and maple syrup, mix well and let simmer for 40 minutes. While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta. When ready, add as much Bolognese to the pasta as you like and serve hot.

For more easy, healthy and delicious Veganuary dishes check out the official Veganuary website. And here at Prinos Farm&Deli, we make an effort to try and stock a wide range of vegan options. And we’d love to hear your feedback. So, if there’s any plant-based foods you’d like to see in our stores, please let us know and we’ll see what we can do!