34 Plant-Based Dinners We Can't Get Enough Of
Photo, Erik Putz.
Plant-based protein has a huge emphasis in the revamped Canada food guide. So, if you're trying to focus on more dishes featuring plant-based proteins, and how to incorporate them into your cooking at home, here's a roster of recipes that are not only healthy, but also eye-catching, mouth-wateringly delicious flavour bombs. (Because eating healthily should never be boring.)
Neapolitan Lentil Pasta (Pasta e Lenticchie)
Lentils come together with arugula and pasta to make a filling one-dish meal. Get our Neapolitan Lentil Pasta (Pasta e Lenticchie) recipe.
Vegan Juicy Lucy Burger
A plant-based take on the classic spin on a cheeseburger, with gooey, melty (plant-based) cheese *inside* the burger patty, instead of on top. Get our Vegan Juicy Lucy Burger recipe.
Roasted Chickpea Salad
Full of flavour and easy to make, this is a salad you'll want over and over. Get our Roasted Chickpea Salad recipe.
Vegan “Scallop” And Navy Bean Cassoulet
Mushrooms stand in for scallops in this hearty and delicious dish, which feature lots of beans for added protein. Get our Vegan “Scallop” And Navy Bean Cassoulet recipe.
Cold spicy peanut noodles with cold tofu
Noodles and cubes of crispy smoked tofu are tossed in a spicy peanut sauce in this delightful plant-based noodle bowl. Get our cold spicy peanut noodles with cold tofu recipe.
Sheet pan aloo gobi and chickpeas with coconut raita
This plant-based Indian-inspired sheet pan dinner requires both minimal prep and clean up. Get our sheet pan aloo gobi recipe.
Roasted mushroom tacos
Roasted oyster mushrooms make an ideal substitution for meat in this plant-based taco recipe. Serve them with our homemade cashew crema. Get our roasted mushroom tacos recipe.
Hearty vegan minestrone
Packed with delicious vegetables and pasta, this plant-based hearty soup is sure to fill you up. Get our hearty vegan minestrone recipe.
Vegan veggie quiche
Quiche gets a plant-based makeover with a coconut oil-based pastry and chickpea flour "egg" filling. Get our vegetable and chickpea quiche recipe.
Chickpea omelette omurice
We turned omurice–a traditional Japanese omelet and rice dish–into a vegan version by turning an easy chickpea flour pancake into the omelet wrap. Get our chickpea omelette omarice recipe.
Vegan vegetable kebabs
We used ground flax meal to make a creamy lemon-garlic dressing for these plant-based vegetable kebabs and quinoa. Get our recipe for vegetable kebabs with lemon-garlic sauce.
Tofu “chicken” nuggets with maple bbq sauce
These plant-based nuggets are made with smoked tofu and pasta. Serve them with our homemade maple bbq sauce, just like your favourite fast food joint. Get our vegan "chicken" nuggets recipe.
Vegan mushroom bolognese
Red kidney beans are the protein of choice in this hearty pasta dish packed with flavour. Get our vegan mushrom bolognese recipe.
Mixed veggie pakora
These savoury Indian fritters are delicious dunked in tamarind chutney and served with hot chai. Find chickpea flour in the natural-foods section of most grocery stores or in Indian grocers (or, if you have a high-powered blender, you can make your own from dry chickpeas!). Get this pakora recipe.
Crispy tofu stir fry with peanut sauce
Stir fry recipes, like this one, are a weeknight saviour. Fast, saucy and delicious, all you need are some vegetables, a basic sauce and a protein of your choice. Serve over rice or noodles. Get our crispy tofu stir fry with peanut sauce recipe.
Tofu kedgeree recipe
Smoked tofu shines as the plant-based protein in this curry dish that comes together in just 30 minutes. Get our tofu kedegeree recipe.
Spicy crispy tofu noodle bowl
Gochujang—a traditional Korean condiment—adds a spicy twist to this soba noodle dish topped with crispy tofu and edamame (both sources of protein). Get our crispy tofu noodle bowl recipe.
Sheet pan tofu with sesame and roasted vegetables
Dinner doesn’t get much easier than this! A one-pan dish with ginger and garlic, plus chili sauce and heat, is an easy way to add a little plant-protein into your diet. (Did you know? Soy is the only plant source that is also a complete protein). Get our sheet pan tofu with sesame and roasted vegetables recipe.
Vegetarian haggis cottage pie
Lentils are the star of this mashed-potato-topped one-pan vegetarian dish that makes for a perfect cold-weather main. Get our vegetarian haggis cottage pie recipe.
Herb falafels with smashed cucumber salad
Top a green salad with herbaceous falafels (made from chick peas). Did you know? The majority of a cucumber’s nutrients are found in the skin! (So leave the vegetable peeler alone tonight.) Get our herb falafels with smashed cucumber salad recipe.
Grilled satay tofu skewers
Coconut, curry and peanut marinated tofu gets crisped up on the grill for an amazingly simple and flavourful meatless skewer. Serve with a fresh and Thai herb salad for a complete meal. Get our grilled satay tofu skewers recipe.
Tuscan white bean and tomato pasta
Fresh cherry tomatoes and herbs give a bright lift to the buttery bean and al-dente pasta base. Add sautéed garlic-bread-crumbs to finish. Get our Tuscan white bean and tomato pasta recipe.
Superfood sandwich
Stack it up! This sandwich takes our grainy brown bread recipe (you can always use your favourite store-bought loaf) and loads it up with toppings like an edamame spread, fresh vegetables, hummus and more. You have to try it. Get our superfood sandwich recipe.
Tempeh burger
Tempeh is a dense fermented-soy cake that has a firm, pleasantly chewy texture that makes it perfect for a burger patty. Here we’ve served it with crisp kale chips, pickled carrots, radish and fresh pesto. It’s definitely not your average burger. Get the recipe now and find more vegetarian burger recipes here.
Kitchen tip: Look for tempeh in the refrigerated natural foods section of the grocery store. Get our tempeh burger recipe.
Thai Tofu Quinoa Bowl
Ideal as a make-ahead work lunch or quick weeknight dinner, this bowl is high in protein and features quinoa, tofu, edamame, carrots and cabbage—all recommended foods in Canada’s new food guide. Get our Thai tofu quinoa bowl recipe.
Black Rice And Edamame Salad
Adding more soy doesn’t mean the menu has to be all tofu, all the time. Affordable frozen edamame is available in freezer aisles everywhere, and adds both colour and healthy nutrition to a dish or plate. Here we’ve mixed it with cilantro, black rice and shiitake mushrooms to turn it into a hearty side salad. Get our black rice and edamame salad recipe.
One-pan mushroom gratin with white beans
A one-pan dish of savoury, browned cremini mushrooms, wilted Swiss chard, creamy white beans and more. Baked with with a crunchy panko and fresh parsley topping, every bite is one to savour. Get our one-pan mushroom gratin with white beans recipe.
Butter beans in salsa verde
This recipe from Christine Flynn's cookbook, A Generous Meal, fits neatly into the category of “things that happen to be gluten-free and vegan,” which can be handy when you’re serving a group. Get this butter beans recipe.
Falafel buddha bowl
Bring on the legumes, whole grains and vegetables. With falafel, pepitas, bulgur, beets, squash, arugula and more, what doesn’t this bowl have? Get our falafel buddha bowl recipe.
Red lentil coconut-miso soup
A hearty, healthy soup that makes enough for lunchtime leftovers (for the whole family) tomorrow. Kitchen tip: Look for pre-washed, pre-chopped kale in the supermarket to cut down on prep time. Get our red lentil coconut-miso soup recipe.
Cauliflower Farro Bowl
Lentils, farro (a whole grain) and golden roasted cauliflower are the stars of this delicious, plant-based dish. Dress it up with a tahini-lemon dressing and fresh herbs, and we can’t get enough. Get our cauliflower farro bowl recipe.
Mediterranean quinoa bowl
Cucumber, tomatoes, chickpeas, hummus, tzatziki, avocado and more come together in a sensational, healthy dinner bowl that you can’t wait to dig into. Get our mediterranean quinoa bowl recipe.
Mushroom grain bowl
A super-nutritious meal of earthy mushrooms, green lentils, quinoa, hazelnuts and goat cheese—with a fresh red wine vinaigrette—is a tasty pick for any night of the week. Get our mushroom grain bowl recipe.
Squash salad with pumpkin seeds
Squash, quinoa (a whole protein!), bright green broccoli florets, beans and pumpkin seeds put this dish squarely inside the recommended category of Canada’s new food guide. And the feta adds a salty, briny punch that lifts the whole dish. Get our squash salad with pumpkin seeds recipe.
How to make a mushroom grain bowl
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