Vegan Dinner — A Case For Plant Based

7 min readJun 16, 2020

Some of the questions I get asked the most are what do I eat if I’m craving this or what do I eat instead of that? We’ve already discussed appetizers, breakfast, and lunch, now let’s talk about vegan dinner! 🌱

Keep an open mind. Many of us have formed our eating habits over decades, and new diet habits require some getting used to. Transitioning to a plant based diet requires a lot more thought and planning initially-but now, after 8 months of following a strict vegan diet, it’s almost second nature to me.

I’ve curated a list of my favorite recipes for you to try, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! You can also find additional recipes on my Pinterest page.

I prefer to press and crumble the tofu instead of marinating and baking.

I made this for Christmas dinner with my husband last year, and it’s delicious!

Raita is a great way to cool down the palate with spicy meals; I love the freshness of the cucumber and herbs! My favorite plant based yogurt is Kite Hill. (Make sure it’s plain and not vanilla.)

Burgers, BBQ, & Tofu Steak

Refried bean burgers are absolutely delicious! For best results, form into thick patties and pan fry in olive oil. Baking in the oven works fine too, but I like the crust that develops on the burgers with pan frying.

I like to eat falafel with homemade vegan tzatziki. 😋

Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, this tofu steak is a must try!

These BBQ jackfruit sandwiches are amazing! Jackfruit can be cut into chunks or shredded to resemble the texture of pulled pork or chicken. (My preferred method is pulsing it a few times in the food processor). Top with coleslaw, grilled onions and mushrooms, pickles, jalapenos, or green onions. They really are magical! 🌱

Mexican dishes

Fajitas or burrito bowls are recurring items on our weekly menu. 😍

Pasta, Pizza, and Rice

Jambalaya was my husband’s favorite meal before going vegan, and this plant based version got his approval. 🙌

I am still not brave enough to make my own pizza dough 😳 but I have purchased pre-made vegan doughs and then prepared my own pizza sauce and toppings.

My brother-in-law made vegan pizzas for us over Christmas, which were excellent! The most difficult part is finding a vegan shredded cheese that you like. (The only mozzarella I like is Follow Your Heart). Instead, you can make a creamy cheese sauce for the base or make your own mozzarella. I’ve made vegan mozzarella, and it’s much easier than I thought it would be.

Side Dishes

I love fresh side dishes like this, especially in the summer months!

Asparagus wouldn’t be my preferred vegetable, but these are really good chilled-which now happens to be my favorite way to eat asparagus. 🌱

The recipe is written as a soup, but I like to make it a little thicker so it’s a puree instead. I much prefer eating the fun color variations of cauliflower rather than the regular!

Curry & Noodle dishes

Winter or summer, curry is on the menu weekly in our house! Curry is really simple to make, especially after a long day of work; and packed full of flavor!

Again, really easy to make and tons of flavor. 🌱

“Wing it without recipes” 😉

I used to be that person that followed a recipe and didn’t deviate too much from the ingredients and instructions (and I still am, just to a lesser extent). I’m not a creative person, and I like to always have a plan for dinner ahead of time. (P.S. I could never be in a cooking competition! Unless it was the baking competition Nailed It-that one, unfortunately, I could totally do).

But as I got more confident with vegan cooking, I started to be more adventurous and try more on my own.

And then the pandemic hit. I haven’t been to a grocery store in over 3 months. (Thank goodness for delivery and Instacart!) I learned very quickly how to get creative with limited ingredients and to think for myself without a recipe. The key is a well stocked pantry and refrigerator.

Pasta, curry, and burrito bowls are the easiest dishes for me to make without following a recipe. If you’re one of those creative minds who doesn’t need a recipe to follow, here are some ideas for vegan friendly meals on the fly.

Curry

Base: coconut milk, tomato sauce, canned tomato, vegetable broth, store bought vegan curry sauce
“Meat”: tofu, chickpeas, lentils
Vegetables: broccoli, eggplant, bell peppers, onion, greens (such as spinach or kale), tomatoes, jalapenos, red chiles, cauliflower, potatoes, mushrooms
Spices: fresh garlic, curry powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, chili flakes, cayenne
Add-ins: red or green curry paste (make sure it’s vegan and doesn’t contain fish sauce or shrimp paste), soy sauce, lime juice, sriracha
Fresh herbs: basil, coriander, cilantro
Serve over rice, quinoa, or noodles

Burrito Bowls

Grains: brown rice, quinoa
Beans: pinto, kidney, black, garbanzo, lentils (serve beans roasted, whole, or mashed)
Meat substitute: tofu, grated tempeh, pecan mushroom crumble
Vegetables: onion, bell pepper, corn, mushroom, kale, broccoli, sweet potato
Spices: garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, onion powder
Top with: tomatoes or salsa, mango, avocado or guacamole, hummus, lettuce, black olives
Serve with: fresh lime juice, vegan cheese sauce, shredded cheese, taco sauce

Pasta

Pasta: brown rice pasta, whole wheat pasta, black bean pasta, chickpea pasta, red lentil pasta, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash
Sauce: fresh or canned tomato, cashew cream sauce, vegan pesto
“Meat”: tempeh, lentils
Seasoning: onions, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, basil
Vegetables: mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, squash, bell pepper, peas
“Parmesan”: nuts or seeds in a food processor with salt and nutritional yeast (cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, hemp seeds, etc.)

Store bought vegan food

Check out these links for vegan:

Check your local supermarket for other vegan items; Whole Foods now has a variety of vegan friendly baked goods and fresh meals for purchase.

Tell me what you think!

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it yet again: a whole food plant based diet is recommended for the healthiest option. However, I realize sometimes that’s not always realistic (especially when first transitioning to a vegan diet). Whatever you choose, stay encouraged! Even small changes can have a lasting impact. 🌱

When you start craving meat or dairy, remind yourself of the multitude of health benefits, not only to yourself, but to animals and the environment as well!

Do you have a favorite dish that you want to find a plant based alternative to? Are you one of those creative people that comes up with dishes on your own or do you follow a recipe? Subscribe to the mailing list, post your questions and comments below, and don’t forget to share this page with your friends! 🥰

Up next, everyone’s favorite course-dessert!

Originally published at https://acaseforplantbased.com on June 16, 2020.