10 Easy Plant-Based Recipes For Beginners (2024)

In this article, I am going to share 10 of the most delicious, easy plant-based recipes for beginners that will help you and your family stay on a plant-based diet.

I’ve enjoyed – no – thrived – on a totally plant-based diet for over 25 years. To be honest, there weren’t a whole lot of recipes out there way back then, so right from the get-go I started making delicious food. I wanted the food to be

  1. Easy
  2. Delicious
  3. I wanted every single morsel to be jam-packed with health-affirming goodness
  4. I felt that everyone should enjoy this food, no matter who they were

My mission was on!

So I became a plant-based chef…

I became a plant-based chef and vegan recipe developer (as you do). Serving delicious food is my job. Over the years I’ve noticed what people love. I’ve observed what people find easy to make. This article is basically a tool kit of some of the most loved recipes that people go crazy for.

The following plant-based recipes for beginners recipes are…

  • Easy to make
  • Super healthy
  • Good for families
  • Freeze well (ideal if you’re single and want to batch make)
  • Very tasty

Top 10 – Easy plant-based recipes for beginners…

1. Easy Vegan Burgers – also known as the Kind Earth Burger

People can never quite figure out how I make these when I serve to my guests. When I tell my peeps that they are simply made with carrot and seed the typical response is “Say whaaaaat? For real? How come they taste so good? I gotta make these when I get home!”

What makes this plant-based recipe so good? They are ridiculous easy to make, requiring very few ingredients. These seed burgers serve well hot and cold. Being versatile, they are excellent for dinner, lunch, lunch boxes, travel. I often make these in bulk and freeze a whole batch of them for later use. We are talking seeds, carrots, garlic, sea salt and fresh or dried parsley.

2. The Kind Earth Curry – the easiest most delicious curry that everyone loves

This recipe uses simple ingredients that really want to be in the pot together. Sweet potato, tomato, and coconut. Right there! Marriage made in heaven.

What makes this plant-based curry so good? This curry requires no faffing about what-so-ever. Everything just goes in the pot – it cooks – it dances – alchemy happens – it tastes insanely delicious. You can’t go wrong. This is the ultimate easy plant-based recipe for beginners.

3. Baked Pakora – super healthy alternative to the deep fried version

This recipe uses chickpea flour and grated veggies whilst making you feel like you’d just performed a bit of magic by creating them.

What makes this baked pakora recipe so good? This is a super healthy alternative to traditional deep fried pakora. OK, so, baking your pakora is never going to be the same as the deep fried ‘drenched-in-oil’ version, yet they are still delicious incredibly delicious. They are quick and easy to make. Pakora also makes a healthy lunch box or picnic snack, serving well with chutney, sauce or any dip you fancy. If you want to heat them up the next day, just pop them under the grill for a few minutes.

4. – a super popular recipe, hot or cold, posh or simple

I feel humbled by the number of people who’ve told me that this has become a staple in their household. It features at Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving, Sunday buffets and midweek lunch boxes.

What makes this seed loaf so good? It’s a super inexpensive alternative to a nut roast. It freezes whilst serving both hot and cold. This seed loaf works nicely as a main meal for a special occassion or a regular lunch or week night dinner. Easy to digest, the main ingredients are carrot and either sunflower and/or pumpkin seeds.

5. Lentil Cottage Pie – classic feel good comfort food

Lentil cottage pie is the ultimate feel-good comfort food. It’s tasty, filling, nourishing all rolled into one.

What makes this lentil cottage pie so good? I always serve cottage pie on retreats because it goes down well with just about 99% of my guests. It’s the perfect food to serve if you have a bunch of people coming around for dinner, especially if they have a mixed variety of eating preferences. This cottage pie seems to keep everyone happy whether vegan, herbivore, omnivore or carnivore!

6. Spicy Black Beans One Pot – vegan comfort foods with warming spices

This recipe excites me. It’s one of those delightful, medleys of deliciousness, where the spices are warming, rather than hot so that you can really appreciate the ‘dance’ without being overpowered.

What makes this spicy black beans one pot so good? This recipe is simple. If you don’t have the exact same spices to hand then you can try swapping out for ones that you have available instead. It keeps nicely in the fridge and freezes well. It serves with potatoes, wedges, rice, pasta, making it a pretty versatile one-pot. A super easy plant-based recipe for beginners.

7. Lentil Vegan Lasagne – with a creamy cashew sauce

Goodness me this is delicious! Considering I’m not really a pasta person, this is rather exciting.

What makes this lentil vegan lasagne so good? Plant-based lasagne actually doesn’t get better than this. This recipe takes a little bit more time to make than all the others in the this list, but oh my goodness, it’s worth it! Feel-good food at its finest, you get to enjoy a creamy cashew sauce with a thin, tanned crust, amidst an absolutely delicious dance of flavours and textures.

8. Chickpea Mushroom Burger – super popular vegan burger

This is an excellent way to enjoy a super healthy, high-protein, vegan, gluten-free meal, whilst using good plant-based ingredients.

What makes this chickpea burger so good? Apart from the taste, the texture and the fact it makes everyone who eats them very happy… this burger is pleasantly moist on the inside with a lovely soft crisp outside. You can enjoy it with OR without the addition of a sauce. It works wonders with a salad, potato wedges, or in a bap with salad/sauce toppings.

9. Easy Turmeric Roast Potatoes – super healthy and delicious turmeric style

I am officially obsessed with these and can’t get enough of them.

What makes these roast potatoes so good? They are insanely easy to make. You chop them up, sprinkle on the tumeric etc, toss ’em and pop them in the oven. Easy or what!?!! A tiny smidgen of oil is required. Even the fussiest roast potato fans adore these.

10. Turmeric and Ginger Sweet Potato Soup – tasty and highly healthy

This turmeric ginger soup is tasty as can be! There is something about the way that the warming spices dance with the sweetness of the coconut and sweet potato. This combo creates a special blend of delectableness.

What makes this tumeric ginger soup so good? This recipe benefits from fresh ginger, garlic, dried ground turmeric and pepper. Jam-packed with loads of plant-powered nutritional benefits, it is an exceedingly easy soup to make. Add sweet potatoes, coconut milk, chickpeas and optional parsley and you’ve got a gorgeous chorus of delight in a bowl to enjoy that everyone loves! Super easy one-pot, plant-based recipe for beginners.

Thank you for reading!

I hope that you’ve found some favourites here in this list of easy plant-based recipes for beginners.

If you like what you see then you’ll LOVE my books, which are all totally plant-based, jack-packed with lots more ideas for you…

My plant-based books…

Pin “Easy plant-based recipes for beginners” for later…

10 Easy Plant-Based Recipes For Beginners (12)

10 Easy Plant-Based Recipes For Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What 5 foods do you eat that are plant-based? ›

Vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, seeds, and nuts are the stars of all plant-based diets. More and more people seem to be making the switch to plant-based diet foods.

Can I eat eggs on a plant-based diet? ›

Eggs can and should be part of a plant-based diet, and these five suggestions showcase how easy it is to incorporate the incredible egg into your plant-forward dishes.

Can I eat bread on a plant-based diet? ›

Vegans can eat bread that does not contain animal products or byproducts. This includes breads that only use some variation on flour, water, yeast, and salt including ciabatta, baguette, focaccia, sourdough, pita, and ezekiel breads.

Can you eat cheese on a plant-based diet? ›

Following a plant-based diet means saying goodbye to all animal products — including lean meat and dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream.

Can you eat pasta on a plant-based diet? ›

Is Pasta Vegan? Unfortunately, not all pasta is vegan. We've found pastas of all varieties, from spaghetti to lasagna noodles, with eggs in the ingredient lists. But don't worry—there are widely available vegan pastas that don't involve eggs or dairy and don't skimp on the texture you've come to love.

What are 30 plant-based foods? ›

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, apricots, sweet potatoes, peaches, plums, melons, eggplant, lemons, lettuce, green beans, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach, corn, Swiss chard, celery, beets, onions, cauliflower, cherries, bananas, mushrooms, parsnips, turnips, ...

Can you eat bananas on a plant-based diet? ›

A whole-foods, plant-based shopping list. Fruits: berries, citrus fruits, pears, peaches, pineapple, bananas, etc. Vegetables: kale, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, peppers, etc. Starchy vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, etc.

What is the downside of a plant-based diet? ›

While a well-balanced plant-based diet can provide a wide range of nutrients, certain essential nutrients are more abundant in animal-derived foods. Plant-based diets can sometimes lead to nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Is peanut butter plant-based? ›

As with many food items, in its simplest form, peanut butter should always be vegan. The vast majority of peanut butters you find in grocery stores will therefore be fully plant-based. Traditional peanut butter is made from peanuts and often a small amount of salt or oil.

What happens to your body when you switch to a plant-based diet? ›

At the start of a change to a vegan diet, you could experience a variety of differences to your body. These may include being hungrier, getting gassier, a change in your skin or body odor, weight loss or gain, better or worse sleep, headaches, tiredness, or having more energy.

What can I eat on a whole-food plant-based diet? ›

Plant-based or plant-forward eating patterns focus on foods primarily from plants. This includes not only fruits and vegetables, but also nuts, seeds, oils, whole grains, legumes, and beans. It doesn't mean that you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy.

What foods should you avoid on a plant-based diet? ›

You'll restrict grains and foods made with them, such as bread and pasta. You also limit starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn, as well as beans and legumes. And you'll cut high-sugar tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, and bananas, as well as fruit juices and sweets.

Can I eat chicken on a plant-based diet? ›

There are a lot of great plant-based protein sources, including tofu, lentils, beans, nuts and nut butters, seeds, and quinoa. Don't forget: Dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, and fish are allowed on the plant-based diet, they just shouldn't be the center of the meal.

Can you eat avocados on a plant-based diet? ›

3CAN YOU EAT AVOCADO IF YOU FOLLOW A PLANT BASED DIET? Absolutely. Avocados are a great source of good fats, with 5g of monounsaturated and 1g of polyunsaturated fats per 50g serving.

Is pasta ok on a plant-based diet? ›

Pasta dishes make an excellent option for those adhering to a plant-based diet for several reasons. To start, pasta is a natural plant-based food made simply from grain, and it is also and easy food to incorporate other plant-based foods into, like veggies and beans.

Can you eat potatoes on a plant-based diet? ›

Potatoes are loaded with Vitamin C, most B vitamins, potassium, fiber, and more. Potatoes absolutely can be part of a healthy plant-based diet! We love to enjoy potatoes in plenty of plant-based recipes from pizza to lasagna to soups, and more!

Can I eat rice on a plant-based diet? ›

For the most part, people on plant-based diets eat less of the following: Fast food. Desserts and sweetened beverages. Refined grains: white rice, white bread, refined pasta, etc.

Can I eat shrimp on a plant-based diet? ›

The straight forward answer here is no, vegans don't eat fish or seafood. In fact, neither do vegetarians – if you're interested in cutting out or reducing your dairy and meat intake, then you might be interested to learn more about the pescatarian diet.

Can you eat bagels on a plant-based diet? ›

In their most basic form, bagels are vegan, made from just flour, water, yeast, and salt. But other non-vegan ingredients—including dairy, honey, and eggs, along with less easily identifiable animal products—commonly appear in commercially produced bagels.

Is pizza a plant-based diet? ›

Pizza is still a staple among those following a meat-free or completely plant-based diet. Here's our guide to how to enjoy pizza while changing your diet. Now if you're a vegetarian, you can still enjoy cheese on your pie.

What are considered plant-based foods? ›

A plant-based diet consists of all minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices and excludes all animal products, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

What is 1 meal a day plant-based? ›

The Bounty of Plant-Based Eating.

Through small shifts big change can happen. One Meal a Day, or OMD, believes that every meal is an opportunity to nourish your body, your community and our wild living planet one delicious plant-based meal at a time.

Can you eat chicken on a plant-based diet? ›

There are a lot of great plant-based protein sources, including tofu, lentils, beans, nuts and nut butters, seeds, and quinoa. Don't forget: Dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, and fish are allowed on the plant-based diet, they just shouldn't be the center of the meal.

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