Spurred on by a variety of different motives - cruelty-free, eco-friendly, health and pure curiosity - thousands of us are getting involved with veganism for the entire month of January - dubbed 'Veganuary'. Check our favourite Veganuary recipes below...!Often seen as a challenging diet, veganism can still provide you with a satisfying and nutritious diet without losing out on taste. Here are our top 5 favourite dishes from brilliant blogs across the interweb challenging the way we eat and bringing our tastebuds the finest in cruelty-free tastiness.
BREAKFAST
Image - Wallflower Kitchen
Crafted by magazine.co.uk blogger alumni Aimee of Wallflower Kitchen (previously Wallflower Girl - why not read her Vegan Life magazine review and Banana Breakfast Pancake Recipe?), these fluffy vegan pancakes look truly exceptional. Egg-free, dairy-free and easy to make gluten-free too, Aimee uses apple cider vinegar with baking soda to help give the pancakes a healthy rise (delivering a fluffy texture). The recipe above champions date syrup with fresh figs - we say try with maple syrup, bananas and berries for a sweet, vegan-friendly treat!
LUNCH
Image - Cookie and Kate
This curried cauliflower soup from veggie blog Cookie and Kate has enough spicy kick to make a true winter warmer! Roasted cauliflower, Thai red curry paste and a healthy handful of onions, chives and a pinch of fresh basil, ground pepper and a few thinly sliced red peppers make this a true taste explosion. All we'd add? A crusty sourdough roll for dipping. Nutritious, delicious and visually stunning, we're banking on this for being your ticket to lunch envy at work. Make in batches and share!
DINNER
Image - Green Kitchen Stories
Filled with bright Moroccan ingredients and infused with the spices of the region, this is comfort food for the masses. Crafted by the taste trendsetters at Green Kitchen Stories, you'll need aubergine, tomatoes, raisins and chickpeas (plus a delicious variety of stunning spices - cumin, paprika, cinnamon, ginger and saffron) to bring the heat and flavour to this vegan-friendly winter dinner. Don't forget to sprinkle with lemon zest, toasted almonds and fresh pomegranate seeds for a true Moroccan finish!
DESSERT
Image - Oh Lady Cakes
Think you can't make sweet treats without eggs, butter or milk? Oh Lady Cakes proves you wrong with these gooey double chocolate and raspberry brownies, reserved especially for the days when January feels too much (but #veganuary is still doable - just)! Made with dairy free dark chocolate (most brands above 85% are naturally dairy free, but always check the label), they really pack a flavour punch. With cane sugar and vanilla extract to keep them sweet and whole spelt flour to give them density, these are perfect for sharing... or squirreling away.
SNACKS
Image - Minimalist Baker
Made by '10 ingredients or less' Minimalist Baker, these yummy vegan falafels are as tasty fresh and hot out of the oven as they are cold in salads or as a snack on the go. Naturally meat-free, this particular version uses gluten-free flour so they're suitable for coeliacs as well as vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free diets. Made with chickpeas, these little protein/fibre powerhouses are generously flavoured with parsley, cumin, cardamom, coriander and cayenne pepper. Make in a big batch and enjoy all week (fresh tahini sauce works wonders)!
Tempted to try #veganuary or incorporate more vegan dishes into your daily or weekly meals? Check out our favourite vegan magazines for inspiration!
