20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (2024)

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by Alexandra Daum

To help get you started with healthy food for the new year, or any time during the winter, I’m sharing my top 20 vegetarian dinner recipes for winter time. These rely on cold-weather produce like carrots, cauliflower, and winter greens, for budget friendly and sustainable meals. Most are great for meal prepping and to have as leftovers so you can get more than one meal out of cooking once.

I hope this can inspire you if you’re on a journey toward healthier eating, or are moving toward a more plant centred diet, or just need a few ideas for weeknight dinners this winter. These recipes are easily adaptable and with the exception of one or two, can all be ready in about half an hour.

Cabbage Lentil Soup

A comforting winter friendly recipe, this easy cabbage lentil soup uses what's available during the hungry gap for a filling meal.

50 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (2)

Ten Minute Peanut Butter Noodle Salad

A vegan peanut butter noodle bowl with raw vegetables and a zesty peanut sauce. This is ready in the time it takes the rice noodles to cook.

20 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (3)

Chickpea Soup

An easy vegan chickpea soup with vegetables you probably have on hand – canned tomatoes, carrots, & potatoes. Delicious with plenty of spices!

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (4)

Winter Pizza

A seasonal vegan winter pizza with caramelised onions, apples, mushrooms, and garlicky kale. Served on a spelt sourdough crust.

25 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (5)

Mushroom Pot Pie

A fantastic vegetarian main, this mushroom pot pie is made with store-bought puff pastry and a delicious savoury mixed mushroom filling.

55 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (6)

Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Shells

Vegan stuffed shells, filled with mushrooms, spinach, and cashew cream cheese. Baked in zesty tomato sauce, this is a great weeknight dinner.

40 minutes mins

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Potato Galette with Caramelised Onions

A delicious savoury potato galette with caramelised onions, thyme, and a vegan spelt crust. Perfect for potato lovers!

55 minutes mins

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Lentil and Potato Stew

This budget friendly, healthy vegan lentil and potato stew is full of comfort food goodness and seasonal ingredients, like carrots, greens, & winter herbs.

45 minutes mins

Roasted Vegetable Pie with Puff Pastry

A roasted vegetable pie, made extra easy with (vegan) puff pastry is a great holiday main dish! With pumpkin, cauliflower, and parsnip, it's a seasonal dish that can be made any day of the week.

1 hour hr

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (10)

Vegan Mushroom and Pumpkin Shepherd’s Pie

This vegan shepherd's pie is a modern, plant based version of the classic – a rich mushroom and lentil base, topped with creamy mashed potato and pumpkin. Total cold weather comfort food.

1 hour hr

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Chickpea Noodle Soup with Parsley and Lemon

Vegan chickpea noodle soup with bright accents of parsley and lemon to lighten up this otherwise wintery soup. With plenty of vegetables and whole grain pasta for a healthy vegetarian spin on the classic.

35 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (12)

Hummus Pasta

Quick and easy hummus pasta, for a speedy plant-based dinner that's flexible with whatever you have on hand. Add any vegetables you like.

15 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (13)

Roasted Potato Tacos

Roasted potato tacos, with spicy, crispy potato pieces wrapped in a tortilla. Top with avocado and pickled onions for a great easy dinner.

38 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (14)

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

This vegan butternut squash mac and cheese is an easy, healthier version of the classic. With roasted winter squash and protein-packed hummus to add a cheesy flavour and colour, no nutritional yeast or cashews needed!

55 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (15)

Lentil and Greens Patties

Easy lentil patties made with piles of leafy greens for an easy filling dinner. Soaked red lentils add great texture and a nice neutral base.

12 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (16)

Winter Vegetable Minestrone

A vegan winter minestrone made with winter vegetables, red wine, and herbs. This is a good soup for the coldest months, and for transitions in spring and autumn.

55 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (17)

Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili

This vegan sweet potato chili makes good use of winter vegetables like kale and mushrooms for a tasty and filling stew. Nothing fancy, just stick to your ribs cold weather food.

50 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (18)

Caramelised Onion and Mushroom Pie

A savoury vegan mushroom pie made with butternut squash, puff pastry, and caramelised onions. This is a great vegan main dish for the holidays and beyond.

3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (19)

Chickpea Pumpkin Curry

A vegan chickpea pumpkin curry for a simple, seasonal autumn meal. Served with naan or brown rice, it's a budget friendly, filling, and healthy dinner that freezes well.

40 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (20)

Warm Moroccan Roasted Vegetable Salad

This Moroccan roasted vegetable salad is packed with cold weather comfort foods, like butternut squash, apples, and pomegranate. Vegan, gluten free, and very easy, this is a great weeknight meal.

40 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (21)

Vegan red lentil soup with carrots, lentils, and a tomato base. This simple soup is a weeknight staple and can be made with common pantry items like canned tomatoes, frozen spinach, and dried red lentils. It takes about half an hour from start to finish and freezes well.

35 minutes mins

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (22)

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  1. Kattie Myra says

    20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (23)
    Thanks for sharing such a great collection!

    Reply

20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes for Winter - Occasionally Eggs (2024)

FAQs

What is the most famous vegetarian dish? ›

Originating in the Middle East, falafel is one the most popular vegetarian foods in the world! As one of the most popular vegetarian foods in the world, falafel needs no introduction! However, the origin of these beloved patties is rather controversial.

What are vegetarian foods examples? ›

Vegetables: leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots. Grains: quinoa, barley, buckwheat, rice, oats. Legumes: lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas. Nuts: almonds, walnuts, cashews, chestnuts.

Which is the No 1 vegetarian country in the world? ›

No other country or part of the world has anywhere close to the number of vegetarian people as India, either in percentage of the population or in total number. India is the unique outlier. Going by percentage of the population, Mexico is the second most vegetarian country, at 19%, then Brazil and Taiwan at 14%.

What should vegetarians eat most? ›

Planning a healthy vegetarian diet
Food group*Daily amount
Vegetables2 1/2 cups a day
Fruits2 cups a day
Grains (mostly whole)6 1/2 ounces a day
Dairy3 cups a day
4 more rows

Can a vegetarian eat eggs? ›

Well, the short answer is yes! Unless they are vegan (meaning they don't eat dairy products, eggs, or any other products which are derived from animals), some vegetarians do eat eggs and belong to a group known as lacto-ovo-vegetarians which according to the Vegetarian Society is the most common type of meatless diet.

What is a typical vegetarian menu like? ›

If you are a vegetarian family, what are some typical meals you have for dinner? Chili, black bean burgers, pasta primavera, supper salads, hummus with veggies, soups, pizza, rice with red beans, vegetable curries, vegetarian stews with seasoning from different cuisines, and lots more.

What are 5 healthy food vegetarian? ›

Vegetarian sources of iron
  • pulses, such as kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils.
  • dried fruit, such as apricots.
  • dark green vegetables, such as watercress, broccoli and spring greens.
  • wholemeal bread and flour.
  • fortified cereals (with added iron)
  • nuts.

What do vegetarians eat instead of meat? ›

How to get protein without the meat
  • Pulses. Pulses are an inexpensive protein choice, are high in fibre and a source of iron. ...
  • Soya beans. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Seeds. ...
  • Cereals and grains. ...
  • Quorn™ ...
  • Dairy.

What can I cook without meat? ›

52 Meatless Dinner Ideas To Feed Your Whole Family
  • Ricotta Zucchini "Meatballs" Diethood / Via diethood.com. ...
  • Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Pizza. Tasty / Via tasty.co. ...
  • 20-Minute Lentil Bolognese. ...
  • Pesto Potato and Burrata Pizza. ...
  • Crispy and Crunchy Tofu Nuggets. ...
  • Vegan Pulled Pork Sliders. ...
  • Smoky Chipotle Mushroom Tacos. ...
  • Mushroom Stroganoff.
5 days ago

What is the most famous vegetarian dish in Italy? ›

Parmigiana di Melanzane

This could easily be Italy's most famous vegetarian dish. Layers of fried eggplant, tomato sauce, basil, grated Parmigiano and diced mozzarella.

What do vegetarian Americans eat for dinner? ›

Classic American Vegetarian Food
  • Southern mac and cheese.
  • Fried green tomatoes.
  • Hush puppies.
  • Red beans and rice.
  • New York pizza.
  • Tomato soup.
  • Classic apple pie.
  • Creamed spinach.
Apr 28, 2023

Who was the first famous vegetarian? ›

Some of the first self-proclaimed vegetarians were the Pythagoreans, a title derived from the Greek philosopher Pythagoras, creator of the geometric Pythagorean theorem. Though Pythagoras loaned his name to the meatless diet, it is unclear whether or not he followed a strict vegetarian regimen.

Which country has most tasty vegetarian food? ›

The best countries for vegetarians
  1. The Seychelles. The Seychelles was officially named the new go-to destination for vegetarians. ...
  2. Thailand. Thailand was named the world's second most vegetarian-friendly country, with a Global Vegetarian Index score of 326, only two points shy of first place. ...
  3. Peru. ...
  4. Cambodia.

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