25 Simple Ideas to Make Your Vegan Meals Extra Yummy
Spice up your vegan meals with simple little additions!
Whether you’re new to vegan living or a long-time plant-powered pro, there’s always room to level up the flavour in your meals. Vegan food is far from boring — it just takes the right touches to make your dishes sing. From bold seasonings to sneaky texture tricks, here are 25 delicious ways to make your vegan meals more yummy.
Get Saucy: A delicious sauce can make all the difference. Try a creamy cashew sauce, a tangy tahini dressing, or a spicy peanut sauce.
Texture is Key: Add different textures to your meals. Crunchy nuts and seeds, creamy avocado, and crispy tofu can make a dish more satisfying.
Roast Your Veggies: Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of vegetables. Try roasting broccoli, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, or carrots.
Umami Power: Boost the umami flavor of your dishes with ingredients like mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, nutritional yeast, or soy sauce.
Make Your Own Vegan Cheese: Experiment with homemade vegan cheeses using cashews, almonds, or tofu.
Level Up Your Tofu: Tofu is incredibly versatile. Press it to remove excess water, then marinate it, bake it, fry it, or scramble it.
Try Tempeh or Seitan: These plant-based protein sources offer different textures and flavors. Tempeh is fermented soybean cake, while seitan is made from wheat gluten.
Don't Forget the Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas are all excellent sources of protein and fibre. Use them in soups, stews, salads, or as a main course.
Add Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, coriander, and mint can brighten up any dish.
Citrus Zest and Juice: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice can add a touch of acidity and freshness to your meals.
Cauliflower Pasta with Spinach and Spicy Chili Oil by Bakd&Raw, Karolin Silja Baitinger
11. Nutritional Yeast: This deactivated yeast has a cheesy, nutty flavor and is a great source of B vitamins. Sprinkle it on pasta, popcorn, or roasted vegetables
12. Homemade Dressings: Making your own salad dressings is easy and allows you to control the ingredients. Try a simple vinaigrette or a creamy avocado dressing.
13. Spice Blends: Use pre-made spice blends like Italian seasoning, curry powder, or taco seasoning for easy flavor boosters.
14. Infused Oils: Infuse olive oil with herbs, garlic, or chili peppers for added flavour.
15. Vegan Parmesan: Make your own vegan parmesan using cashews, nutritional yeast, and garlic powder.
16. Play with Fermented Foods: Add kimchi, sauerkraut, or miso to your meals for a tangy, umami-rich flavor.
17. Make it Colourful: Use a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables to make your meals visually appealing.
18. Edible Flowers: Garnish your dishes with edible flowers for a touch of elegance.
19. Spiralise Your Veggies: Use a spiraliser to turn vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or sweet potatoes into noodles.
20. Stuffed Dates: Stuff dates with vegan cream cheese and nuts for a sweet and savoury snack.
Rice paper rolls with a peanut sauce by Ella Olsson. Yes, please!
21. Avocado Toast: Top whole-wheat toast with mashed avocado and your favorite toppings, such as seasonings, red pepper flakes, or tomato slices.
22. Overnight Oats: Combine rolled oats with plant-based milk, chia seeds, and your favourite toppings for a quick and easy breakfast.
23. Nice Cream: Blend frozen bananas with other fruits and toppings for a healthy and delicious vegan ice cream.
24. Spice It Up: Experiment with different herbs and spices. Smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric and chilli powder can transform a simple dish.
25. Make flavourful marinades: Soak tofu or tempeh in tamari, garlic, ginger, and maple syrup for bold, layered flavour.
By incorporating these ideas, you can create vegan meals that are not only delicious but also visually appealing and exciting, broadening the appeal of veganism for everyone!
Remember, every delicious plant-based meal is a step towards a more compassionate world.