10 Vegan Dishes Even Non-Vegans Will Love

Eating vegetarian or vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up some of your favorite dishes. Simply substitute meat-based items with others that will still provide protein. Here are ten vegan dishes even non-vegans will love!

10. Ramen with a Vegan Egg

Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish that’s available in numerous varieties. For a meatless version that provides protein while remaining vegan, it’s as simple as using a vegan egg. You’ll also want to use vegetable stock for broth. Thicken it up with mushrooms, Pak Choi, carrots, sugar snap peas, and spring onions.

9. Stuffed Aubergines with Pesto

There is a light way to make stuffed aubergines (eggplant). This vegan version combines the delicious taste of char-grilled eggplant with a scrumptious mix of quinoa, red pesto, and vegetables. It’s dressed with plenty of tahini for a dish that’s hearty without being heavy yet resplendent with flavor. The sun-dried tomato pesto provides the key flavor here.

8. Eggplant Casserole – Vegan Greek Moussaka

Greek Moussaka is a layered casserole made with eggplant or potatoes and often contains ground meat. The traditional version is made with baked or pan-fried eggplant, potatoes, and tomato-braised beef or lamb mince and topped off with bechamel sauce. To replace the beef or lamb, try substituting oyster mushrooms or textured soy protein chunks.

7. Vegan Paella

Paella is one of the best-known dishes in Spanish cuisine and is considered the national food. Traditionally, it’s made in a single pan with rice, saffron, vegetables, chicken, seafood, spices, chicken broth, and white wine. To make a vegan version, swap out chicken in seafood for oyster mushrooms and vegan scallops. Exchange chicken broth for vegetable broth.

6. Vegan Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan, or Melanzane alla Parmigiana, is naturally vegetarian fare, consisting of sliced and fried eggplant layered with Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce, and then baked. Sometimes it’s dredged in just flour or both eggs and flour before frying. To go vegan, skip eggs or swap out eggs for flax eggs and use vegan cheese instead.

5. Imam Bayildi

In Ottoman cuisine, Imam Bayildi is made from whole aubergine (eggplant) stuffed with onion, garlic, and tomatoes and simmered in olive oil. Imam Bayildi is traditionally a vegetarian meal. However, there are some variations that add ground meat to the stuffing. To add more protein for vegetarian fare, you can substitute soy granules, cubes, mushrooms, or cubed tofu.

4. Vegan Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon, or beef Burgundy, is a French beef stew that’s braised in red wine, often red Burgundy, along with beef stock. The typical flavorings are carrots, onions, garlic, pearl onions, mushrooms, bacon, and a bouquet garni. To make a vegetarian version, simply swap out the beef with textured soy protein. Swap out the beef stock with vegetable broth.

3. Vegetarian Cacciatore

Italian cuisine lends itself well to vegan and vegetarian variations. Cacciatore is one such traditional Italian dish that’s typically made with some type of meat, tomatoes, onions, herbs, and often peppers, and sometimes wine. For a vegetarian version, you can replace meat with textured soy protein slices or thick mushroom slices.

2. Green Chickpea Patties with Tahini

Here’s a dish that’s packed with protein. Boiled chickpeas are blended into a paste with a food processor and combined with herbs and spices. Other ingredients include garlic, parsley, onion, black olives, paprika, psyllium husks, and tahini. This composition is formed into patties. Next, it’s fried with extra virgin olive oil.

1. Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Going vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up comfort food. Traditional shepherd’s pie typically contains minced meat and vegetables, housed in a pie crust, topped with mashed potato, and baked. The vegetarian spin maintains the comforting feel of this dish by substituting mushrooms for meat and contains peas and carrots.