There are plenty of reasons to reduce or remove meat from your menu. Whether it's in the hope of leading a healthier life or a way to care for the planet (meat production puts pressure on Earth’s fragile resources), being a vegetarian has become an increasingly popular choice.
In fact, the most recent statistics indicate that 12% of UK adults are vegetarian (not eating meat or fish) in the UK.
One of the brilliant advantages of meat-free cooking is that it can be very quick to make. To help you take up the challenge, we select 20 of the most delectable and filling vegetarian dishes you can whip up in just 30 minutes or under. It's perfect for weeknight cooking...
BROAD BEAN, MINT & RICOTTA BRUSCHETTE
Prep time 5 minutes
Cooking time 10 minutes
Total time 15 minutes
This is one of the most popular dishes on the Summer menu at London's hit Venetian restaurant, Polpo. "This dish is a joy to prepare. I don’t know about you, but podding and skinning broad beans is one of my favourite kitchen pastimes," says the chef.
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
Recipe taken from POLPO A Venetian Cookbook (Of Sorts), £22.50, published by Bloomsbury.
Pau Bhaji
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
This recipe of one of his India's most popular fast food dishes is courtesy of London's very own Bombay-style cafe Dishoom. It's a melt-in-the-mouth vegetable curry scooped onto a soft hot roll. Absolutely delicious.
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
AVOCADO & LEMON ZEST SPAGHETTI
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 15 minutes
Total time 25 minute
Chef Anna Jones' approach to meat-free cooking has always been about proving that there are truly brilliant standalone vegetarian dishes. This meal hits all the right notes, with ingredients full of nutrition and flavour.
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
The recipe features in A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones, Harper Collins, £25.00. (Photography John Dale)
Tuscan bean soup
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooke time: 25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
This recipe is hearty, hot and filling and devoid of unhealthy ingredients that usually come with comfort food, so you won't break that healthy eating promise you made to yourself.
Find the recipe at thewanderlustkitchen.com
CORN FRITTERS WITH AVOCADO SALSA
Prep time 20 minutes
Cooking time 2 minutes
Total time 22 minutes
Corn kernels are high in many essential vitamins and are also amazing natural sweeteners. This is perfect for a summer brunch or a light lunch.
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
Coconut curry
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
You can't get healthier than this dish which is vegan, gluten free and contains a whole load of great vegetables, such as broccoli, peas and carrots swimming in a spiced coconut milk broth.
Find the recipe at minimalistbaker.com
POTATO, COURGETTE & MOZZARELLA FRITTERS
Prep time 15 minutes
Cooking time 2 minutes
Total time 17 minutes
Behold self-taught chef and restaurateur Bill Granger's "so easy to make it’s disgraceful" dish. These fritters are light, fluffy and incredibly moreish when drizzled in lemon juice and dunked in cool yoghurt.
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
Massaged Kale Salad with mango, avocado and coconut
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 0
Total time 10 minutes
The key to this salad is to massage extra virgin olive oil into the tough kale leaves. It instantly brings out a sweet flavour in the normally bitter leafy green.
Find the recipe at collegiatevegan.com
Mediterranean baked sweet potatoes
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Oh, we can't wait for BBQ season to kick in. In the meantime these baked sweet potatoes give the feel of summers spent sitting under an umbrella. It's filling, comforting and sweet and savoury.
Find the recipe at minimalistbaker.com
Classic pad thai
Total time: 30 minutes
Eastern cuisine can often feature a long list of intimidating ingredients which you'll never use again. But not only is this pad thai dish quick to make, it's also tangible, using soy sauce, white vinegar and chilli paste. Throw in any vegetables you have leftover in the fridge and make enough to reheat for your packed lunch the next day
Find the recipe at thecurvycarrot.com
Baked Ravioli
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
There's no meal more comforting on a week night, than creamy, cheesy pasta. This recipe shows how you can turn store bought ravioli into a restaurant-worthy dish.
Find the recipe at damndelicious.net
Lemon Basil Chickpeas
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 0
Total time 10 minutes
With only five ingredients, this dish makes a great packed lunch you can quickly pull together in the mornings.
Find the recipe at collegiatevegan.com
Polenta bake with feta, tomato and mushrooms
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
We’re big fans of any dish that a) can be made in one pot, saving on the washing up and b) uses not one but two different kinds of cheese.
Find the recipe at stylist.co.uk
BLACK PEPPER STIR FRIED NOODLES
Total time 30 minutes
Japanese udon noodles are traditionally served in a hot soup, but they taste just as good in a light black pepper sauce. It's also much quicker to prepare.
Find the recipe at pinchofyum.com
Vegetarian paella
Prep time 5 minutes
Cooking time 25 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Paella, the Spanish one-pot wonder that can please a large dinner party, is just as tasty when it's meat free.
Find the recipe at theeverydayvegetarianuk.wordpress.com
Crispy Baked Falafel
Prep time 5 minutes
Cooking time 25 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Falafel can often be stodgy and greasy, but this recipe combines two cookbook methods to create baked patties that crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It's also vegan and gluten free.
Find the recipe at cookieandkate.com
BAKED LEEK & GOAT’S CHEESE RISOTTO
Cook time 35 minutes (5 minutes to make the top crispy and golden)
"I was always taught that you had to stand over the risotto pan and stir religiously for half an hour," says self-taught chef and restaurateur Bill Granger."I love rule-breaking, so I adore the controversial ‘no-stir’ risotto."
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
Warm soba noodle vegetable salad
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 15 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
This recipe comes courtesy of healthy fast food chain Leon. Instead of spreading peanut butter on toast, they blend it with soya sauce, sesame oil and fresh ginger to create a aromatic sauce to smother over noodles and seasonal vegetables.
Find the recipe at meatfreeweek.org
Recipe from Leon Fast Vegetarian by Jane Baxter & Henry Dimbleby. Published by Conran Octopus at £25 (Photography by Georgia Glynn Smith)
Vegetarian Pho soup
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
This classic Vietnamese dish is ideal for a cold evening, with warm flavourful broth and filling shiitake mushrooms.
Find the recipe at ohmyveggies.com
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Prep time 10 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Comfort food should be quick, easy and fuss free, which is why we love this stove mac and cheese recipe. Throw everything into a big bowl, wait for the cheese to melt and serve immediately.
Find the recipe at damndelicious.net
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