5 Delicious and Healthy Vegetarian Recipes Everyone Will Love

Vegan Meatballs

Is there anything more satisfying than a big bowl of meatballs and pasta? These vegan meatballs are one of our favorite easy meatless meals, combining protein-packed beans, quinoa, vegan cheese, plus a ton of flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled
• 15-ounce can of black beans
• 2 tbsp water
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1/2 cup diced shallots
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 1/2 tsp fresh oregano (or 1 1/4 tsp dried oregano)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup vegan parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
• Marinara sauce of your choice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F (180 C)
2. Place a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. 
3. Add water, garlic, and shallots and sauté until soft. Remove from heat.
4. Place the shallots, garlic, black beans, sea salt, red pepper flakes, oregano, and fennel (if using) into a food processor. Pulse loosely- avoid overmixing.
5. Add vegan parmesan cheese, tomato paste, fresh basil, fresh parsley, and Worcestershire sauce. Pulse until a textured dough forms- you don’t want a puree.
6. Gently form the dough into balls.
7. Place balls onto a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
8. Place skillet over medium heat again. Add the “meatballs” to the skillet and sauté them to create a slight crust.
9. Transfer the meatballs in the skillet straight to the oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until they are dry to touch and golden brown.
10.  Remove the skillet from the oven and place it back on the burner over medium heat. Add marinara to the pan. 
11. Heat through for about 5 minutes.
12. Serve over pasta of your choice with a sprinkle of vegan cheese.

Why not finish your meal with an incredible vegan chocolate recipe?

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 67
• Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 0g
• Sodium: 185mg
• Potassium: 172mg
• Protein: 3g

Vegetarian Recipe Option 2 – Aloo Gobi Recipe

Aloo Gobi is often seen as a side dish, but it’s actually one of those hearty vegetarian meals that are also very healthy. It’s also on our list of very cheap vegetarian meals thanks to its simple list of ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 onions, chopped
• 1-inch ginger root, chopped
• 1 tsp each of turmeric, mustard seed, cumin, coriander, fenugreek seed, curry leaf, chili powder, sugar, salt
• 2 green chilies, sliced in two
• 1 ⅔ cups cold water
• A can of chopped tomatoes
• 4 medium potatoes, diced
• 1 small cauliflower, broken into florets

Directions

1. Fry the onions in vegetable oil over medium heat.
2. Add ginger, chilies, and all the spices. Stir for 3 minutes.
3. Add the tomatoes, stir, and then add the potatoes and ensure they’re coated in the spicy mix.
4. Add the water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add the broccoli and ensure each floret is covered in the spice mix and tomatoes. Stir, lower the heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
6. Serve with basmati rice or naan bread.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 108
• Fat: 4.39g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 357mg
• Potassium: 414mg
• Protein: 2.86

How to Make Vegan Soup

Our easy vegan soup recipe takes the classic potato soup and replaces cream with soy milk and nutritional yeast for a meat-free yet delicious variation. Nutritionally, this soup is definitely one of those healthy vegetarian meals that have low fat, no cholesterol, yet plenty of beneficial micronutrients.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 leeks cleaned and finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups unflavored soy-milk
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/3 cup nutritional yeast flakes
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 ½ tsp white wine vinegar

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pan.
2. Add the leeks, yeast flakes, white wine, and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes until the aromas are released.
3. Add the soy milk, broth, potatoes, and thyme to the pan. Increase the temperature and cook for 3 minutes,  stirring frequently.
4. Lower heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes become soft.
5. Add hot sauce, plus chives, salt, or pepper for taste. Serve and enjoy!

Nutritional information (per serving)

• Calories: 197
• Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 545mg
• Potassium: 699mg
• Protein: 7g 

Vegan Donuts

After any of these vegetable-based main dishes, you need something sweet! These donuts are a healthy, dairy-free alternative to the standard offerings, plus they’re the perfect way to round off any of your favorite vegetarian main dish recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3/4 cup (150g) white sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup (180ml) soy milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 and 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Vegan sprinkles
• 7oz (200g) vegan chocolate
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Place flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in mixing bowl and combine.
3. Add the soy milk, applesauce, vanilla, and melted coconut oil and stir again to remove lumps.
4. Spray a donut pan with non-stick. Pour the mix in, spreading batter evenly.
5. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes (to check, insert a toothpick into a donut. If it comes out clean, it’s ready.)
6. Wait until cooled completely before doing the chocolate topping.
7. Melt chocolate in microwave by breaking up the chocolate into bits and placing it in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals while stirring until the chocolate completely melts. Don’t overcook, or it will burn and become bitter.
8. Dip each donut in the melted chocolate.  Add sprinkles if you like!

Nutritional information (per serving)

• Calories: 493
• Fat: 16.8g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 210mg
• Potassium: 0mg
• Protein: 7.4g

Red Pepper Cashew Pasta

Healthy vegetarian recipes don’t have to be meat’s dull cousin. Meatless recipes and vegetable meals can include vibrant veggies and pulses for protein, just like this flavorful and filling pasta dish.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup cashews
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 jar preferred pasta sauce
• 1 16-ounce jar roasted red peppers (or make your own)
• 1 pound penne pasta
• greens for garnishing

Directions

1. Blend the nuts, pasta sauce, water, salt, and peppers until smooth.
2. Cook pasta as per pack instructions, drain and stir the sauce in on a low heat until warm and mixed.
3. Garnish with greens, and serve with garlic bread.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 384
• Fat: 11.7g
• Cholesterol: 1.7mg
• Sodium: 717mg
• Sugar: 11.7mg
• Protein: 14.3g