You may not feel confident in attempting any vegan recipes more advanced than salads, but there is a wide variety of options available to you to try no matter your comfort or skill level. Here are five unique vegan lunch recipes you should try.
1. Lettuce Wraps
One of the most versatile vegan lunch recipes is the lettuce wrap. The only constant in this lunchtime treat is the lettuce. You can include any fillings or toppings you want. Generally, you should include a protein, plenty of vegetables and some dressing, but the specifics are up to you. Popular vegan protein choices include chickpeas, beans, lentils and tofu. Any vegetable should work quite well, provided you cut up any large or bulky vegetables, such as sweet potato radishes. Buffalo sauce, many kinds of salad dressings and oils are all good vegan dressing choices.
2. Kid-friendly Roll-ups
Getting kids involved in the process of making lunch can be a good way to bond and teach them about meal preparation. One of the most kid-friendly lunch recipes is the roll-up. A roll-up is a simple wrap filled with sandwich ingredients most children will enjoy. The most common version includes peanut butter with jelly or bananas, but you can substitute different nut butters and fillings, as well as other vegan spreads and ingredients, such as hummus and avocado, if your child has a nut allergy.
3. Vegan Ceasar Salad
You can also choose to spruce up tried-and-true salads with vegan alternatives and additional toppings. A good candidate for this process is the Ceasar salad, which traditionally includes parmesan cheese, an egg-based dressing and sometimes grilled chicken. You can substitute vegan mayonnaise, blended cashews or chickpea water whipped with oil for the eggs. Instead of sprinkling the salad with parmesan cheese, use a vegan parmesan or a blend of nutritional yeast, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and hemp or pumpkin seeds. Then add toppings such as avodaco and pasta or chickpeas as alternatives to grilled chicken.
4. Tofu Buddha Bowls
There are many types of grain and protein bowl options available. All of them are good sources of whole grains, protein and vegetables. However, not all of them are vegan or lend themselves well to vegan substitutions. The tofu buddhabowl is a great option for those interested in vegan grain and protein bowls. Its ingredients include rice, shredded carrots, broccoli, spinach, chickpeas, extra-firm tofu, sesame oil and peanut sauce.
5. Avocado Toast
Avocado toast doesn’t need to be confined to breakfast. You can also make this tasty, nutrient-dense meal into a lunch staple. While eggs are commonly included on avocado toast, you can easily substitute different toppings or forego them entirely. Good topping options include tomato, spinach, balsamic glaze, red onions, and cucumber with dill.
Veganism is a lifestyle choice that you can embrace wholeheartedly or partake in occasionally. It’s a good way to increase the number of fruits and vegetables you get in your diet and help bring awareness to animal welfare, even if you only participate in meatless Mondays.
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