It’s January again and I’m making sure we’re eating healthy and hearty this month. We tend to settle things on vegetarian meals as a couple with me sometimes sneaking in vegan meals but keeping it mainly vegetarian for my husband. I thought this selection would be useful for a couple of people, for some dinner inspro for weekday evenings: easy and simple meals packed with veggies and fibre.

30 Minutes Vegan Mexican Beans 

This is such a weekday dinner star. This basic Mexican bean stew can be used in tacos and tortillas or simply just heap it over cooked rice. Add guacamole, sour cream or grated cheese on the top if you like. It’s a naturally vegan bean stew, because it only contains vegetables – but like I said, for my husband and kids we can turn it into a cracking vegetarian meal with cheese and sour cream.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• beans 
• sweetcorn
• mushrooms
• bell pepper
• red onion
• garlic
• canned tomato
• and a mixture of Mexican spices

Wholewheat Couscous With Roasted Butternut Squash And Kale Salad 

This should only take 30 min to make as well. This Wholewheat Couscous With Roasted Butternut Squash And Kale Salad is good either warm or cold and happens to be vegan. It’s very satisfying because of the fregola, which is made of wholewheat so it will keep you full longer. For a vegetarian addition, just top it with cubed or crumbled feta cheese.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• butternut squash
• kale
• giant couscous/fregola
• onion

Freekeh Salad with Rainbow Beets and Feta Yogurt Dressing

This Freekeh Salad with Rainbow Beets is very simple to make – it’s just the beetroots that need long roasting, but the oven does that job, you don’t need to sit and watch. The freekeh is a very filling grain which makes this dish a perfect post Christmas veggie meal.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• freekeh
• beetroots
• spring onions
• walnuts
• herbs
• Greek yogurt
• feta cheese
• lemon

Mushroom Risotto

Classic vegetarian meal that you can’t go wrong with. I make risottos weekly and it’s my go to recipe when I don’t want to think about what’s for dinner. Just pick up some mushrooms from the supermarket, the rest is always in the fridge/cupboard. If you are not using wine, it’s absolutely fine. I think the taste of the mushrooms is so dominant, you’ll not be disappointed. You can find the Mushroom Risotto by clicking on the blog – click on the highlighted words.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• shallots
• garlic
• mushrooms
• risotto rice
• white wine
• parsley

Super Simple Japanese Vegetable Tempura Recipe

The best thing about this vegetable tempura recipe is that you can use a lot of different vegetables, no need to buy a huge variety of them, surely you’ll find some at the bottom of the fridge to use up.  The batter isn’t too tricky to make either, so all in all it’s a simple recipe. Add some rice on the side and Japanese condiments.

Vegetable tempura ideas:

• pumpkin or butternut squash
• red onion
• carrot
• aubergine
• bell pepper
• mushroom
• courgette
• potato and sweet potato
• asparagus
• green beans

Vegetable Madras Curry

If you make curries at home, you probably already have the spices you need in your cupboard or spice rack for a Vegetable Madras Curry. It’s nothing more special than any home made veggie curry, just the measurements of spices. You can use a lot of different veggies, in this recipe I used a bit of cauliflower, chickpeas, garden peas and potatoes.

Here’s the list of the spices you’ll need:

• green chillies
• cumin seeds
• ground coriander
• turmeric powder
• red chilli powder
• garam masala
• fresh ginger
• garlic

Leek and Caramelised Onion Latkes

January is peek season for the famous traditional Jewish fried potato pancakes. This is a vegan Leek and Caramelised Onion Latke recipe, but you can simply turn it into a vegetarian meal with swapping back to eggs. Simples! It’s so nice, crispy and warm – add chips or rice on the side or just enjoy as it is. 

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• potato
• leeks
• onions
• flour
• cumin

Pineapple Fried Rice

Not everyone likes pineapples in savoury meals, I get that. But I think it’s not a pizza and pineapple scenario here, it’s more like replicating the sweet and savoury flavour combination of its Chinese roots of this Pineapple Fried Rice. Nevertheless, you can just leave them out.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• carrots
• garden peas
• edamame beans
• rice
• onion
• garlic
• spices
• tinned pinapples

Moroccan Lentil Soup

This hearty Moroccan Lentil soup with chunky carrots and fulfilling lentils is just so delicious. And it’s very inexpensive too. Also, it obviously ‘happened’ yo be vegan  – all ingredients are naturally vegan – no fake things needed. With a nice piece of crusty bread it becomes a full meal: warming spices and a good amount of fibre.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• onion
• garlic
• carrots
• lentils
• celery
• canned tomato
• spices

Butternut Squash, Tenderstem Broccoli and Pearl Barley Salad

I love this type of autumn salad, because it is a real comfort food. Warm, filling, full of deep, warm flavours. This one is naturally vegan, but you can top it with halloumi or feta cheese even. Butternut Squash, Tenderstem Broccoli and Pearl Barley Salad: healthy, quick and simple to make.

Main ingredients you’ll need:

• butternut squash
• tenderstem broccoli
• pearl barley
• roasted tomato
• red onion
• black olives
• spieces