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Basic vegan meals are the kind of recipes you can make often without overthinking them. They use familiar ingredients like pasta, lentils, tofu, chickpeas, potatoes, vegetables, bread, rice, and simple sauces. The point is not to make food plain or boring, but to have easy plant-based meals that fit into normal weekdays.
A good basic meal should be simple to understand and easy to adapt. Pasta can become dinner with a creamy sauce or lentil ragu, tofu can turn into a rice bowl or stir-fry, and chickpeas can work in curries or sandwiches. Potatoes, dhal, and one-pot recipes also make useful options when you want something warm and filling.
Read more: 10 Plant-Based Meals That Keep You Full For Hours
This list includes 10 basic vegan meals for lunches and dinners. Some are quick enough for busy days, while others are better for batch cooking or a slower evening meal. Each recipe offers a straightforward plant-based option you can come back to again and again.
Creamy roasted red pepper pasta
Jane Olivia blends roasted red peppers, garlic, shallots, coconut milk, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, and nutritional yeast into a smooth sauce for this pasta. The recipe makes a generous batch and works well for sharing or leftovers.
Find the recipe here.
Vegan teriyaki tofu rice bowl
Crispy tofu and Japanese rice make this teriyaki tofu don from Julia Bouchachard a simple bowl for lunch or dinner. Potato starch helps the tofu turn golden, while sesame oil, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, and scallions add flavor.
Find the recipe here.
Peanut miso chickpea salad sandwich
This peanut miso chickpea salad sandwich by Catherine Perez makes an easy lunch with plenty of flavor. Chickpeas, miso, peanut butter, sriracha, maple syrup, and rice vinegar create a creamy filling with heat, sweetness, and tang.
Find the recipe here.
Vegan butter chickpea curry
Romy London uses chickpeas in two ways for this creamy curry. One tin stays whole, while the other blends with coconut milk, vegan butter, and nutritional yeast to make a rich sauce with garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and spices.
Find the recipe here.
15-minute spicy, sweet & sour tofu broccoli stir-fry
Next, try this tofu and broccoli stir-fry from Janet Gronnow for a quick dinner with bold flavor. Gochujang, orange juice, rice vinegar, agave, soy sauce, and chili garlic sauce bring the spicy, sweet, and sour sauce together.
Find the recipe here.
Read more: 7 Cozy Sandwich Recipes
Avocado sandwiches with cherry tomatoes and ‘feta cheese’
Roasted cherry tomatoes do most of the work in this simple sandwich, softening with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbes de Provence. Toasted country bread, avocado, vegan feta-style cheese, basil, seeds, and sea salt finish it.
Find the recipe here.
One-pot spaghetti with lentil ragu
Spaghetti cooks directly in the sauce in this one-pot recipe from Romy London. Lentils, tomato paste, red wine, celery, carrot, onion, vegetable stock, spinach, and a bay leaf turn it into an easy pasta dinner.
Find the recipe here.
30-minute vegan buttery black dhal
This buttery black dhal by Calum Harris uses cooked Puy lentils, coconut milk, tomato paste, garlic, ginger, garam masala, chili powder, and miso. A lime, coriander, mint, and agave topping adds brightness at the end.
Find the recipe here.
Vegan potato curry
Baby potatoes are parboiled, lightly fried with turmeric and garam masala, then simmered in Romy London’s tomato-based gravy. Garlic, ginger, fennel, cumin, coconut yogurt, bay leaves, and coriander give the curry plenty of flavor.
Find the recipe here.
One-pot chili mac
Nisha Vora combines pasta, beans, vegetables, tomatoes, herbs, and spices in this one-pot chili mac. The recipe keeps things budget-friendly and weeknight-friendly, while beans add plant protein to the pasta-based comfort meal.
Find the recipe here.
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