Big bowls of mac-and-cheese, lasagna layered with beef and mozzarella, meatball soup...it can seem like all the classic comfort foods we crave during the long winter months are full of meat and cheese. But if your eating skews toward plant-based, know that there are plenty of vegetarian comfort foods out there to try, too.
Need proof? Well+Good's Cook With Us video series is full of delicious meal ideas, including lots of winter vegetarian recipes. (Think shepherd's pie, "meatball" soup, and more.) Rounded up here are some of our most popular meals to check out, all of which are simple enough to make on busy nights. Comfort food loaded with fiber and protein? Coming right up!
Keep reading for 8 winter vegetarian recipes perfect to keep you warm:
1. Vegan Italian meatball soup
A winter vegetarian dinner recipe that can be whipped up in less than 30 minutes: this Italian meatball soup. Don't let the name fool you—there's no animal products at all in this meal. The "meatballs" are made with lentils, which make this dinner high in both fiber and protein.
Get the recipe: Kelly LeVeque's Italian "meat" ball soup
2. One-pot vegetable dal recipe
A traditional Indian dish, dal is a type of spiced stew made with dried lentils or split peas. The pulses are simmered until they're broken down, forming a rich and hearty dish. In this recipe, sweet potatoes and cauliflower are also cooked with the lentils to add even more vegetables and flavor to the mix. And it's full of anti-inflammatory spices.
Get the recipe: Warming vegetable dal
3. Savory daikon radish pancakes
Here, Mina Park, co-owner and chef of Baroo in Los Angeles, shares a savory take on pancakes that will make your mouth water just at the smell of them sizzling on the stove. The pancakes are made with daikon radishes, which are high in calcium, folate, and potassium. The other ingredients are flour, eggs, leeks, and spices. Pair with your favorite plant-based protein for a well-rounded meal.
Get the recipe: Daikon radish pancakes
4. Vegan beet Bourguignon
Boeuf Bourguignon without meat? Sacré bleu! We promise this recipe from chef Lukas Volger is completely plant-based while still tasting true to the original French classic. Here, beet and mushrooms serve as the meat replacement. (The mushrooms' meaty texture really does deliver.) Also in this recipe are lentils and, of course, Burgundy wine.
Get the recipe: Vegan beet Bourguignon
5. Vegetarian cauliflower fried rice
Some nights, you just want to curl up with a big bowl of fried rice. This recipe from chef Dale Talde is made with cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kimchi (although you can swap out certain ingredients with whatever is leftover in your fridge). It's also spiced with ginger, ensuring every bite is full of flavor.
Get the recipe: Vegetarian cauliflower fried rice
6. One-pot vegan shepherd's pie
Traditional shepherd's pie is made with seasoned ground meat topped with a rich layer of mashed potatoes—delicious, but not vegetarian-friendly. This version from chef Palak Patel uses lentils instead of beef to provide a hearty, comforting, and protein-packed base, while the mashed potatoes are made with oat milk and vegan cheese to ensure plant-based eaters can tuck in.
Get the recipe: One-pot vegan shepherd's pie
7. Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)
Hungry for a vegetarian soup to get you through the next snowstorm? Look no further than Chef Park's delicious recipe for doenjang-jjigae, a soybean paste stew that's an essential part of Korean cuisine. The fermented paste plus all the fiber from the vegetables makes it as good for your gut as it is for your soul.
Get the recipe: Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew)
8. Riceless squash risotto with leek pesto
Chef Adriana Urbina takes traditional risotto and reimagines it as a plant-based, veggie-forward dish in this surprising recipe. The star of the show is the leek pesto, which adds extra creaminess and flavor to the final dish.
Get the recipe: Riceless squash risotto
Get more winter vegetarian recipes in Well+Good's Cook With Us Facebook group.
Loading More Posts...
