A plant based diet is one which is vegetarian and almost vegan apart from a few ingredients. For example if you never eat cheese or meat but you occasionally have some honey, this isn’t vegan and therefore counts as a plant based diet.
Whether you are looking to trim a few pounds, help with an existing illness such as high cholesterol or you are looking to overcome an addiction at a place such as Safe Harbor House, a plant based diet can be a great choice.
Today we are going to take a look at some super easy recipe ideas which you can try this summer to really get those tastebuds going.
1.Vegan ginger biscuits
Ginger biscuits are a super fun treat to enjoy now and again but they can often be very fatty and also contain butter and eggs. However you can make a plant based version of this treat with fresh ingredients and it will taste just as amazing.Ingredients:
- 100g flour
- 50g agave (or other vegan syrup)
- 20g coconut oil
- 1 inch piece ginger, grated
- 1 chia egg (1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp water)
Mix together all of the ingredients and add more oil or flour to get a consistency which forms into balls. Bake on a tray at 200C for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Overnight oats
If you always seem to be in a rush in the morning, overnight oats can be a great choice for you. You can create a base for overnight oats with these ingredients:- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup nut milk
- 1 tbsp honey/ syrup
Once you have this base you can add a variety of fruits to the mixture and place in the fridge overnight to set. Here are some fruit combinations:
- Strawberry, raspberry, blueberry
- Apple, banana
- Kiwi, strawberry
- Pineapple, mango, passion fruit
3.Trail mix
For those of you who always seem to be super hungry during the day and need a good old snack to get you through, trail mix can be the ideal option for you. This simple trail mix combines fruit, nuts and seeds for a yummy snack.Ingredients:
- ½ cup peanuts
- ½ cup cashews
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup pistachios
- ½ cup raisins
- ⅓ cup dried mango
- ¼ cup goji berries
- ½ cup mixed seeds
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp honey
In a bowl, mix the nuts, seeds and spices and honey. Mix together and spread onto a baking sheet. Bake at 200C for 15 minutes and then cool. Once cooled add to a jar with dried fruit for an amazing snack.
4. Avocado Toast
If you are looking for a lunchtime meal which is easy and quick to make and will fill you up for the afternoon, this avocado toast is a great option for you.Ingredients:
- 1 avocado, mashed
- Juice of 1 lime
- Pinch of salt
- 4 slices beef tomato
- 2 slices seeded bread
- Vegan butter
Toast your bread how you like it and add some butter to soften. Mix the avocado with lime juice and salt and spread over the toast. Add tomato slices.
5. Easy pancakes
Pancakes are always a great breakfast choice for anyone and these vegan pancakes are just as good as the others but can be even fluffier.Ingredients:
- 200g flour
- 300ml nut milk
- 100ml Aqua Faber (chickpea can water)
- Fruit for topping
- Syrup for topping
To start this recipe you will want to take the aqua Faber and whisk it until soft peaks form like an egg. Mix the flour and milk together and then carefully fold in the aqua Faber for a light batter. Fry as you would any other pancake and then serve with your favorite topping.
6. Vegan stir fry
If you are looking for a meal which will take only 20 minutes on a week night, our vegan stir fry is exactly what you need this week.Ingredients:
- 2 nests soba noodles
- 1 tbsp Chinese five spice
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 100g raisins
- 1 tbsp barbecue sauce
- Stir fry vegetables (broccoli, peppers, baby corn, mange tout etc)
In a blender, mix everything except the noodles and vegetables. In a wok, bring sauce to a boil and let simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add vegetables and fry for around 5 minutes, meanwhile, boil noodles if they need to be boiled. Mix together in the wok and serve.
7. Oven roasted veggie fajitas
Fajitas are a super popular family meal and they are always welcomed on a Thursday or Friday night. To make this a veggie friendly recipe simply replace the chicken with some vegetables such as baby corn and peppers. Use your favorite fajita pack and roast your vegetables in the marinade for 30 minutes. Once done and ready, serve everything as you normally would!8. Pesto pasta
A wonderfully aromatic dish is sometimes what you need when you are looking for a healthy option for lunch, and this pesto sauce and pasta is an ideal summer treat for you.Ingredients:
- 1 Bunch basil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
- 2 tbsp vegetarian or vegan Parmesan
- 200g pasta of your choice
- 100g cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 100g asparagus, diced
To make a simple pesto place the basil, garlic, oil, nuts and cheese into a blender and blend until smooth. Boil the pasta as instructed and once done, add the pesto, tomatoes and asparagus into a pan with pasta and cook for 3-4 minutes. Serve with a crusty garlic bread or a side salad for a wonderful summer lunch or dinner for the whole family.
