Opinion Help! What do I cook for a vegan?

So your vegan friend, date, or daughter-in-law is coming around for dinner, and you barely know what ‘vegan’ means. What on earth do they eat? Erm, lots of delicious things, in fact! And we can help you narrow your search. These 8 recipes are sure to impress – yes, even your non-vegan guests.

I’ve pulled together a collection of recipes that I hope will contain dishes you’re already familiar with – with a few plant-based tweaks. They’re creative enough for catering to guests, don’t contain any obscure vegan ingredients that will have you scouring the aisles, and they’ve historically prompted vegans and non-vegans to ask for seconds.

1. BBQ Butter Bean Tacos

Everyone loves tacos! And Mexican cuisine does plant-based seamlessly. Black beans, refried beans, lentils and mushrooms all make great fillings, topped with fresh tomato salsa, corn, dairy-free cheese, guacamole and any other veggie toppings you love. These BBQ butter bean tacos are simple, delicious and sure to be a hit.

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2. Mushroom & Leek Pie

These pies are packed with flavour. Creamy mushrooms and flaky pastry – what’s not to love? This is a perfect recipe for hosting, because you can do lots of the prep work beforehand, and then just pop them in the oven when it’s time to eat.

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3. Chickpea Massaman Curry

Massaman is one of my favourite curries. It’s super hearty, with chunky potato, capsicum and beans, and it has just the right balance of spicy and sweet. And rounding out the dish with a pop of protein are chickpeas – a curry’s best friend!

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4. Lentil Bolognese

Have a winning Bolognese recipe? You can substitute tinned brown lentils (drained) into most Bolognese recipes to make a plant-based version of this family favourite. Top it with some dairy-free cheese and voilà. If you haven’t got a go-to Bolognese recipe up your sleeve, chuck this one on your list – it’s a keeper.

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5. Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Tahini Dressing

Vegans and non-vegans alike will love this salad. With crunchy cauliflower, fresh herbs, sweet pops of pomegranate, and the hearty creaminess of avocado, it’s bursting with flavour. It’s a particularly photogenic one too!

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6. Mushroom & Lentil Sausage Rolls

For a ‘party food’ vibe, these mini sausage rolls are ridiculously tasty and packed with protein too. Consider doubling the recipe – these will go fast!

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7. Easy Vegan Phở

Phở is a great dish when you have guests, as you can serve the toppings on the side and let everyone customise their bowl to their own taste. And all the different coloured add-ins make for a beautiful spread!

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8. Pan-fried Pesto Gnocchi

This recipe is surprisingly simple with a restaurant-quality flavour and finish. You can pre-make the pesto and then, when it’s time to eat, cook the gnocchi, stir in the pesto, and add cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and vegan parmesan. Easy and delicious!

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Want more?

If none of these recipes are hitting the mark for your soiree, no sweat! We have hundreds more. Click here to browse all our plant-based recipes.

And if you’re still feeling overwhelmed about catering for your vegan guest, just ask them what they like. Most vegans have at least this in common: we love talking about food! Get chatting and it’s likely you’ll have oodles (and noodles?) of food inspo in no time.