Vegan Main Dish Recipes

Dana Gallagher
This collection of satisfying vegan main dishes includes stir-fries, curries, stews, chili, salads, burgers, and even pizza. These recipes eliminate meat, eggs, dairy, and all other animal products while embracing the goodness of fresh vegetables, whole grains, tofu, beans, nuts, and spices.
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Tofu and Peppers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

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Lime juice and chili-garlic sauce add zing to the peanut sauce that accompanies this tasty vegetarian main dish. The tofu and red bell peppers are roasted on the same baking sheets for easy preparation.

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Simple Vegetable Curry

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This satisfying stew gets a sweet and spicy kick from red curry paste and brown mustard seeds in a coconut milk broth. Sweet potato, cauliflower, and chickpeas make it a complete meal.

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Spaghetti with Three-Tomato Sauce

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Canned tomatoes, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh cherry tomatoes create layers of flavor in this spaghetti sauce. Minced garlic and crushed red-pepper flakes pack a lively punch.

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Bean-and-Veggie Sliders

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Kidney beans and rice are blended with ginger, garlic, carrot, broccoli, and cilantro to make these mini burgers inspired by Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches. Serve the pan-fried patties on whole-wheat rolls with chili mayonnaise, red onion, and sliced mango.

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Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds

Dana Gallagher
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Nutty, protein-rich quinoa mingles with yellow bell pepper, garlic, scallions, and zucchini in this satisfying main-dish salad. After cooking, stir in toasted almonds and celery to add crunch.

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Teriyaki Tofu and Mushrooms

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Simmer sauteed shiitake mushrooms in ginger-kissed teriyaki sauce to create an intensely savory, almost meaty-tasting sauce for pan-fried tofu. Serve this vegan dish with peppery watercress and steamed rice.

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Vegetarian Chili

Johnny Miller
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Tomato paste, green chiles, and chipotle powder make a rich, smoky base for this quick vegetarian chili. Black beans, pinto beans, and zucchini make it substantial and satisfying.

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Ginger-Peanut Somen Noodles

Beatriz de Costa
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Dress Japanese somen noodles in a snappy medley of grated ginger, lime zest, and rice-wine vinegar, and top with scallions and roasted peanuts. If you can't find somen, you may use vermicelli or thin spaghetti instead.

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Cuban Black-Bean Stew with Rice

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Using canned black beans and vegetable broth makes quick work of this satisfying 30-minute stew. Red onion and red bell pepper add sweetness and depth, while cider vinegar gives it the perfect touch of acidity.

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Buddha's Feast (Vegetable Stir-Fry)

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This version of the classic vegetarian stir-fry combines cubes of firm tofu with broccoli, bok choy, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, and baby corn. Imbue the tofu with savory flavor by marinating it in a mixture of vegetable broth, soy sauce, mirin, and chile paste.

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Bulgur with Roasted Red Peppers, Chickpeas, and Spinach

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Chewy, nutty-tasting bulgur wheat forms the foundation of this satisfying main-dish salad. Crisp pan-fried chickpeas, roasted red bell peppers, and baby spinach leaves complete the meal.

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Tofu Stir-Fry

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Punch up the flavor of tofu by marinating it in soy sauce, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil. Stir-fry a colorful assortment of vegetables with slices of fresh ginger and serve with lime wedges for a tangy touch.

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Marrakesh Stew

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Cumin, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, and cayenne pepper season this rich Moroccan stew. Butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, eggplant, canned diced tomatoes, and chickpeas make it a satisfying meal.

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Crispy Sesame Tofu

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Coat slices of tofu in sesame seeds and pan-fry until deliciously golden and crisp. Serve with sauteed broccoli and, if you like, steamed rice or soba noodles.

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Steamed Eggplant and Mushrooms with Peanut Sauce

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Japanese eggplant and shiitake mushrooms are steamed until tender and dressed in a peanut sauce flavored with ginger, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Serve this Asian-inspired vegetarian main dish over jasmine rice, brown rice, or noodles.

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Sauteed Tofu with Bitter Greens

Lisa Hubbard
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Extra-firm tofu takes on the flavor of its zesty marinade: soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, chili paste, and ginger. Serve the satueed tofu with sesame- and garlic-seasoned greens such as bok choy, collards, or mustard greens.

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Savory Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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Delight vegan guests with this unique entree. Kale and tofu seasoned with onion, garlic, and rosemary make a colorful and tasty stuffing for sweet potatoes.

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Curried Tofu

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This 15-minute dish is a perfect busy-night dinner. Just simmer sauteed tofu, frozen green beans, and sliced plum tomatoes in light coconut milk seasoned with garlic and curry powder.

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Brown Rice Stir-Fry with Flavored Tofu and Vegetables

Lisa Cohen
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Stir-fry minced garlic and fresh ginger together to release their fragrance before adding baked tofu to the pan. Red and yellow bell peppers, cooked brown rice, and scallions make this dish colorful and satisfying.

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Curried Lentils in Tomato Sauce

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Begin with canned lentils and your favorite bottled tomato sauce to assemble this vegan meal in just 20 minutes. Ginger, curry powder, garam masala, lime juice, and fresh cilantro add lively flavor to the dish.

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Tofu Kebabs with Cilantro Sauce

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Marinate tofu cubes and scallions in a refreshing puree of cilantro, jalapeno, ginger, and lime juice before threading onto skewers. Grill alongside summer squash kebabs and serve with the leftover marinade for dipping.

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Black-Bean Burger

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Make the flavor base for these black bean and basmati rice burgers by sauteing onion and red bell pepper with aromatic spices. Serve the pan-fried patties on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, and avocado.

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Soy-Glazed Tofu and Carrots

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A quick dip in a soy sauce marinade gives savory flavor to carrot sticks and tofu. Broil until nicely browned and season with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and scallions.

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Quick Vegetable and Navy-Bean Stew

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Saute diced onion, red potatoes, button mushrooms, and thyme to start this easy soup. Add canned navy beans and fresh spinach leaves, and season the soup with red-wine vinegar if you like.

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Tofu Stir-Fry with Noodles

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Whip up an easy peanut sauce and a stir-fry to liven up leftover spaghetti. This vegan dinner takes just 30 minutes to prepare.

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Five-Grain Salad

STEVEN FREEMAN
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Wild rice, amaranth, quinoa, millet, and brown basmati or jasmine rice combine with fresh oranges, radishes, fennel, and dill to create this nutritional powerhouse of a salad. This recipe is from Emeril Lagasse's cookbook "Farm to Fork".

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Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Vegetables and Peanut Sauce

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It takes only 20 minutes to whip up this easy vegan main dish of whole-wheat spaghetti, snow peas, carrots, and tofu coated with a sweet and tangy Asian-style peanut sauce.

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Spicy, Crisp Tofu on Mint-Avocado Salad

Sang An
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Asian chile sauce, orange zest, and Panko breadcrumbs create a wonderfully flavorful, crisp coating for pan-fried tofu. Serve on a salad with cool mint leaves and buttery avocado.

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Vegetarian Burger

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These immensely flavorful sweet potato, millet, and chickpea burgers are seasoned with coriander, cumin, and fennel. Pan-fry the patties in sesame oil and serve on toasted buns with tahini sauce.

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Asian Noodle Salad

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Toss soba noodles, blanched green beans, and silken tofu in a dressing of lime juice, soy sauce, and sesame oil to make this cool Asian salad. This 15-minute dish is perfect as a light dinner or an office lunch.

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Vegetable-Rice Bowl with Miso Dressing

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Butternut squash, red adzuki beans, tofu, brown rice, and your choice of leafy greens such as kale, chard, or beet greens are perfectly seasoned with a drizzle of miso-ginger dressing. Serve this extraordinarily nutritious Japanese-inspired dish with an assortment of condiments: grated daikon radish, dried seaweed, umeboshi plums, and gomaisho (a blend of toasted sesame seeds and sea salt).

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Soba and Tofu in Ginger Broth

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Simmer scallions, ginger, and garlic in water to create a delicately flavored broth to serve over grilled tofu and soba noodles. Cook bok choy, snow peas, and serrano chile in the broth along with the noodles.

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Mixed Vegetable Curry