It’s time for Autumn Dinners!
As we head into autumn and the temperatures begin to fall, it’s time to think about comfort foods. Those hearty, wholesome dishes that are wonderful to curl up with in front of the fire!
Here’s a collection of my favourite gluten-free and dairy-free meals that are perfect to enjoy on colder evenings and are beautifully simple to prepare.
Just click on any title or photo below to head straight to the recipe of your choice!
1) 10 Minute Peanut Butter Curry
You may never have thought of adding peanut butter to curry before – but once you discover the richness it brings to the flavour, you won’t think of making it any other way! Completely dairy-free and gluten-free, this amazing vegan curry takes just 10 minutes to make. Yes, you read that correctly! Serve with brown rice or quinoa for a quick and comforting meal and freeze any leftovers to use on a busy weeknight (when you don’t even have 10 minutes to cook!).
2) Comforting Black Bean Chilli
Try serving this gluten-free vegan chilli inside split, roasted sweet potatoes and you’ll never go back to ‘traditional’ chilli again! The combination of black beans and kidney beans provides a hearty and satisfying texture, whilst the cacao powder adds extra depth of flavour to the rich passata-based sauce. This is an aromatic dish that kids and adults will enjoy and takes less than half an hour to put together – perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
3) Dairy Free Fish Pie
With it’s indulgent, creamy texture and vibrant natural flavours, it’s hard to believe this easy fish pie is actually gluten and dairy-free! The recipe is totally versatile, allowing you to use whatever fish your family enjoys the most, or to swap the white potato for nutritious sweet potato, pumpkin or even butternut squash. It’s simple to put together and everything cooks in just one dish, so clean up is quick and easy too!
4) Gluten Free & Vegan Lasagne
This protein-packed vegan lasagna recipe combines healthy black beans and gluten-free lasagna. But what really makes it special is the dairy-free bechamel sauce, which uses cashews and plant milk to produce a decadently creamy texture. The end result is a deliciously cheesy and satisfying dish that you could use to impress your guests at a dinner party or enjoy as a family meal.
5) One-Pot Mushroom Stroganoff
There’s nothing quite like the rich “meaty” flavour of mushrooms, especially when you combine them with the creaminess of coconut milk in this dairy-free, gluten-free stroganoff. This recipe is meat-free perfect for those #meatfreemondays and uses just 8 simple ingredients that you may already have at home. Yet the taste is so rich and indulgent that no one will believe it takes just 30 minutes to make, from start to finish!
6) Veggie Thai Green Curry
A plant-based meal that will warm you from the inside out, this aromatic curry is packed with healthy ingredients and far tastier than a take-away! It’s ready in only half an hour and costs just £10 to feed four, so it’s quicker and cheaper too! Serve with quinoa, brown rice or noodles for a complete and satisfying vegetarian meal – or throw in chicken or prawns to satisfy the meat-eaters too.
7) Easy One-Pot Pasta Bake
Pasta bake doesn’t come any easier than this! Just 5 minutes preparation time and 40 minutes of cooking are all you need to produce a wholesome and filling meatless meal, packed with tempting veggies and topped with vegan cheese. You can serve it up in the pot you cooked it in – so clean up is quick and easy – and it tastes great served for lunch the next day too!
8) Lentil Shepherds Pie
The basis of this dairy-free shepherd’s pie is the plant-based lentil sauce, with its rich and meaty texture. Packed with incredible flavour, it contrasts perfectly with the hearty mashed potato topping. At under £10 for a family of four, this is a healthy, low-cost vegan meal, guaranteed to leave you warm and satisfied at the end of a chilly day.
9) Sweet Potato & Black Bean Stew
This vegan stew makes a perfect meal for a chilly autumn evening. Delicious paired with brown rice or quinoa, it uses simple but flavour-packed ingredients and can be on the table in just 40 minutes from start to finish! This is a great make-ahead meal, as it lasts for 2 to 3 days in the fridge and freezes well too.
10) 10 Minute Colourful Ramen
This dish celebrates the bold, vibrant colours of fresh vegetables, combining them with noodles and a burst of zingy lime to create a quick and easy meatless meal. Not only does this vegan ramen brighten up a chilly autumn evening, it makes a fun and nutritious lunch too! Just store the prepared ingredients in a large jar in the fridge, then take it to work with you the next day and reheat it in the microwave.
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