She Strengthens

Embracing Affordable Veganism: 10 Budget-Friendly Recipes to Get You Started

As a vegan newbie, I was overwhelmed by the plethora of expensive and exotic ingredients required by many recipes. However, I soon discovered that eating plant-based doesn’t have to break the bank. With a few simple tweaks and smart shopping strategies, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious vegan meals without sacrificing your budget.

Smart Shopping Strategies

To keep costs low, I shop at discount grocers, produce stands, and Asian markets for staples like tofu, curry paste, coconut milk, and grains. These markets often offer significant savings compared to traditional health food stores. Additionally, I’ve learned to make clever substitutions in recipes, such as swapping kale for spinach or quinoa for regular rice.

10 Budget-Friendly Vegan Recipes

These recipes are designed to be accessible, fun, and nutritious, using inexpensive and easy-to-find ingredients. Many of these dishes feature mixed veggies, allowing you to use whatever vegetables you have on hand.

1. Easy Massaman Curry

This curry recipe checks all the boxes: easy, inexpensive, and filling. I can find every ingredient at my local bulk store and produce stand.

2. Buffalo Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes make the perfect vehicle for other foods. Filling protein like chickpeas easily transforms them from a side to a meal.

3. Jumbo Chickpea Pancake

Chickpea flour may seem intimidating, but it’s easy to find at bulk stores and won’t break the bank. This high-protein meal is also incredibly versatile.

4. Sheet Pan Pancakes

Who says pancakes can’t be a dinner option? This recipe uses a one-for-one gluten-free flour, but you can swap it out with regular wheat flour for a cheaper alternative.

5. Mushroom and Barley Soup

Soup is an excellent way to use up vegetables and grains while packing in nutrients. Try making your own “junk broth” by freezing vegetable scraps and boiling them into a broth.

6. Watermelon Couscous Salad

Couscous is a budget-friendly staple that can be cooked simply by adding equal parts couscous and boiling water. This recipe adds a few more steps for a sophisticated result.

7. Basic Baked Tofu and Quinoa

This recipe is as basic as it gets, but it’s satisfying and easy to whip up. Tip: press your tofu for 20 minutes to squeeze out excess moisture and absorb flavors better.

8. Chickpea and Dumpling Soup

This ingredient list may look long, but it’s mostly common spices and cheap veggies. Save by subbing wine with vegetable broth.

9. Lemon One Pot Pasta

One-pot pastas are an easy way to use up vegetables while solving the “pasta again?” problem. Add lemon flavor for a summery twist.

10. Chickpea Fries

Chickpea flour returns! These high-protein, dense, and tasty fries are a nutritional step up from frozen alternatives. You can skip the stock and use water instead.

By embracing these budget-friendly vegan recipes, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals without breaking the bank. Happy cooking!