If you’re aiming to reduce your meat consumption, for whatever reason that may be, you’re in luck, because there are countless delicious veggie options to choose from…
Order in
There’s nothing better than ordering a gorgeous takeaway, particularly on a cold evening in January, and these days there is a whole range of meat-free dishes to choose from. Places like Holy Smoke in Cork are doing Beyond Burgers, McDonald’s has McPlants and Veggie Dipper and Wraps, Boojum have plant-based pork burritos and Dominos do vegan-friendly pizzas, from PepperoNAY to the Vegan Margherita.
Special mention goes to the award-winning Camile Thai, who have a whole range of of vegan dishes to try including the Vegan Pad Thai, Vegan Green Curry, and Vegan Pad Prik Haeng; which we can confirm are delicious. However, if you’re feeling more flexitarian, Camile is offering 15% off their entire menu to celebrate Veganuary, so everyone’s happy!
Supermarket sweep
Go looking for meat-free products on your weekly shop, and you’ll be shocked at the amount of incredible options you can find, whatever your budget. In M&S, there are delectable offerings from its Plant Kitchen range, including Vegan Chicken and Pepper Pizza, Vegan ‘Nduja Paste and Vegan Fried Chicken Seasoning.
Meanwhile, Aldi have a huge choice too – from Vegan Sausage Rolls at just €1.49 to veggie soups, meat-free mince and meatballs as well as Denny Meat Free Sausages. And look out for Irish brand fiid in Tesco or SuperValu; its range includes meals-for-one or share bowls, with six flavours from Lentil Ragu to Smoky Black Bean, that simply needs to be heated for 90 seconds before you tuck in.
New from the brand is its Veggie Pots (€2.89), a wholesome twist on instant noodles that combine a delicious blend of vegetables, quinoa and spices. Add boiling water for an instant healthy snack bursting with flavour; perfect for in-between-meals cravings, afternoon (or late night) snacking, or whenever you’re in a rush.
Straight from frozen
A really convenient way to ensure you stick to your meat-free is plans is ensuring you always have a veggie option in the freezer, ready to bang into the oven. We love Strong Roots, the Irish-founded plant-based frozen food company, from its Spinach Bites to its Kale & Quinoa Burgers. Plant It is another great Irish brand with gorgeous frozen food to choose from, our favourites being its Chicken-Free Salt & Chili Strips.
And Jacked-Up is another Irish-based brand, creating meat-free meals using the humble Jackfruit, which can be eaten from the fridge or freezer. Described as an ideal meat replacement thanks to its ‘pulled pork’ texture, this comes in flavours like BBQ and Indian Curry.
Recipe hunting
Make veggie-based meals easier by making them fun. Get excited about trying new dishes, and experiment in the kitchen by aiming for one new recipe a week. There are countless cookbooks out there, and lots of Irish options, to help you on your quest, including Roz Purcell’s No Fuss Vegan, Cornucopia: The Green Cookbook and The Happy Pear: Recipes for Happiness.
You’ll find lots online too, from Deliciously Ella’s website to following the likes of Natural Born Feeder (Roz again!) or The Vegan Honey Pot on Instagram. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of this month’s Irish Country Magazine – we have two delicious veggie recipes from new meal delivery service Hello Fresh in there, guaranteed to be new favourites in your household!
