In January, people across the world unite to take part in ‘January’ – a month of completely cutting out meat and dairy products. This is good for detoxing after any over-indulgence, and of course it’s also fantastic for the environment. If you want to give it a go yourself this year, look no further than our easy Veganuary recipes for students!
Butternut Squash Curry
This is a really warm and tasty winter recipe, perfect for leftovers too – or sharing with your flatmates of course! You’ll need…
450g chopped up butternut squash
2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
2 tablespoons of fresh ginger (grated)
3 tablespoons of yellow Thai curry paste
1 can of coconut milk
1 red pepper
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
Half a bag of spinach
Rice
While cooking your rice, add some oil to a large pan or casserole dish then cook your butternut squash for 4-6 minutes. Take it out and leave to the side while you saute your onion before adding in your garlic, ginger and curry paste one at a time. Then add your coconut milk and turmeric, as well as the red pepper and your butternut squash. Let it simmer for around 15 minutes then take it off the heat; at this point you can add in soy sauce and/or lime juice if you wish, then it’s time to add your spinach in to wilt. Serve over your cooked rice and voila – a completely vegan curry!
Tomato & Basil Pasta
This is super quick and easy, and while it seems basic it’s absolutely delicious. You’ll need…
Dried pasta (fresh pasta tends to be made with egg, so it’s not vegan!)
700g cherry tomatoes
1 red onion (chopped)
7 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon of balsamic glaze
50g fresh basil
Chances are you’ve cooked pasta before, so that bit should be nice and easy – and in the meantime, cook your onions and then your garlic in a pan with a drop of oil to stop them sticking. Once they’re done, add in a bit of pasta water (about 60ml, but you can eyeball it) as well as your tomatoes. After a few minutes, add a bit more pasta water and also gently press your tomatoes so they release some juice. You can add some seasoning in here too like oregano, salt or pepper. Pop in half your basil and the balsamic glaze, simmer for a couple of minutes then remove from the heat. Drain your pasta, mix together and serve with the rest of the basil on top as well as any other toppings you fancy – some vegan parmesan, for example!
Vegan fish and chips
This one is simply one of the easiest Veganuary recipes for students – you can make it completely from the freezer if you want to. Now that we’re in 2023, there are so many incredible options when it comes to vegan versions of well known food types. Most types of meat now have a vegan version, and there are even some vegan ‘fish’ options too. Grab one of these, and some frozen chips (although it’s so easy to make your own by chopping up some potatoes and sticking them in the air fryer or oven!) and there you have it. Serve with some peas and you’ve got a vegan freezer meal which requires barely any time or effort.
These are just three easy Veganuary recipes for students, but there are hundreds more available. Good luck if you are taking part this year – you might even find some new favourite dishes!
