Fall vegetarian recipes will give you plenty of options to explore and try for those that do not consume meat, especially when the dishes of the season are usually stews and roasts that are meat-based. Not only will these recipes be just as filling as non-vegetarian foods, but they will warm you up just as well too.
Classic Fall Flavors
- Apples - Whether you bake this fall fruit into a pie, caramelize it or turn it into a cider, nothing says fall like crisp apples.
- Cinnamon - Warm and spicy, yet mild enough to be enjoyed by anyone, cinnamon is a warm flavor for a chilly fall.
- Maple - Sweet and rich, maple syrup is a great ingredient to use in any fall recipe.
- Ginger - Spicy and complex, you can add ginger to any fall dish for a boost of heat and to your immune system.
- Pumpkin Spice - You can’t go through the fall season without eating or drinking some pumpkin spice-infused recipe, it’s a favorite for a reason.
- Chai - Similar to pumpkin spice, chai is a blend of warming spices often used in teas and desserts.
- Brown Butter - Browning butter gives it a nuttier and richer taste, and is often used in desserts and pastries ideal for fall
Spices for Fall
- Allspice - It has an aroma similar to cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg that are blended and adds a great flavor to roast veggies and stews.
- Cumin - This is an ideal spice to add to stews, hummus, roast veggies, and anything that needs a bold and distinct fall taste.
- Nutmeg - Nutmeg will give any dish a slightly savory and warm touch and is ideal for use in stews, soups, and pumpkin pies.
- Star Anise - The spice will give your dish a mild licorice flavor and is often used in soups, stews, and roasted veggies.
15 Comforting Fall Vegetarian Recipes
1. Pumpkin Spice Panna Cotta
Craving something sweet, spicy, and creamy? This fall-inspired dessert with a sweet caramel topping by Lemons For Lulu is vegetarian-friendly and hits the spot every time.
2. Sweet Potato Bites
Life Family & Fun created the best sweet potato snack bite recipe that you can top with whatever you like. The recipe, as is, is vegan-friendly too, but add some cream cheese on top if you’d like.
3. Hearty Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup
Make Lemons For Lulu’s hearty lentil stew in a big batch to keep for a cold day when you don’t feel like cooking. Plus, it packs a protein punch. It can be made in under 2 hours and freezes well.
4. Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Treat yourself to a fall-inspired breakfast with some delicious and healthy pumpkin spice pancakes from Nutrition in the Kitch. It is not only vegetarian-friendly but gluten- and dairy-free.
5. Pumpkin Lentil Chili with Quinoa
Quinoa and lentils are both excellent protein sources, so this pumpkin lentil chili with quinoa recipe will fill the hungriest bellies. They also give you some excellent replacement options for some of the ingredients, so there’s no excuse not to try the recipe this fall.
6. Slow Cooker Thai Green Curry
When the weather cools down, having a good bowl of curry will make anyone feel much better. Nutrition in the Kitch has an easy version for you to try and shows you how to make it vegetarian.
7. Smoked Bourbon Peach Cobbler
Even though peaches are a summer fruit, they are grown all over the country so that you can enjoy this winning combination of bourbon and sweet peaches in a cobbler throughout the fall. While the recipe suggests using a smoker, don’t worry, you can make this in the oven if you don’t have a smoker.
8. Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin and cinnamon are a match made in heaven in the recipe by Lemons for Lulu. It will not disappoint and is made in just over an hour.
9. Fall Kale Salad
Nutritious and easy to make, this kale salad recipe is ideal for a light family lunch or a tasty side to your fall dinner meal.
10. Fall Harvest Salad
Nutrition in the Kitch not only provides you with a perfect fall salad packed with apples, nuts, and beets but includes a recipe for an apple dijon salad dressing to complement the dish.
11. Whole Wheat Walnut Salted Caramel Apple Galette
Don’t let the name scare you. This whole wheat apple galette is a fall treat that is no-fuss, made in only 40 minutes, and sure to satisfy any sweet craving.
12. Roasted Pumpkin Hummus
Who doesn’t like a good hummus at a lunch table? Lemons for Lulu made a classic dip into a fall treat that will have you making it on a weekly basis. Plus you can thin it out and make it into a delicious salad dressing too.
13. Vegan Apple Cake with Streusel Topping
Nutrition in the Kitch has a healthy vegan and gluten-free take on a classic apple cake, it will fill your house with a cinnamon smell and satisfy a craving you didn’t know you had.
14. Maple Roasted Rosemary Acorn Squash
What better way to enjoy the fall harvest than by roasting some acorn squash? Perfect for any dish that needs a warm side, this maple roasted rosemary acorn squash will leave your guests feeling like they’ve had a restaurant-quality side dish.
15. Ginger Pecan Cookies
You might need to make a few batches of these delicious cookies from Lemons for Lulu. Every bite is packed with classic fall flavors, and the ginger gives it a subtle hint of warmth.
Vegetarian Diet Rules
Eat Starchy Foods
A third of your food intake should be based on carbohydrates. Eat sweet potato, potatoes, rice, and whole grains to get you to your daily carb intake goal.
Eat a Variety of Fruits and Veggies in a Day
Try to consume 5 portions of at least 80 grams of different fruits and veggies daily to ensure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function well.
Dairy and Milk Alternatives Are Key
Make sure you are not consuming too much dairy to try and supplement your calcium and protein daily, as it can be too fatty. Milk alternatives such as oat milk and soya milk are healthy options that can still provide you with calcium and protein.
Other Sources of Protein
Cutting out meat will require you to look for other good protein sources. Beans, pulses, and eggs are good options to help you reach your daily protein intake goal.
Choose Unsaturated Fats and Oils
Unsaturated fats are far healthier than saturated fats, so choose sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, and vegetable oil over saturated fats like butter and ghee.
Limit Your Salt and Sugar Intake
Eat fewer foods that are high in salt and sugar since the energy in these foods will be based on the sugars and fat, whilst increasing your salt intake too.
Foods to Avoid When Cooking Fall Vegetarian Recipes
Gelatin
If you are making a vegetarian panna cotta, you can’t thicken and set the yogurt with gelatin, as it’s made from animal bones. Instead, use something like agar-agar, which is completely plant-based.
Hard Cheeses
Many kinds of hard cheese used for cooking or toppings contain rennet, which is an enzyme found in the lining of cows’ stomachs. But read the labels on your hard cheeses, some companies use a vegetarian-friendly alternative to rennet.
Caesar Salad Dressing
Caesar salad dressing contains anchovies or fish sauce, which isn’t vegetarian-friendly. It’s best to look for a vegan or vegetarian version of the sauce next time you go shopping or make your own.
Canned Refried Beans
Many brands use lard, also known as rendered beef fat, to fry their beans in, so make sure you either make your own at home or check your labels for lard before stocking up.
Pie Pasty
Store-bought pie pastries are often made with lard, so look for a pasty made with butter or vegan butter instead. Making your own pastry at home can be tricky, but ensures it is safe for a vegetarian to enjoy.
FAQ
Vegetarians get protein by eating plenty of vegetables, nuts, and beans. Beans and pulses are also high in protein, and options such as vegetable protein mince, and chunks are a great substitute for meat in stews or casseroles that will also boost your protein intake.
Following a vegetarian diet is healthier, if you consume enough protein daily to keep your body healthy and avoid fatty and salty foods. Being a vegetarian, you don’t consume any animal fat, which is saturated and linked to cardiovascular problems.
When you go vegetarian, there is a positive impact on your body. Vegetarians generally have lower cholesterol and blood pressure which decreases their likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
They generally also have lower body mass index rates, better metabolisms, and chances of developing life-threatening diseases such as cancer and chronic disease.
Conclusion
When the weather turns colder, you don’t have to consume meat to get a warm and satisfying meal. There are plenty of fall vegetarian recipes that are not only healthy but also delicious and hearty that the whole family can enjoy.
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