Veganuary Around the World: 12 Plant-Based Recipes to Try This January

Veganuary has grown from a small campaign in the UK into a global movement, with millions of people pledging to eat plant-based for the month of January. But you have to sacrifice on flavour or cultural connection to food, if you want to go vegan. In fact, some of the world’s most beloved dishes are naturally plant-based or easily adapted.

This list takes you on a culinary trip across six continents, highlighting vegan recipes that are rooted in local tradition. You will find smoky West African stews and fragrant Thai curries, to add to your vegan meal plans. If you are curious about Veganuary, these recipes offer a delicious way to broaden your palate this January.

1. Jollof Rice (West Africa)

Jollof rice is a staple across West Africa, with Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal each claiming their own version as the best. The dish is made with a blend of tomatoes, peppers, and onions giving it its signature red-orange color and smoky depth. It’s then simmered down into a rich base before the rice is added to soak up all that flavor.

While it is made with chicken or beef stock, jollof rice is easy to veganize by swapping in vegetable broth and adding hearty vegetables like carrots and peas. The result is a dish that’s just as flavorful and satisfying as the original. You can try this vegan jollof rice recipe from BBC Good Food for a plant-based take on the West African classic.

2. Injera with Misir Wot (Ethiopia)

Ethiopian cuisine is one of the most naturally vegan-friendly cuisines in the world, credit to the country’s long tradition of fasting days observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. A prime example is Misir wot, a spiced red lentil stew, simmered with berbere spice blend, garlic, and onions until thick and deeply flavorful.

The stew is traditionally served with injera, a spongy fermented flatbread made from teff flour. Together, they create a meal that’s communal, hearty, and packed with protein. For an authentic version, check out this misir wot recipe from Simply Quinoa.

3. Vegetable Biryani (India)

India has one of the richest vegetarian and vegan food cultures on earth, and veg biryani is one of its most celebrated dishes. This fragrant rice dish layers basmati rice with spiced vegetables, saffron, and fried onions, then slow-cooks everything together so the flavors meld into something greater than the sum of its parts.

While meat versions are common, vegetable biryani is a beloved dish in its own right across much of India.You try this vegetable biryani recipe from Serious Eats, which walks through the layering technique step by step.

4. Pad Thai (Thailand)

Pad Thai is one of Thailand’s most internationally recognized dishes, known for its balance of sweet, sour, salty, and savory flavors. This stir-fried rice noodle dish includes fish sauce and sometimes shrimp or egg, but can be easily made vegan by using soy sauce, tamarind paste, and tofu in place of animal proteins.

The key to a great vegan pad Thai lies in getting that sauce balance right. This vegan pad Thai recipe from Nora Cooks offers an amazing formula for achieving that signature tangy-sweet flavor at home.

5. Mapo Tofu (China)

Mapo tofu is a dish from the Sichuan province of China, famous for its bold, numbing heat credit to Sichuan peppercorns and chili bean paste. Silky cubes of tofu are simmered in a spicy, savory sauce that’s traditionally thickened with minced pork. For the fully plant-based version, mushrooms or plant-based ground meat is used.

The dish is a favorite for its quick cooking time and intense flavor payoff. This vegan mapo tofu recipe from The Woks of Life captures the dish’s signature heat and numbing spice without any animal products.

6. Ratatouille (France)

This rustic Provençal vegetable stew has been a staple of French home cooking for generations, long before it became a household name thanks to the Pixar film. Ratatouille layers zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and tomatoes, all slow-cooked with garlic and herbes de Provence until tender and richly flavored.

Naturally vegan, ratatouille is a wonderful entry point if you are exploring French cuisine during Veganuary. This classic ratatouille recipe from NYT Cooking offers a traditional approach that lets the vegetables shine.

7. Patatas Bravas (Spain)

Patatas bravas is a beloved tapas dish in Spain, featuring crispy fried potatoes served with a smoky, spiced tomato sauce. While some versions include aioli made with egg, a plant-based aioli can be made from cashews or plant-based mayo delivers the same creamy contrast without straying from tradition.

This dish is a reminder that some of Spain’s most iconic tapas are naturally plant-friendly. For an easy take, try this patatas bravas recipe from BBC Good Food, which pairs well with other small plates for a full tapas spread.

8. Borscht (Ukraine/Eastern Europe)

Borscht is a vibrant beet soup found throughout Ukraine and Eastern Europe, known for its deep crimson color and tangy-sweet flavor. Although it has meat broth or a dollop of sour cream, a vegan version can be made with vegetable stock and cashew cream.

The soup is traditionally served with a slice of dark rye bread on the side. This vegan borscht recipe keeps the dish’s signature tang while making it entirely plant-based.

9. Elote-Style Street Corn (Mexico)

Mexican street corn, or elote, is a beloved snack sold by vendors throughout Mexico. Typically slathered in mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime, a vegan version swaps in plant-based mayo and a cashew-based “cheese” to replicate the dish’s creamy, tangy coating without sacrificing flavor.

The dish’s smoky, spicy, and citrusy profile makes it a Veganuary favorite for anyone craving bold flavors. This vegan elote recipe from Minimalist Baker delivers all the classic flavor in a fully plant-based format.

10. Feijoada-Inspired Black Bean Stew (Brazil)

Feijoada is Brazil’s national dish. It’s a hearty black bean stew traditionally cooked with various cuts of pork. A plant-based version leans into the stew’s smoky, savory base, using smoked paprika and liquid smoke to replicate that signature depth without any meat.

Served over rice with a side of collard greens and orange slices, this dish captures the spirit of Brazilian comfort food. This black bean stew recipe offers a plant-based nod to the beloved dish.

11. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie (United Kingdom)

Shepherd’s pie is a quintessential British comfort food, originally made with minced lamb topped with creamy mashed potatoes. The vegan version swaps lentils and mushrooms for the meat, creating a filling that’s just as hearty and satisfying beneath that golden potato crust.

Given that Veganuary itself originated in the UK, this dish feels like a fitting tribute to the campaign’s roots. This vegan shepherd’s pie recipe from BBC is a reliable, cozy option for cold January nights.

12. Vegetable Laksa (Malaysia/Singapore)

Laksa is a spicy noodle soup found throughout Malaysia and Singapore, popular for its rich coconut curry broth. You can swap the shrimp paste or chicken from the traditional recipe, with fragrant paste of lemongrass, chilies, and galangal, to make vegetable Laksa.
Packed with tofu, bean sprouts, and rice noodles, this dish is a warming, aromatic option for Veganuary. This vegetable laksa recipe brings the dish’s signature spice and creaminess to your own kitchen.

A World of Flavor Without Compromise

These twelve dishes prove that plant-based eating is an invitation to explore the world’s culinary traditions in a new light.

This Veganuary, consider using these recipes as a starting point for your own kitchen adventures. You might discover a new favorite dish, or simply gain a deeper appreciation for how naturally plant-based so much of the world’s food already is. However you approach it, there’s a world of flavor waiting to be explored, one plate at a time.