Let’s get this out of the way: I’m not vegan. I never have been, and I probably never will be. But as I started sifting through recipes to make this week, I noticed quite a few dairy- and meat-free options in the mix. I’m not entirely sure what’s gotten into me (I rarely eat a meal that doesn’t include seafood, dairy, or eggs), but I decided to lean into it and pick five all-vegan recipes for this round of weeknight dinners. Here’s what I’ll be making.
1. Braised Shiitake Mushrooms
Last week, I wrote about Lucas Sin’s technique for cooking mushrooms by boiling them in water. It goes against every rule I thought I knew about working with mushrooms, and I’m completely intrigued.
2. Pasta With Silkiest Eggplant Sauce From Francis Lam
Though nothing can replace a creamy, dairy-rich pasta dish, I’m curious to try other ways of achieving a similarly silky texture. I love eggplant, so this recipe is a no-brainer.
3. Rich & Creamy Beans From Rachel Roddy
Yes, these beans take a while for a weeknight, but there are only five ingredients (including olive oil and salt) and it’s as hands-off as a recipe can get. I’ll likely wilt some greens into the beans at the last minute, then serve alongside a hunk of crusty bread.
4. Purnima Garg's Eggplant and Tomato Curry
I realize that this is the second eggplant dish of the week, but as I said earlier, I love this occasionally polarizing vegetable. Eggplant + tomato is a particularly magical combination, especially when combined with garam masala, coriander, and other spices.
5. Creamy Artichoke & Green Chile Soup
It’s the end of October, which means I’m legally obligated to include a soup on this list. Here, cashew cream and a Russet potato give the soup body and richness that would typically come from dairy. But it’s the topping—crispy, roasted artichoke hearts—that I’m truly drawn to.
More of our Favorite Weeknight Meals
- 5 Weeknight Dinners I’m Making Instead of Ordering Takeout (Again)
- 5 Weeknight Dinners to Make This Week, Family Edition
- 5 Weeknight Dinners for When You Want Leftovers
- How Private Chefs Meal Prep
A New Way to Dinner, co-authored by Food52's founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, is an indispensable playbook for stress-free meal-planning (hint: cook foundational dishes on the weekend and mix and match ‘em through the week).
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