A metal pan filled with a bean curry with green herbs on top

Best global vegetarian recipes

Butter bean curry (Gujarati Rangoon na vaal)

This easy Indian curry made with tinned beans and fragrant spices comes to us from chef and writer Maunika Gowardhan. Using asafoetida gives allium notes to the curry without any onion-induced tears. Go all out and pair this with Asma Khan's classic side dish, aloo gobi mattar. Or, make a family-friendly batch of dum aloo, served with fried bread. These addictive slabs of achari paneer tikka from Karam Sethi's restaurant, Brigadiers are seriously impressive. Create more meat-free Indian-style feasts with our best ever Indian vegetarian recipes.

Hungarian lecsó (pepper stew)

Hungarian chef Levente Koppány shares this traditional tomato and pepper stew recipe, delicious mopped up with crusty bread. Ideal for chilly evenings, this comforting dish will warm you from the inside out.

A steel frying pan with a spoon filled with orange and red slow cooked peppers and tomatoes

Hot and sour soup

Silken tofu features in this tangy soup by chef Sandy Tang. It has a spicy kick, that’ll warm you up in the winter months.

Avocado ceviche

Jícama is a native Mexican plant with a nutty, sweet flesh. Here, it's topped with creamy avocado ceviche, bursting with aromatic herbs and sharp red onion. This clever veggie take on the classic fish dish would make a stunning starter for your next dinner party. This recipe comes from Soho’s El Pastor restaurant and chef Marvin Jones. Cook more vegetarian Mexican recipes like crusted halloumi tacos and a smoky tomato salsa or a fragrant batch of red guacamole from Tacos Padre.

A white plate topped with slices of pale green jicama, topped with cubed avocado, sweetcorn and fresh green herbs

Silken tofu

Smothered in soy sauce, enjoy this creamy silken tofu as part of a Japanese-inspired feast.

Muhammara

A traditional Syrian dish, make this smoky red pepper dip and garnish with parsley, red onion, pomegranate seeds and a trickle of olive oil.

Kolamba's parippu lentil curry

The co-founder of Kolamba in London’s Soho, Eroshan Meewella, shares this recipe with us from the restaurant's kitchen. A Sri Lankan lentil curry spiced with mustard seeds, chilli powder, curry leaves and cinnamon, with layers of delicate flavour. Turn a standard storecupboard ingredient into something wholesome and satisfying with this aromatic dish.

A white bowl filled with a golden-coloured curry and white fluffy rice, scattered with coriander on a grey stone background

Syrian baba ghanoj

Perfect as a snack or part of a mezze feast, this recipe from chef Imad Alarnab from Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in London has the perfect blend of sweet pomegranate molasses, savoury blackened aubergines, nutty tahini and sharp lemon and yogurt.

Baba ghanoush on a blue plate topped with pomegranate seeds

Zaru soba noodles

This six-ingredient Japanese recipe comes from Masaki Sugisaki of Dinings SW3. Take small amounts of the noodles with chopsticks and dip half of the length of the noodle into the dipping sauce, remembering to slurp as you eat. Once you’ve finished the noodles, heat the reserved noodle cooking water and add to the dipping sauce. It is traditional to drink this as a soup, as the water contains nourishing minerals.

White bowls of noodles in broth with chopsticks

Celeriac, mustard and lovage

This smörgåsbord dish is courtesy of executive chef Henrik Ritzén at Nordic restaurant Aquavit, London. Showing off Nordic flavours at their simplest and best, this dish is really easy to prepare and perfect for your next dinner party. If you can’t find lovage use parsley instead.

Loobia chiti (pinto bean stew)

Reflecting the food of Tehran's hole-in-the-wall kabab houses, this satisfying pinto bean dish is easy to recreate at home. This recipe comes from Berenjak, a Persian restaurant based in London's Soho. Serve with omelette Irani, a moreish egg-based dish eaten with flatbreads and plenty of gusto.

Menemen, The Full Turkish

Chef Sabrina Ghayour treats us to her version of the classic Turkish breakfast dish, menemen. A delicious combination of eggs, onions and red peppers, this bold, full-of-flavour recipe is gluten-free and perfect for sharing with family or friends.

Cauliflower shawarma

This recipe for cauliflower shawarma, pomegranate, tahini and pine nuts comes from Berber and Q Grill House in East London. Serving cauliflower whole like this is inspired, particularly when it's smothered in shawarma butter.

Vegetable dumplings (jiaozi)

These vibrant vegan jiaozi (the Chinese word for 'dumpling') are the perfect weekend project. Fill yours with mooli, celery, sweetcorn and water chestnuts. Spend a little time crafting these bright green parcels of deliciousness. This recipe comes from BaoziInn, which has six locations across London.

A plate of green dumplings on a wooden table

Sweet potato gnudi

Similar to gnocchi, gnudi are instead made from ricotta, making them a lighter alternative. This recipe uses sweet potato for a twist on the old Italian favourite, serving with lemony cavolo nero and super crispy sage. Want to expand your Italian repertoire? Try this decadent cauliflower and fontina cannelloni from the chefs at Cantino Corvino.