At the start of a new year, some of us may be tempted to restrict our diet, perhaps even cutting out entire food groups. Here at olive we believe in quite the opposite; starting January nourishing ourselves with a diversity of whole foods, including healthy fats, whole grains and plant sources of protein.
The good news is when you eat a largely plant-based diet, you can increase your portion sizes, due to plant foods tending to be less calorie-dense than animal products. This means you can happily fill up your plate with a rainbow medley of fruit, veg, grains, nuts and more. Below you will find our most wholesome and hearty plant-based recipes to keep you feeling your absolute best as we transition into the new year and beyond.
Read about 30 gut-friendly ways to sneak in extra plant foods to hit your weekly target, then read about how to eat 30 plant foods a week. Discover our plant-packed recipes to keep you thriving as the seasons change and then try our healthy comfort food recipes.
10 wholesome and hearty plant-forward recipes
Winter veg pilaf
Who doesn’t love a one-pot? This one brings together brown basmati rice, parsnips and kale with plenty of warming spices plus pomegranate seeds and coriander for bursts of freshness.
Kung pao tofu
Skip the takeaway and make our vegan take on the Sichuan classic. To boost the fibre and plant points of this recipe – and keep you fuller for longer – I’ve used wholegrain rice rather than white, and added in some tinned red kidney beans.
Whipped tofu harissa pasta
This 30-minute dinner is a real winner for weekdays, and with the charred vegetables it’s even special enough to serve to guests. Swap the courgette for a winter green such as kale and simply stir through the pasta and sauce to wilt.
Fragrant dumpling noodle soup
Another weeknight star, this noodle soup is a cosy hug in bowl. Use up whatever leftover veg your have in your fridge to boost the plants even further.
Kimchi and beans shakshuka
Get your day off to a nourishing start with this veg-packed shakshuka. If you want to make a fully vegan version (with extra plant points, too) you can blend a block of silken tofu with ½ tsp of turmeric, 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast and seasoning to use in the place of eggs. For extra nourishment, I’ve added in half a chopped red pepper, a few handfuls of spinach and wholewheat bread instead of white.
Jackfruit massaman curry
Add a tin of drained chickpeas into your curry for the last few minutes of cooking for plant fibre and protein, as well as a big handful of both spinach and kale. A squeeze of citrus helps your body better absorb the iron from the spinach and you can also leave the skins on your potatoes for extra fibre, plus swap the white rice for your favourite wholegrain.
Vegan buddha bowl
Finish this wholesome bowl with a sprinkling of both white and black sesame seeds for an additional two plant points. You can also add in a tin of chickpeas when roasting your cauliflower and carrots for more protein and fibre.
Masala french toast with coriander chutney
If you want to make a plant-packed, plant-based batter, whisk chickpea flour with soy milk to achieve the thickness of an eggy batter. Then stir in the seasonings as below. Use wholewheat seeded bread rather than regular white for extra fibre, then top with sliced avocado for even more plants.
Vegan pancakes
Treat yourself to a colourful brunch with a stack of these vibrant pancakes. After making your pancake batter, divide it into three equal portions. Add a couple of handfuls of spinach into one, roughly 30g of grated carrot into another and then 30g of chopped cooked beetroot into the last one. Blend each of them until you have a smooth batter, then cook your pancakes as written in the recipe.
Avocado chocolate mousse
We’re certainly not skipping dessert this month! For an extra dose of protein, plus iron, calcium and magnesium, add a block of silken tofu in with the avocado at the start. Blend until really creamy then follow the recipe as written. Top with a mixture of toasted nuts and winter berries (such as cranberries) for even more plants.
