It’s World Vegetarian Day!

Meet our meat free team

Favourite Veggie Dish: Salt and Pepper Butterbeans

“I have been vegetarian since birth. My Mum saw a documentary on animal cruelty when she was pregnant with me, so raised me that way… 30 years later, it feels like it’s a habit that will probably stick! I did try a few bits over the course of my childhood but it’s not for me. Eating meat seems so unnecessary when there are soo many alternatives available.

The dish I’d love to recommend is Salt and Pepper Butterbeans. I’d never even tried butterbeans until last year when Sarah made a Spanish dish with them and bought some into work for me to try! I knew I needed to incorporate them into my cupboard staples.

To make this, I fry up some garlic, onions and peppers until soft, then add cooked butterbeans to the mix and cook it all together until the beans start to brown. I then add a generous helping of soy sauce, salt and pepper seasoning and cashew nuts. I usually serve this with rice fried in garlic, butter and veg stock.”

Favourite Veggie Dish: Spaghetti Bolognese

“I knew from an early age that I didn’t want to eat animals, when I was 12 I asked my parents if I could stop eating meat and haven’t looked back since. Not eating meat is something that feels really normal to me, it’s always felt like that’s who I am! Over the years I’ve still educated myself on the meat industry as I feel it’s important to not turn a blind eye to the cruelty that is unfortunately happening within the meat industry. I’ll be honest watching these documentaries is not easy but I think the animals deserve us to not be naive to what happens behind closed doors.

I love a good Quorn mince spag bol! When cooking this dish I normally dice up mushrooms and fry with my mince, add some passata, spaghetti bolognese seasoning, soy sauce and a heavy sprinkling of parmesan cheese. I feel the secret ingredient is soy sauce, it always makes it taste so much better!”

Favourite Veggie Dish: Briam

“I’ve been vegetarian for 9 years, dabble every now and then with going vegan but it’s really tricky when you’re already a picky eater.

I went vegetarian for ethical reasons, I hate animal cruelty and so decided I had to stop eating them, wearing them and pretty much anything else where they are being mistreated.

I’m not really one for recipes as such but there is a lovely Greek dish called Briam that is sliced potatoes, courgettes, onions, peppers and tomatoes, lightly coated in oil, tomato puree and seasoning then baked.”

Favourite Veggie Dish: Okonomiyaki

“I’ve been a veggie for about 5 years now! Started during my first year of university.

It all started from the influence of my flatmate in university, who was a veggie himself. I really didn’t think about vegetarianism until I moved into my own place, and had to be my own little chef. I have always adored animals, but just never really thought about not eating them. It just didn’t phase me, and it just never really hit me until I spoke to my flatmate. Great thing for me is that it was such an easy transition, as I just knew I loved animals more than the taste of meat.

I don’t really have a number one favourite veggie recipe, just a variety of recipes that I love! My favourite food/meal is a Japanese originated dish called ‘Okonomiyaki’. It’s not something known for being “veggie”, but it’s mostly served without meat in it, but people can add it if they wish. I ADORE IT! I’d say a solid choice for me is a classic Mac & Cheese, and recently I’ve been making it with veggie bacon, which I rate highly! And you can’t knock a veggie spag bol or chilli!”

Favourite Veggie Dish: Vegan Mac n Cheese

“I became veggie about 2 and a half years ago and started eating fish again 1 year into it. I stopped eating meat because I didn’t like the taste of meat but then I went to a vegan festival which opened my eyes to the ethical side of it which further solidified why I didn’t want to eat meat. I am self-aware that I’m being hypocritical because I still eat fish, but I believe the seafood industry is a lesser evil than the meat industry.

My favourite non meat meal is actually a vegan mac and cheese! I love me some fake cheese I can’t lie.”

Favourite Veggie Dish: Homemade pasta bake with spicy grilled halloumi (its delightful!)

“I’ve been veggie around 6 months after not eating lamb for around 4 years due to hand rearing and bottle feeding them from birth in my old job.

I had thought about it for a long time but decided to go full veggie after watching the Netflix documentary SEASPIRICY and then Cowspiricy straight after.

As soon as the programmes had finished I instantly made my decision and I haven’t looked back!”