Veggie Blog

The vegetarian community rallied and won a big one. In May 2007 the makers of the Mars bar reversed their plan to use whey made with animal rennet, and I called it a major victory for meat-free eaters. Here is what happened, what it did not change, and why it worked.

What happened after the announcement?

Within a week, more than 6,000 people phoned or e-mailed the company, and 40 British MPs signed a petition, the BBC reported. Mars UK then said it would go back to the vegetarian whey. Its managing director, Fiona Dawson, said: “It became very clear, very quickly that we had made a mistake, for which I am sorry.” The company changed its recipes back immediately.

Did every Mars product go back to being vegetarian?

No. The Guardian reported that ingredients used in other products, such as Twix, Bounty, Celebrations, Topic and Milky Way, were not changed, so those brands stayed unsuitable for vegetarians. The U-turn applied to the bars at the center of the campaign (Mars, Snickers, Maltesers and Galaxy). The win was real, but it was partial.

Why did the campaign work?

The Vegetarian Society acted fast: it urged members to complain to the company, their MPs and local newspapers straight away, and the BBC described the result as a lesson in consumer power. A short, clear request, aimed at the right people, made it easy for thousands of people to act in a single week.

What should you take from it?

Recipes change, so check the label of familiar products from time to time, and let companies know when a change matters to you. Our guide to the main types of vegetarian diet shows how different vegetarians make these choices.

The featured image above is an AI-generated illustration, not a photo of dishes from the blogs below.

Looking for vegetarian food blogs that help you make dinner instead of just adding more recipes to your bookmarks? A few thoughtfully chosen sites can give you reliable cooking inspiration, from simple vegetable-forward meals to completely vegan comfort food and internationally inspired dishes.

Veggie-Blog first shared a vegetarian and vegan food blog showcase back in 2007. This refreshed guide keeps the same idea but makes it more useful: five recipe blogs, a clear explanation of what each one offers, and practical ways to turn inspiration into meals you will actually cook. These are editorial recommendations, not a paid ranking.

What makes a vegetarian or vegan food blog worth following?

A good recipe site does more than showcase beautiful food. Look for recipes with clear ingredient quantities, realistic steps, helpful substitutions, and an honest indication of whether a dish is vegetarian or fully vegan. Recipe notes and comments can help you spot common problems before you start cooking.

It also helps to choose blogs with different strengths. A general vegetarian blog may be ideal for everyday lunches, while a dedicated vegan blog can teach you how to make dairy-free sauces, egg-free baking, or tofu dishes. If you enjoy cooking with spices, a cuisine-focused site may help you build confidence with new ingredients.

Five vegetarian and vegan food blogs to explore

1. Cookie and Kate — approachable vegetarian everyday cooking

Best for: people who want vegetable-focused meals, salads, soups, and practical weeknight dinners.

Cookie and Kate, written by Kathryne Taylor, focuses on fresh vegetarian recipes and makes vegetables, beans, grains, and seasonal produce feel approachable. It is an easy starting point when you have ingredients in your fridge but need an idea for turning them into a complete meal. Its recipe categories make it useful for breakfast, lunch, and dinner planning.

Try this approach: choose one grain-based bowl, one soup, and one vegetable side to cook during the week. Check individual recipes if you need them to be vegan, since a vegetarian recipe can contain cheese, eggs, or other dairy products.

Explore Cookie and Kate’s vegetarian recipes

2. Love and Lemons — seasonal vegetables and fresh flavors

Best for: home cooks who shop by season or want appealing ways to use a specific vegetable.

Love and Lemons celebrates fresh produce and offers both vegetarian and vegan recipes. Its ingredient-focused approach is especially helpful when you have a bunch of carrots, broccoli, squash, or tomatoes and need ideas beyond the same familiar side dish. You can use its recipe filters to narrow your search to vegan meals. The site is vegetarian-focused, but a few older recipes in its archive include fish or seafood, so check the ingredients if that matters to you.

Try this approach: start with one ingredient that is in season where you live, then pick a main dish and a simple sauce or dressing that uses it. That creates variety without buying ingredients for five unrelated meals.

Browse Love and Lemons

3. Vegan Richa — Indian-inspired vegan meals and more

Best for: anyone interested in flavorful vegan curries, dals, chickpeas, lentils, and weeknight meals.

Vegan Richa features fully plant-based recipes, many of them inspired by Richa’s Indian upbringing, with plenty of gluten-free, soy-free and oil-free options. You will also find ideas from other cuisines, plus recipe collections sorted by course and dietary needs. It is particularly useful if you have pantry staples such as lentils, canned chickpeas, rice, or spices but are tired of preparing them the same way.

Try this approach: build a dinner around one bean or lentil dish, add rice or flatbread, and serve a vegetable side. If you are unfamiliar with a spice, read the recipe notes before substituting it; changing several seasonings at once can change the result dramatically.

Find vegan recipes at Vegan Richa

4. Rainbow Plant Life — bold flavors and vegan cooking techniques

Best for: vegans and curious beginners who want to develop their cooking skills as well as find new recipes.

Rainbow Plant Life, by recipe developer Nisha Vora, focuses on vegan dishes with big flavor and attention to cooking methods. It is a helpful option when you want to learn why browning, simmering, seasoning, or balancing acidic and rich flavors makes a difference. You will find substantial main courses, tofu dishes, plant-based sauces, and vegetable sides.

Try this approach: select one recipe that teaches a technique you can reuse, such as building a flavorful sauce or cooking beans until they are richly seasoned. Keep notes about what worked so you can apply that method to your own vegetarian or vegan meals.

Discover Rainbow Plant Life

5. The Korean Vegan — Korean-inspired food and plant-based storytelling

Best for: home cooks who want Korean-inspired plant-based meals and personal stories connected to food.

The Korean Vegan, created by Joanne Molinaro, shares vegan recipes alongside writing about family and culture. Its recipes include plant-based versions of Korean dishes as well as breads, desserts, and other comfort foods. If your idea of vegan cooking feels limited to salads, this is a reminder that vegetables, tofu, grains, and fermented ingredients can build deeply satisfying meals.

Try this approach: choose one Korean-inspired dish and pay attention to sauces and seasonings. Check ingredient labels carefully: traditional versions of ingredients such as kimchi and some sauces may contain seafood, even when the finished dish looks vegetable-based.

Explore recipes from The Korean Vegan

Vegetarian versus vegan recipes: how to tell the difference

Vegetarian meals exclude meat and fish, but many contain dairy products or eggs. Vegan meals exclude animal-derived ingredients, including dairy, eggs, and honey. When browsing a vegetarian blog, do not assume every recipe is vegan. Use the site’s vegan filter where available, then read the ingredient list.

Look out for cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, gelatin, honey, fish sauce, and stock made from meat. If a substitution is important to your diet or allergies, check both the recipe and the product packaging. A recipe labeled plant-based may also need checking, since that phrase is used in different ways.

How to use food blogs without getting overwhelmed

Instead of collecting dozens of links, try a simple weekly routine. Pick one familiar meal, one new recipe, and one flexible pantry dish. That keeps shopping manageable while still introducing variety.

1. Choose your goal. Do you need a quick vegetarian dinner, a vegan meal-prep recipe, or an unfamiliar cuisine to explore?
2. Search by ingredient. Start with lentils, chickpeas, spinach, mushrooms, or another ingredient you already own.
3. Read the full recipe before shopping. Check cooking time, equipment, soaking requirements, serving size, and substitutions.
4. Make a short shopping list. Buy shared ingredients for several meals rather than unusual extras for one dish.
5. Save what worked. Record your adaptations and which recipes you would happily make again.

Three easy plant-based dinner ideas to try this week

You do not need to visit five sites to get dinner on the table tonight. These flexible ideas use common ingredients and can be adjusted to your taste:

• Chickpea and vegetable skillet: sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic; add canned chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, smoked paprika, and a splash of water. Simmer until hot, then serve with rice or toast.
• Ginger-garlic tofu bowls: cook tofu until golden, add a simple mixture of soy sauce or tamari, ginger, garlic, and a little water, and serve over rice with steamed greens.
• Tomato and white bean soup: soften onion in olive oil, stir in tomatoes, white beans, and vegetable broth, and simmer until the flavors combine. Finish with black pepper and fresh herbs.

These are quick meal ideas rather than full tested recipes, so adjust cooking time and seasoning to the ingredients and amounts you choose. For more cooking inspiration on Veggie-Blog, see our easy veggie omelette recipes and tips for better vegetarian chili.

Questions readers ask

Are vegetarian recipes always healthy?

No single label guarantees that a meal is balanced. Vegetarian recipes can be rich in vegetables, beans, and whole grains, but they can also be high in salt or contain few vegetables. Look at the complete meal and your overall dietary needs rather than a label alone.

Can I make a vegetarian recipe vegan?

Often, yes. Dairy milk may be replaced with a suitable plant milk, butter with plant-based fat, and cheese with an appropriate alternative. Eggs can be harder to replace in dishes where they provide structure, so use recipe-tested substitutions when baking.

How can I find recipes with ingredients I already have?

Search by your main ingredient and add a term such as vegan dinner, vegetarian lunch, or one-pot. Use ingredient filters where offered, check what you can substitute, and keep a small list of recipes you repeat regularly.

Your turn: what vegetarian or vegan blogs do you read?

We would love to hear about the food blogs that have made vegetarian or vegan cooking easier for you. Share a favorite blog and the kind of recipe you discovered there in the comments. Please keep recommendations relevant and avoid promotional link drops; comments may be moderated.

Editorial note: Food websites and recipe collections change over time. The five websites in this guide were reviewed on October 15, 2026. This is an independent, unpaid roundup; there are no affiliate links in the article.