These easy summer vegan and vegetarian dinner recipes are all about fresh seasonal ingredients, quick prep, and big flavour-perfect for meat-free, simple weeknight dinners. Whether you're trying to eat less meat, cooking for mixed diets, or just looking for new ideas, these dinner recipes are light, satisfying, and ideal for warmer weather. Many can be made ahead or served cold, so you can spend more time outside and less time cooking.
For more summer al-fresco ideas, check out these Vegan and Vegetarian Picnic Ideas and Vegan and Vegetarian BBQ Ideas.
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Eating in Season
Eating food in season tastes better and is more sustainable. Research also suggests buying food in season can be up to one-third cheaper. Food in season is naturally abundant and hasn't had to incur long-term storage costs. Using fresh ingredients means getting the best nutritional value from the meals you cook. You can find more information here on How to Eat a Sustainable Diet.
Seasonal Summer Vegetables
The following vegetables are all in season in the summer months (June, July, August) and are at their best.
Aubergine (eggplant), french beans, runner beans, broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, courgettes (zucchini), cucumber, fennel, jersey royals (June), lettuce, mange tout, peas, peppers, new potatoes, radish, rocket, spinach, spring onions, sugar snap peas, sweetcorn (from July), tomatoes, watercress, pak choi.
Why Meat-Free?
Reducing your meat intake is one of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint. With food making up around 30% of all the world's greenhouse gases, what you eat plays a big part. Summer is perhaps the easiest time to go meat-free or build in some more meat-free dishes into your diet. For more tips, check out this helpful guide on How to Reduce your Meat Intake
Rice based meat-free summer dishes
These vegan and vegetarian rice recipes are light, colourful, and perfect for warmer days. Packed with seasonal veg, they're ideal for quick midweek dinners, easy lunches, or al fresco sharing.
Summer dinners based around Grains
Grains are a brilliant way to build wholesome, satisfying summer meals that are full of flavour and goodness. These vegan and vegetarian recipes make the most of grains as a base, combined with colourful veg to create lovely, eye-catching dishes that work just as well for a quick lunch as they do for a relaxed dinner outdoors.
Summer meat-free Pasta Meals
Pasta isn't just for winter comfort food-it can be light, fresh, and perfect for summer too. These vegan and vegetarian pasta recipes are quick to throw together, packed with seasonal veg, and bursting with summery flavours like lemon, basil, and cherry tomatoes. They're great for busy weeknights, picnics, or laid-back meals in the garden.
Just Veg
Sometimes the simplest meals are the best-and these easy vegetable-based recipes really let fresh, seasonal produce shine. Whether you're working through a veg box, using up what's in the fridge, or planning ahead for healthy midweek meals, these vegan and vegetarian summer dishes are full of colour, flavour, and goodness. Serve with rice, crusty bread, couscous, or a side salad - or just enjoy the flavours on their own.
And Tofu...
Tofu is a plant-based protein made from soybeans. A staple in Asian cuisine, it's a great meat alternative. On its own, it has a mild taste but soaks up flavour very well, and this honey and harissa recipe is very tasty.
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