You Won’t Miss the Meat or Cheese in These Hearty British Recipes

British food hasn’t always had the best reputation. Outside of the UK, many believe it is bland, tasteless, or unappealing, but British cuisine isn’t a lost cause. In the colder months of the year, the country’s hearty dishes really come into their own. They are cozy, comforting, filling, and perfect for warming up your insides when it’s gloomy outside. 

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What are traditional British foods?

The UK doesn’t just have a reputation for bland food, it also a reputation for cold, rainy weather. On average, it rains for just under half of the year, according to Statista. So it makes sense that across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, people have really nailed cozy comfort recipes. 

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Traditional British foods include beef wellington, lamb shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie if it’s made with beef), pie and mash (which is typically associated with the east of London), stews, casseroles, roasts (traditionally enjoyed with family on a Sunday), and filling desserts like apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding.

While many British dishes are meaty (chicken and beef are particular favorites), it’s easy to make simple plant-based swaps. Find some of our favorite British dishes for the fall and winter months below.

7 vegan British recipes perfect for fall and winter

Get cozy these cooler fall and winter months with these seven comforting British recipes.

Aimee Ryan

1 Vegan British Homity Pie With Potatoes and Cashew Cream

Homity pie has its roots in England’s West Country, and it is unique in the sense that it is traditionally vegetarian. This is likely because it was created during wartime when meat was rationed. The hearty pie can be made with many different ingredients, but it’s usually made with a mix of potatoes, leeks, onions, milk, and cheese. In this recipe from the Great British Vegan cookbook, dairy is swapped for cashew cream and grated vegan cheese to create a delicious plant-based version of the popular rustic dish.
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2 Vegan and Gluten-Free Caramelly Banoffee Pie

This tasty rich dessert is relatively new–it was first created in the 1970s in East Sussex, after two chefs were inspired by the American coffee toffee pie. They added bananas, crushed biscuits, and rich toffee—and thus, banoffee pie was born. While traditionally it’s made with dairy, this recipe from the No-Bake Vegan Desserts cookbook will walk you through how to make an ultra-tasty dairy-free version with ingredients like soaked cashews and coconut cream.
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Traditional Plant Based Cooking

3 Vegan Scotch Broth

Traditionally, this thick warming Scottish soup is made with a mix of root vegetables, barley, and either lamb or mutton, but as this recipe proves, it’s just as delicious without the meat. “It’s the soup you need during those chilly, windy, and long darker months of the year,” notes recipe developer Jacq of Traditional Plant Based Cooking.
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Vegan Richa

4 Irish Potato Cakes (Boxty) With Avocado Basil Ranch

Just like in the south, boxty is a staple in Northern Ireland. The dish consists of potato cakes, which are usually bound with eggs, but just like in this version from Vegan Richa, you can use flax eggs instead. If you love hashbrowns, this is the dish for you.
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Minimalist Baker

5 1-Hour Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie—which has both Irish and British roots—is the ultimate winter meal. Loaded with potatoes, vegetables, and gravy, it’s guaranteed to give you that warm and cozy feeling with every mouthful. It’s usually made with lamb mince, but it’s easy to swap in beans or lentils instead.
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Lowly Food

6 The Ultimate Seitan Roast

Across the UK, in most pubs and households, the go-to Sunday lunch is a roast. It usually consists of vegetables, lashings of gravy, Yorkshire puddings, stuffing, and a cut of meat, but nut roast or a vegetable pie make for tasty plant-based options. In this recipe from Lowly Food, meaty seitan takes center stage. “A vegan roast that you can actually carve,” says recipe developer Hugo. “This seitan roast is smoky, tender, and full of flavor.”
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Gaz Oakley

7 Welsh Glamorgan Sausages

Another traditionally vegetarian dish, Glamorgan sausages are usually made with a mix of cheese, leeks, breadcrumbs, and herbs such as parsley and thyme. Served with a deliciously crispy golden exterior, the Welsh dish is a favorite for many across the UK. In this recipe, Gaz Oakley will guide you through how to get all the same taste and texture with plant-based ingredients like vegan cheese and miso.
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