Veganuary Menu Ideas for Restaurants: Create a Vegan Menu Your Customers Will Love

January is a great time for restaurants to refresh their menus, try something different and give customers more choice. With Veganuary encouraging people to explore plant-based eating, it can also be the perfect opportunity to introduce new vegan dishes to your menu.

But creating a vegan menu doesn’t mean you need to completely change the way your kitchen operates. From plant-based burgers and curries to vegan desserts and sharing plates, there are plenty of ways to introduce exciting vegan options using ingredients and products that can work alongside your existing menu.

Whether you’re planning a dedicated Veganuary menu or simply want to add a few new vegan dishes, here are some ideas to get you started.

Start with the dishes you already serve

One of the easiest ways to create a Veganuary menu is to look at your existing menu and consider which dishes could be adapted.

Do you already serve a popular burger? Try swapping the meat patty for a plant-based alternative. Have a chicken katsu on the menu? A plant-based chicken alternative can create a vegan version. Your chilli could be adapted using beans, vegetables and plant-based mince, while a pasta dish may simply need a few ingredients changed.

This approach means your kitchen team doesn’t have to learn an entirely new menu and your customers can still enjoy familiar flavours and formats.

Think about the dishes your customers already love and ask:

• Can the meat be replaced with a plant-based alternative?
• Can a vegetarian dish be adapted to make it vegan?
• Can sauces, dressings or toppings be changed?
• Can the same side dishes be used across several vegan meals?

A little creativity can turn some of your existing dishes into great vegan menu ideas.

Vegan starters and small plates

Starters and small plates are a great place to introduce vegan dishes. They can be used as standalone starters, sharing dishes or additions to a wider menu.

Some ideas include:

• Vegetable pakoras with mango chutney
• Falafel with hummus and flatbread
• Crispy cauliflower with a spicy sauce
• Bruschetta with tomatoes, herbs and balsamic glaze
• Vegan arancini
• Plant-based chicken-style bites with dipping sauce
• Garlic mushrooms
• Sweet potato wedges with vegan dip
• Vegetable gyozas
• Vegan sharing platters

Small plates also give customers who aren’t following a vegan diet the chance to try something different, making them a useful addition to your menu beyond Veganuary.

Vegan burger ideas

Burgers are one of the easiest dishes to adapt for Veganuary and can be particularly effective for pubs, casual dining restaurants and cafés.

A good plant-based burger doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a quality vegan burger and build it in the same way you would your other burgers.

Try combinations such as:

• Plant-based burger with vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato and burger sauce
• Spicy plant-based burger with jalapeños and chilli sauce
• Plant-based chicken-style burger with vegan mayo and slaw
• BBQ plant-based burger with crispy onions
• Plant-based burger with mushrooms, caramelised onions and vegan cheese

Serve with fries, sweet potato fries or a suitable side salad to create a complete vegan main course.

Vegan curry and global-inspired dishes

Curries are another great option when you’re looking for vegan menu ideas. Many traditional curry dishes are already naturally plant-based or can be easily adapted.

Consider adding dishes such as:

• Thai vegetable curry
• Chickpea and spinach curry
• Vegan tikka-style curry
• Vegetable katsu curry
• Thai red curry with plant-based protein
• Vegan chilli with beans and plant-based mince

Using different spices, sauces and toppings can also help you create several dishes from a relatively simple range of ingredients.

Plant-based chicken dishes

Plant-based chicken alternatives can be a useful ingredient for restaurants looking to add more vegan choices without completely changing their menu.

They can be used in everything from burgers and wraps to curries and salads.

For example, you could offer:

• Vegan katsu curry
• Plant-based chicken burger
• Vegan chicken-style wrap with salad and vegan mayo
• Crispy plant-based chicken bites with a dipping sauce
• Plant-based chicken-style stir fry
• Vegan chicken-style salad bowl

Using one versatile product across several dishes can also make menu planning and stock control easier.

Vegan comfort food

Veganuary doesn’t mean your menu has to be all salads and vegetables. Some of the most appealing vegan dishes are familiar comfort foods with a plant-based twist.

Think about dishes such as:

• Vegan sausage and mash
• Plant-based chilli
• Vegan shepherd’s pie
• Loaded fries with plant-based toppings
• Vegan mac and cheese
• Plant-based meatballs with pasta
• Jacket potatoes with vegan fillings

Familiar dishes can make it easier for customers who are trying vegan food for the first time to choose something they know they will enjoy.

Don’t forget vegan sides

Sides can make a big difference to your vegan offering, but it’s important to check the ingredients rather than assuming a side dish is automatically vegan.

Fries, for example, may be suitable but cooking methods and seasonings need to be checked. Similarly, sauces, dressings, coleslaw and garlic bread can contain dairy or egg.

Potential vegan sides include:

• Fries
• Sweet potato fries
• Roasted vegetables
• Vegan slaw
• Rice
• Mixed salads
• Garlic bread made with a suitable vegan spread
• Onion rings where the recipe is suitable
• Grilled corn
• Hummus and flatbread

Having several vegan sides also means customers can build their own meal and gives your kitchen more flexibility.

Vegan desserts: don’t leave customers with fruit salad

Dessert is often overlooked when restaurants are creating vegan menus, but it’s a great opportunity to finish a meal well.

There are now plenty of plant-based dessert options available, including:

• Vegan chocolate brownies
• Plant-based cheesecakes
• Vegan ice cream
• Sorbets
• Vegan chocolate desserts
• Fruit crumble with vegan custard
• Plant-based sticky toffee pudding

Offering one or two well-chosen vegan desserts can make your menu feel much more complete and ensures vegan customers have something more exciting to choose from.

How to build a simple Veganuary menu

You don’t need to add 20 new dishes to make an impact. A smaller selection of well-planned vegan dishes can be much easier for your kitchen team to manage.

For example, a restaurant could create a simple Veganuary menu featuring:

• 2 vegan starters or small plates
• 4 vegan main courses
• 4 vegan sides
• 2 vegan desserts

Try to offer some variety across the menu. You could include a burger, a curry, a pasta dish and a comfort food option, giving customers different styles of food to choose from.

It’s also worth considering how ingredients can be shared between dishes. For example, a plant-based chicken-style product could be used in a burger, curry and wrap, while the same vegetables, sauces and garnishes could feature across multiple dishes.

This can help reduce waste and make your Veganuary menu easier for the kitchen to manage.

Use plant-based products to make vegan dishes easier

Creating vegan dishes from scratch isn’t always practical for a busy restaurant kitchen. Quality plant-based products can help chefs introduce new dishes while maintaining consistency and controlling preparation time.

From plant-based burgers and sausages to meat-free chicken alternatives, vegan sauces, desserts and other ingredients, there are plenty of products that can help restaurants expand their menus.

At Trevors, we supply restaurants, pubs, cafés and other hospitality businesses across the North West with a wide range of frozen, chilled and ambient foodservice products, including vegan and plant-based options.

Our team can help you find products that fit your menu, kitchen and customers, whether you’re looking for a particular ingredient or inspiration for a completely new dish.

Make your Veganuary menu work beyond January

Veganuary doesn’t have to finish when January does.

One of the biggest benefits of introducing vegan menu ideas is the opportunity to see which dishes your customers actually enjoy. Keep an eye on sales, ask for feedback and look at which dishes are being reordered.

If a vegan burger proves popular, keep it on the menu. If customers love your plant-based curry, make it a regular special. You may find that some of the dishes you introduce for Veganuary become permanent favourites.

Veganuary can therefore be more than a one-month promotion. It can be a chance to test new ideas, understand what your customers want and add more choice to your menu throughout the year.

Looking for vegan food for your restaurant?

If you’re planning your Veganuary menu and need inspiration, Trevors can help.

We supply restaurants, pubs, cafés and other hospitality businesses across the North West with thousands of frozen, chilled and ambient products, including a wide range of vegan and plant-based options.

Whether you’re looking for plant-based burgers, vegan sausages, meat-free chicken alternatives, vegan desserts or ingredients to create your own dishes, speak to the Trevors team about your requirements.

From helping you find the right products to keeping your kitchen stocked, we’re here to help you make Veganuary work for your business.