18 Vegan Earth Day Recipes To Help The Environment

While it’s true that eco-consciousness is something people should be aware of every day of the year, Earth Day is a reminder that global warming is real, and action is necessary to stop it. But finding the right action isn’t so hard — since eating habits are so closely linked to the environment, you can celebrate with some vegan Earth Day recipes. After all, cutting out animal agriculture is one of the top ways a person can cut down on their carbon footprint.

Yes, the single biggest thing you can do for the environment is eliminate (or at the very least, reduce) meat and dairy from your diet. Animal agriculture requires far more land and water than plant agriculture. Plus, a huge portion of plant agriculture goes toward feeding livestock. Livestock agriculture is also accountable for a significant portion of rainforest depletion. That’s not even mentioning the fact that animals, especially cows, are responsible for high levels of methane gas. That means that animal agriculture is a serious pollutant.

So, going vegan for a day (and trying to eat fewer animal products in general) can make a difference. These delicious vegan meals make it all the more tempting to try a veg-centric lifestyle. So, eat plants and be merry — and have an eco-friendly Earth Day.

1. Cauliflower Pasta With Lemon

A veggie-filled meal can also be totally comforting. Naturally Ella's pasta is made with a creamy vegan sauce, but cauliflower rounds out the dish.

2. Easy Vegetarian Pho

Love and Lemons' take on this traditional Vietnamese soup incorporates tender shiitake mushrooms and plenty of baby bok choy for a wholesome meal.

3. The Best Vegan Pizza

You've got to admit, takeout is not the best for the environment. But thanks to Minimalist Baker, you can make a delicious pie at home, topping it off with a simple cashew-based vegan parmesan.

4. Roasted Buddha Bowl

A creamy cashew-tahini sauce makes a bowl of roasted cauliflower, broccoli, and chickpeas all the more crave-worthy, as Oh She Glows proves with this quick, easy-to-make meal.

5. Avocado Tabbouleh

As a side or main, Cookie and Kate's avocado tabbouleh is positively refreshing. Serve atop big lettuce leaves to keep your meal green.

6. Vegan Carrot And Parsnip Soup

If you're looking for a lighter dinner or a starter for a larger meal, don't look over The Crepes of Wrath's soup. Blended root vegetables result in a creamy meal — no dairy needed.

7. Vegan Latin Bowl

Vegetable stock and tomato paste make a big difference when preparing brown rice. A Cozy Kitchen makes dinner-for-one taste like a total treat.

8. Eggplant With Roasted Garlic Cashew Cream

There's nothing more gorgeous than a roasted eggplant topped with jewel-like pomegranate seeds. Cara's Cravings makes it more velvety with a vegan cashew cream.

9. Celeriac, Mushroom, and Tomato Lasagna

It turns out that pasta isn't necessary to make one hearty lasagna. Green Kitchen Stories uses shaved celeriac and parsnip roots to create divisions between layers of tomatoes and lentils.

10. Chickpea Curry With Cauliflower

Curry is one of the easiest vegan meals to make. Naturally Ella simmers chickpeas and cauliflower in plenty of spices, like coriander, cumin, turmeric, and ginger.

11. Veggie Tacos With Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

Taco night just got a lot healthier. Love and Lemons fills up soft tortillas with eggplant, squash, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and tops them off with a creamy green salsa. Leave off the cheese to keep them completely plant-based.

12. Easy Vegan Fried Rice

There's nothing like a quick stir-fry to make you appreciate your veggies. Minimalist Baker uses peanut butter to give this fried rice a nutty taste.

13. Glowing Green Pasta Primavera

Time to get friendly with a spiralizer. Oh She Glows tops off julienned carrots with a sun-dried tomato basil hemp pesto.

14. Squash And Sweet Potato Chili

Vegan comfort food can be pretty good for you, as The Crepes of Wrath shows with this dish. Simmering sweet potatoes, squash, and tomatoes for an hour or so makes them perfectly tender.

15. Spicy Sweet Potato and Green Rice Bowls

Some spinach and a jalapeño can totally transform a batch of brown rice, as Cookie and Kate demonstrates in this filling burrito bowl. Cumin and chili powder also make black beans even better.

16. Vegan Avocado Mousse

Go green — literally. A Cozy Kitchen's avocado mousse is topped with an avocado cream, made of avocado, coconut milk, and powdered sugar. Some candied grapefruit adds a slightly citrusy touch.

17. Roasted Carrot Ginger Ice Cream

Vegetables and dessert do not have to be mutually exclusive, as Cara's Cravings proves with this vibrant carrot ice cream. It's naturally sweetened with maple syrup and dates.

18. Flower Power Cake

What better way to celebrate nature than with a cake that's topped with gorgeous blooms? Green Kitchen Stories's creamy raspberry cake is a dessert that will surely impress.

Images: Cookie and Kate (3); Naturally Ella (2); Love and Lemons (2); Minimalist Baker (2); Oh She Glows (2); The Crepes of Wrath (2); A Cozy Kitchen (2); Cara’s Cravings (2); Green Kitchen Stories (2)