To be vegan in Italy or just trying to eat more plant-based meals can be challenging. With all of the cheese and meat-heavy dishes on menus, it's hard to know where to start; that's why we've put together a list of our favorite vegan Italian recipes that will have you enjoying the best Italian vegan recipes and others that we have veganized.
These recipes are sure to please even the most carnivorous eaters, from creamy risottos to delicious pestos. Let's get you inspired!
Here is our selection of Vegan Italian Inspired Recipes. We have developed them as we arrived to live in Italy and have been able to enjoy their exquisite gastronomy.
We constantly feel like we need to find the way around all the dairy, cheese, and meat in Italian cuisine.
Here you will find some vegan recipes that have been veganized and others accidentally vegan.
We hope you choose to cook one or two of these vegetarian Italian food recipes that have won our hearts while living here in Italy!
Appetizers
Let's start with some fantastic vegan Italian appetizers.
Roman-Style Artichokes (Carciofi alla Romana)
The simplicity of the ingredients and how they dance together in perfect tune in your palate makes you realize that yes! Less is more!
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Healthier No-Frying No breading Eggplant Parmesan
This Parmigiana di Melanzane or No Frying Eggplant Parmesan is definitely part of our top 5 decadent Italian dishes. If you haven’t tried it before, your time has come.
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Recipe for Portobello Stuffed Mushrooms | Vegan and Gluten-Free
With only a few simple ingredients, these stuffed mushrooms can be whipped up in no time. Plus, they're perfect for satisfying your hunger without leaving you feeling weighed down.
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Bean Vegetable Soup - Tuscan Ribollita Recipe
Looking for a delicious and healthy soup recipe? This white bean vegetable soup is authentic Tuscan ribollita, and it's naturally vegan and gluten-free!
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Italian vegan pasta recipes
We love making our own homemade pasta, from noodles to ravioli; you will find your way through plant-based eating without touching an egg.
Vegan Pasta Noodles without Egg
Learn how to make noodles dough with this simple recipe. These vegan pasta noodles without eggs are perfect for a quick and easy meal!
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Homemade Pasta Vegan
Looking for a healthier pasta alternative? Whole wheat semolina pasta is a great vegan option that's packed with fiber and nutrients. Semolina is made from durum wheat, so it has a nice chewy texture that you'll love. Plus, this pasta is easy to prepare - just follow the simple steps in our recipe below. You'll be enjoying a delicious and healthy meal in no time!
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Puttanesca Pasta Sauce
This fantastic puttanesca recipe is one of the best-kept secrets of Italian cuisines and one of our favorite dishes and healthy recipes. If only people knew better, they would have more amazing excellent pasta more frequently, more hassle-free, and amazingly delicious.
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Easy Pasta with Asparagus Recipe (Vegan, Zesty and Spicy)
Ready for a great dinner? This recipe for asparagus pasta is vegan, zesty, and spicy. Ready in 15 minutes. Perfect spring or summer dinner!
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Vegan Eggplant with Garlic Pasta sauce
This 3 Ingredient Pasta Sauce is all you need for lazy, comfort food nights. This recipe is the reason we became in love with Italian food' simplicity.
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Vegan Stuffed Shells Tofu Pasta Recipe
This tofu pesto pasta is creamy, has a great texture, and is loaded with the most delicious mushrooms and tofu protein-packed mixture.
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Carrot Greens Pesto Cold Pasta Salad Recipe | Vegan + GF
Not only are carrots delicious and nutritious, but their greens are also edible! If you have some carrot greens kicking around, put them to good use in this cold pasta salad recipe. The pesto is flavorful and the pasta salad is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck. Give it a try!
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Creamy Christmas Fettuccine Pasta Recipe
Bechamel sauce and wintery sun-dried tomatoes come together in this Basil and Tomato based fettuccine recipe. We like making it with homemade pasta noodles.
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Side dishes
Vegan Italian side dishes are probably the most common to find, as contorno, how here we call side dishes, usually comprise a variety of vevetables.
Spiced Onions Recipe (Borettane Onions)
Learn how to cook a delicious appetizer or side dish with small Italian borettane onions or use regular onions made Indian or Middle-Eastern style.
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Vegan Eggplant Involtini
This Vegan Eggplant Involtini (aubergine involtini) recipe is the veganized version of the classic Italian dish.
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How to Cook Romanesco Broccoli
If you are lucky to have broccoli romanesco locally, do yourself a favor and grab one. You will be greatly rewarded with this beauty.
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Italian Eggplant Stew - 4 Ingredients
Melanzane in Potacchio (Eggplant stew) is a simple but surprisingly tasty recipe from the Marche region in Italy. It is a side dish that can be prepared in advance and can be enjoyed cold or warm.
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Herbs stuffed Pioppini Mushrooms
Autumn comes with various mushrooms and a beautiful foraging culture, let’s make the best out of it with this Herbs Stuffed Mushrooms recipe!
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Recipe for Pickled Eggplant
A must in every fridge! Pickled Eggplants are Joaco’s favorite snack. They are also easy to make and a great addition to pimp up your dishes.
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Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe
Flat oven-baked Italian bread is similar in style and texture to pizza dough. You can use it as a side to many meals or as sandwich bread.
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Main dishes
This is the toughest part; vegan Italian dishes that are eaten as main dishes. Luckily, just like pasta, there are many different rice options using risotto rice. Also, it is common to stuff vegetables with meat, which can be easily replaced with tofu and nuts.
Vegan Stuffed Peppers Recipe
We have a fresh twist on a family favorite: Vegan Stuffed Peppers. Sweet bell peppers stuffed with a savory blend of Mediterranean goodness.
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Baked Onions Recipe with Tofu Stuffing
The tofu and porcini mushrooms make up entirely for any meat craving palates. The stuffing by itself can be used as a Holiday stuffing.
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Creamy Vegan Mushrooms Risotto
We all know how important it is to eat healthy, butsometimes you need good comfort food. This creamy vegan mushroom risotto willmake your day! The best part? You only need 25 minutes to cook it.
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Saffron Risotto | Vegan Risotto alla Milanese
Saffron Risotto is a traditional Milanese dish. In fact, it’s called Risotto alla Milanese. It is a simple yet incredibly rich and creamy dish. Here is my veganized version.
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Vegan Roasted Pumpkin Risotto
Have you ever made a pumpkin risotto? If not, you're in for a real treat! This vegan, creamy, and healthy roasted pumpkin risotto is the perfect Fall dish. It's easy to make and it tastes delicious. You're going to love it!
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Creamy Tomato Risotto Recipe
A creamy and delicious sun-dried tomato risotto recipe, perfect for any hassle-free vegan or meat-free meal as it is made with staple pantry ingredients.
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Vegan Asparagus Risotto Recipe
This vegan asparagus risotto with spring vegetables is a delicious and easy way to celebrate the arrival of spring. It's perfect for a busy weeknight meal, and takes only 25 minutes to prepare.
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Lemony Winter Risotto (Zucchini Risotto)
Not only it’s hard to find someone that doesn’t like it but is one of the most versatile dishes you can think of.
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Recipe for Butternut Squash Risotto
Are you looking for an easy butternut squash risotto recipe? Look no further! This recipe is simple to follow and takes less than 30 minutes to make. Plus, it's packed with flavor.
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Vegan Polenta Recipe with Tofu Ragout
With the cooler temperatures arriving and the rainy season approaching, we are always up for a good piece of baked Polenta. And we like it stuffed with a rich and healthy layer of Vegan Bolognese.
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Vegan Italian dressing and sauces
Homemade Vegan Parmesan Recipe + Substitute for Nutritional Yeast
With 4 ingredients, this homemade vegan Parm cheese is flavorful, cheesy, and ready in minutes.
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Vegan Kale Salad (The Best Fall Kale Crunch Salad)
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy leafy green salads packed with seasonal vegetables. This kale crunch salad recipe is one of my favorites – it's easy to make, flavorful, and healthy. The recipe calls for crunchy apples, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans.
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Vegan Arugula Pesto
Pesto is one of my favorite Italian sauces. Not only can you make great pasta, but you can use it to boost the flavor of other dishes. This one is an Arugula version which is very common here in Italy.
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Vegan Pistachio Pesto Sauce + Pasta Salad
The combination of fresh basil, roasted pistachios, and garlic is absolutely heavenly, and the creamy avocado dressing takes this dish to the next level. Plus, this recipe is gluten-free and incredibly healthy.
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Easy Vegan Basil Pesto
Pesto is one of my favorite Italian preparation. Not only can you make great pasta, but you can use it to boost the flavor of other dishes.
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Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe | Vegan
This sun-dried tomato pesto pasta recipe is the perfect quick and easy meal for busy weeknights. Made with just a few simple ingredients, it's packed full of flavor and sure to become a new family favorite!
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Vegan Mint Pesto Recipe
I bet not many have tried a Mint Pesto. We are all very familiar with the classic basil pesto, and if you are more curious you may have tried the arugula or dry tomato ones. This fresh 5-minutes vegan mint sauce will make your dishes explode with freshness!
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Creamy Christmas Fettuccine Pasta Recipe
Ring in the holidays with this delicious and festive Christmas fettuccine pasta dish made with sun-dried tomatoes and a creamy rose sauce.
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Vegan Sage and Kale Pesto
Learn how to make a delicious vegan kale pesto using sage and almonds. This is perfect for cold and hot pasta, sandwiches, or cauliflower steaks.
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Vegan Bechamel Sauce Recipe
This Vegan Bechamel Sauce is super creamy, quick to make, and delicious.
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Dessert
This is another difficult one, but here we offer some options for Vegan Italian dessert.
Pangiallo Romano (Roman Christmas Cake)
Roman dessert typically prepared on the Winter Solstice day as a good omen hoping that the sun will return soon. The main ingredients are chocolate and candied and dry fruits.
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Peanut Banana Ice Cream
Ice cream is by far our favorite sweet option. Finding vegan options is not always easy, but this 10 mins homemade nicecream is the deal for us!
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Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding with Pistachio cream
Dark chocolate chia pudding with pistachio cream is the perfect way to start your day or munch it as dessert. It's healthy, delicious, and easy to make. Plus, it's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth! So why not give it a try? You won't be disappointed!
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If you try these Italian vegan recipes, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
Taly says
De vez en cuando me gusta probar y hacer platos nuevos y diferentes, asà que gracias por el compendio y las sugerencias!!
Saludos!!!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
What a fantastic roundup of recipes. Where to start?
Tara says
Such a wonderful collection of vegan Italian recipes! I especially love the Saffron Risotto and Three Ingredients Pasta Sauce. Yum!
Gus says
Thank you Tara, I'm so happy to hear that our recipes are a hit! We're always working on new vegan Italian dishes and would love to see what else you enjoy.
Alison says
So many delicious recipes to try! I think I'll start with the Vegan Eggplant Involtini!
Gus says
Hi Alison, thanks for your review! I'm glad you found our recipes to be delicious. The Vegan Eggplant Involtini sounds like a great first recipe to try!
Colleen says
This is a great collection! Now I just have to choose which one to try first!
Gus says
Thank you for your review Colleen! I'm so glad that you liked the collection.
I hope you'll let us know how it goes and if there's anything we can do to help, just reach out. We're here for any questions or feedback on our products!