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!
![vegan christmas menu](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_5907.jpg)
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](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_5898-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Roman-Style Artichokes (Carciofi alla Romana)
![eggplant parmesan with wine](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_4407-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
No-fry Eggplant Parmesan (Vegan)
![stuffed portobello mushrooms featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6804-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Easy Stuffed Portobello Mushroom Recipe
![white bean soup featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/bean-vegetable-soup-authentic-tuscan-ribollita-7979-feature-360x360.jpg)
Tuscan White Bean Soup
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](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vegan-pasta-noodles-without-egg-9583-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Pasta Noodles without Egg
![vegan homemade pasta featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vegan-homemade-pasta-dough-8393-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Homemade Pasta Dough
![plated puttanesca pasta](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6243-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Puttanesca Pasta Sauce
![asparagus pasta featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Pasta-with-Asparagus-Recipe-7652-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Easy Pasta with Asparagus Recipe (Vegan, Zesty and Spicy)
![3 Ingredients Pasta Sauce](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IMG_5936-2-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Eggplant with Garlic Pasta sauce
![featured vegan pasta shells](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_4120-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Stuffed Shells Pasta (Protein-rich)
![served carrot greens pesto pasta salad featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/carrot-greens-pesto-pasta-salad-8625-360x360.jpg)
Carrot Greens Pesto Cold Pasta Salad Recipe | Vegan + GF
![plate of christmas fettuccine pasta featured.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/creamy-christmas-fettuccine-pasta-recipe-3-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Christmas Fettuccine Pasta Recipe
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)](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/spiced-onions-recipe-borettane-onions-0043-360x360.jpg)
Spiced Onions Recipe (Borettane Onions)
![Eggplants Involtini](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_4455-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Eggplant Involtini
![Broccoli Romanesco](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6633-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
How to Cook Romanesco Broccoli
![Italian Eggplant stew served](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2412-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Italian Eggplant Stew - 4 Ingredients
![herb stuffed mushrooms featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_1468-2-360x360.jpg)
Herbs stuffed Pioppini Mushrooms
![Jar with Italian Pickled Eggplant recipe.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MG_2005-360x360.jpg)
Italian Pickled Eggplant Recipe
![rosemary focaccia bread recipe](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6563-360x360.jpg)
Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe
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 featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_3393-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Stuffed Peppers with Rice
![stuffed onions](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/untitled-4773-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Baked Stuffed Onions
![plated vegan mushroom risotto](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_5146-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Risotto
![saffron risotto with leaves](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_3827-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Saffron Risotto
![roasted pumpkin risotto recipe featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/roasted-pumpkin-risotto-7210-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Vegan Roasted Pumpkin Risotto
![sun-dried tomato risotto recipe featured image](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_7053-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Risotto
![vegan asparagus risotto featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/vegan-asparagus-risotto-8943-2-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Asparagus Risotto
![lemony winter risotto featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/lemony-winter-risotto-feature-7413-360x360.jpg)
Lemony Winter Risotto
![vegan butternut squash risotto featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/vegan-butternut-squash-risotto-9116-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
![Vegan Polenta Recipe](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_3025-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Baked Polenta Recipe with Tofu Ragout
Vegan Italian dressing and sauces
![Stored Vegan Parmesan Cheese](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8791-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Homemade Vegan Parmesan Recipe
![Vegan Kale Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/vegan-kale-salad-5-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Kale Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing
![Vegan Arugula Pesto](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_3619-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Arugula Pesto
![vegan pistachio pesto in airtight container next to a spoon of pesto](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Pistachio-pesto-sauce-9716-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Pistachio Pesto Sauce + Pasta Salad
![5 minutes vegan pesto featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_0368-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Lemon Basil Pesto
![sun-dried tomato pesto pasta featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sun-dried-Tomato-Pesto-Pasta-8329-360x360.jpg)
Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe | Vegan
![Mint Pesto](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_2257-1200X1200-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Mint Pesto Recipe
![plate of christmas fettuccine pasta featured.](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/creamy-christmas-fettuccine-pasta-recipe-3-360x360.jpg)
Creamy Christmas Fettuccine Pasta Recipe
![vegan sage and kale pesto featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_5789-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Sage and Kale Pesto
![vegan bechamel sauce](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/vegan-bechamel-sauce-9818-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Bechamel Sauce Recipe
Dessert
This is another difficult one, but here we offer some options for Vegan Italian dessert.
![Pangiallo Romano and Coffee](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_6359-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Pangiallo Romano (Roman Christmas Cake)
![peanut banana ice cream](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_0791-1200x1200-1-360x360.jpg)
Peanut Banana Ice Cream
![dark chocolate chia pudding with pistachio featured](https://ourplantbasedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/dark-chocolate-chia-pudding-9783-360x360.jpg)
Vegan Chocolate Chia Pudding with Pistachio Cream
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!
As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.
Colleen
This is a great collection! Now I just have to choose which one to try first!
Gus
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!
Alison
So many delicious recipes to try! I think I'll start with the Vegan Eggplant Involtini!
Gus
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!
Tara
Such a wonderful collection of vegan Italian recipes! I especially love the Saffron Risotto and Three Ingredients Pasta Sauce. Yum!
Gus
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.
Jacqueline Meldrum
What a fantastic roundup of recipes. Where to start?
Taly
De vez en cuando me gusta probar y hacer platos nuevos y diferentes, así que gracias por el compendio y las sugerencias!!
Saludos!!!