7 Vegan comfort meals to make at home this autumn

In recent years the vegan aesthetic has mostly come to be binarily categorised either by  uber healthy and vibrant juices and salads, and indulgent, delicious—quite frankly filthy—vegan junk food.

While it's great that veganism is gaining traction, neither of these choices may necessarily scream "comfort meal" as the colder evenings approach. I don't know about you, but when it's wet and grey outside, I'm not about to seek warmth and cosiness in a bed of lettuce. 

But wait! Before you renounce veganism all together, tucking into a home-made chicken pot pie or a slab of meat under the false pretence that only animal flesh will provide you with the snugness and nutrients that you need to survive a British winter, veganism has more to offer you!  

OK, so I know what you're thinking. "Soup? Really? Is that the best that you can offer us? To vegans that may be a meal, but to me that's a mere starter. Now, bring me the beef casserole!"

Except you haven't tried this soup yet (and brace yourself, because it's not the only soup on this list). This gorgeously green soup is rich in beta-carotene, essential antioxidants and vitamin C which will help your body fight against infection.

Using less than ten ingredients and coming together in less than 15 minutes, this is the perfect comfort meal to make during the week and still feel like you've had something satisfying. 

Get the spinach and broccoli soup recipe here. 

I did warn you that there would be more soup, and before you scroll past this as just another carrot soup recipe, let me remind you that ginger increases serotonin and dopamine levels. In other words, hello warming vegan comfort meal, and goodbye seasonal affective disorder! 

Even just looking at this soup is likely to make you feel more optimistic and rejuvenated, due to the colour psychology behind the colour orange, so grab your bread (carbs don't count when it's cold) and dig in to this delicious and uplifting soup. 

Get the carrot and ginger soup recipe here. 

OK, well done, we made it through the soup segment unscathed. Now onto the more rich, decadent vegan comfort meals like this ultimate vegan lasagne from the faces of BOSH! 

The perfect thing to make at the beginning of the week and eat every day for dinner until you've all but turned into Garfield, this surprisingly healthy vegan lasagne is packed full of umami flavours with miso paste, balsamic vinegar and sundried tomatoes. 

And since the recipe only uses 300ml of red wine, well...sometimes you cook with wine, and sometimes you might even put it in the food, and sometimes maybe not so much!  

Now we're getting well into the comfort pasta dishes, you know we mean business. Despite Italy's beautiful, hot climate, Italian cuisine is a great place to start when you're looking for something filling, delicious and relatively cheap to make at home. 

This dish from Bunch UK is the perfect lazy weeknight meal; you just need to throw all the ingredients into the pot and cook for 25 minutes for deliciously creamy goodness.

Although marinated artichokes might seem like a fancy addition, they can be easily found in jars in most supermarkets and are a great non-perishables staple. The chickpeas are also a great source of vegan protein. 

Get the one pot baked artichoke and chickpea orzo recipe here. 

There is little more comforting than a cheeky Chinese takeaway mid-week, when you can't be bothered to cook and you're ravenous after a long day at work. While there's nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while, unfortunately your bank account might not agree with your cravings, especially if it's getting to the point where the delivery driver knows your name. 

Enter this veggie lo mein recipe from Maya at Fitgreenmind. The great thing about this recipe is that it comes together in under 20 minutes and you can switch up the vegetables you use depending on what you have in your fridge! Use a protein source such as tofu or jackfruit to make this dish filling and enjoy. 

Get the veggie lo mein recipe here. 

Returning to Christina Soteriou, the face behind BunchUK, for another incredible vegan comfort meal, this adapted Middle Eastern and North African breakfast dish combines rich, slightly spicy flavours, with Italian comfort carbs—what's not to love?  

Topped with a lemony tofu topping, this dish is also full of protein and the topping can be stored in the fridge for a few days and used in other recipes like roasted veggies and (dare I suggest it at this time of year) salads. 

Get the Shakshuka-inspired gnocchi recipe here. 

If you grew up in the UK and you've never been to the IKEA restaurant for some much-needed comfort after traipsing through aisles of flatpack furniture and fitted kitchens, you have been seriously missing out. 

Luckily, although they may not want to indulge in the real meat meatballs, vegans have recognised the cultural integrity of the humble IKEA meatball and have created a plant-based version, complete with the creamily sumptuous gravy, so there's no reason to miss out. 

This recipe uses lentils, mushrooms and oats as the base of the meatballs and the gravy comes together in mere minutes. Serve with mashed potato, pasta or even chips (true IKEA style), and don't forget the lingonberry jam!