Summer is all about sunshine and beaches — until you have to enter the kitchen when the temperature is soaring. Factor in a vegan diet and fussy eaters in the house, and no one wants anything to do with the kitchen’s sweltering heat.
Don’t worry, though. You can still make quick, simple, and nutritious vegan meals that are perfect for the summer heat. These light vegan summer recipes will give you more time to chill and have fun in the sun while helping you put together refreshingly delicious vegan meals.
1. Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Start off your day with this delicious and nutritious blueberry banana smoothie. This quick and easy recipe calls for combining nutrient-rich bananas and blueberries with some plant-based protein (nut butter), a pinch of flavorful and aromatic cinnamon, and non-dairy milk. This smooth and creamy blend is perfect to cool you off during summer.
2. Cool Vegan Cucumber Soup
If you’ve never tried cold soup before, this cool cucumber soup recipe is a great introduction. Beat the summer heat by combining fresh cucumbers with dill, garlic, onions, seasonings, and vegetable broth, and blending it with soy milk to give it a rich, creamy texture. You can serve it with some lightly toasted sourdough bread for a light and filling meal.
3. Creamy Vegan White Pasta with Summer Vegetables
Welcome to the sneaky veggie edition of summer cooking! This healthy pasta recipe combines summer veggies like cherry tomatoes, red onions, and yellow squash with a creamy, mild-flavored white sauce to produce the perfect entree for your summer spread. Serve it garnished with fresh herbs, vegan parmesan, and red pepper flakes for a burst of extra color and flavor.
4. Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps
Fresh lettuce leaves generously stuffed with small crispy pieces of protein-rich tofu and umami-flavored brown rice noodles — this recipe is chock full of flavor! You can top it with cashews, peanuts, cilantro, lime, scallions, and some sriracha for the perfect marriage of contrasting flavors and textures.
5. Garlic Sesame Soba Noodles
This comforting 20-minute dish is easy to whip up any night of the week. It combines soba noodles with veggie stir-fry and some wonderful aromatics to produce a crowd-pleasing dish. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, and enjoy!
6. Israeli Couscous Salad
This light couscous salad is what summer dreams are made of. It combines couscous with juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and salty black olives, followed by some sweet and savory basil, artichoke heart quarters, and chopped purple onion. Add some vegan feta cheese, and serve this refreshing summer salad as you prefer, warm or cold.
7. Marshmallow S’mores Cookies
You don’t need a season or special occasion to bake some scrumptious cookies. This vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free cookie recipe combines marshmallows with chocolate chip cookies to give you the perfect dessert to indulge in. They’re perfectly crispy on the outside and have a chewy, ooey-gooey center. You won’t be able to resist these!
8. Mexican Buddha Bowl (Vegan Protein Bowl with Tofu)
This Mexican Buddha bowl gives you a boost of protein without sacrificing flavor. Simply pile a bed of cauliflower and regular rice with avocado, black bean and corn salsa, smoky tofu, tomatoes, guacamole, and olives. Finish it off with a drizzle of chipotle dressing and a garnish of cilantro to enjoy a wonderful combination of flavors.
9. Roasted Tomato Soup
Refreshing soups are always welcome in the summer. This mouthwatering soup is made with juicy tomatoes, earthy bell pepper, herbs, spices, creamy oat milk, and seasonings. The secret to this recipe’s success? Roast the tomatoes and bell pepper to give them a depth of flavor. Serve this comfort food with croutons or bread on the side for a filling meal.
10. Simple Vegetable Skewers
Add a fancy touch to your dinner spread with this simple vegetable skewers recipe. You can make this colorful summer side dish by seasoning red onion, zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms with garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and a few other spices. Grill until lightly charred and serve with some vegan chimichurri sauce.
11. Smashed White Bean, Basil & Avocado Sandwich
This recipe elevates a simple sandwich by using some amazing ingredients. To prepare, combine white beans, avocado, lemon juice, dijon mustard, basil, and seasonings like salt and pepper and mash until you get a chunky consistency. You can eat this delicious mixture by itself, use it as a sandwich spread, or add it to salads and veggie bowls.
12. Summer Detox Soup
This summer recipe is a wonderful pick-me-up on days when you have little energy to spare. It uses loads of veggies, herbs, and spices to give you a robust detox. You can add some coconut cream, almond or oat milk, or flavorful stock or broth while pureeing the veggies to give the soup some body. Garnish with chopped cilantro to serve.
13. Teriyaki Tempeh and Vegetables
Made in one sheet tray, this amazing recipe is not only delicious but also gluten-free! To prepare, toss your favorite veggies and tempeh with a scrumptious teriyaki sauce, which is prepared by mixing brown sugar, corn starch, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce. It’s an easy yet flavorful dinner that comes together in under an hour!
14. The Best Vegan Burger
This juicy, flavorful burger is a fantastic addition to summer barbeques. The patties are made with nutritious ingredients like sunflower mince, flaxseeds, and a few spices and seasonings. Cook them on a stove or grill, then add them to buns with juicy tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and a creamy burger sauce.
15. Vegan Chocolate Cake
This vegan chocolate cake is a sight for sore eyes. It glams up a basic chocolate cake with a layer of decadent frosting and chocolate shavings along with some berries and mint leaves for decoration. You can serve this deliciously moist and fluffy dessert at potluck parties, anniversaries, birthdays, or just to indulge your sweet tooth!
16. Vegan Lemon Crinkle Cookies
These refreshing (and highly addictive!) crinkle cookies are the perfect snack for summer! Make them by combining lemon juice and zest with your basic cake batter ingredients and bake until they’re puffed up with a crackle on top. They’re wonderfully zesty and fresh and have a perfectly moist and gooey center to satisfy your palate!
17. Vegan Pesto
This mouthwatering pesto is made without parmesan, giving it a vegan twist without losing any of its delicious flavors. Combine your regular pesto ingredients like fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and seasonings with some lemon to add brightness to the pesto. Enjoy it with pasta, salad, pizza, or soup.
18. Vegan Rice Paper Rolls with Sriracha & Soy Sauce Tofu and Peanut Sauce
Stuffed with veggies and baked tofu marinated with sriracha and soy sauce, these rice paper rolls will help you meet your daily nutrition requirements without sacrificing flavor. You can drizzle or dip them in a scrumptious, sweet, and spicy peanut sauce to enjoy wonderful textures and flavors in every bite.
19. Vegan Stuffed Zucchini
Ready in 30 minutes, this recipe involves roasting hollowed-out zucchini until they are tender, stuffing them with a Mexican-inspired black bean filling, and then covering them with a tahini cheese sauce. Bake until the cheese is bubbly for a rich, flavorful summer dish that’s perfect to put together on busy weeknights!
20. Vegan Summer Pasta
Put your produce to good use with this vegan summer pasta recipe. This fresh and hearty recipe features pasta combined with zucchini, artichoke heart, balsamic vinegar, chili flakes, EVOO, garlic, kalamata olives, and tomatoes. Garnish it with fresh parsley before serving.
21. Vegan Vanilla Cake with Buttercream Frosting
Perfectly fluffy and deliciously moist, this heavenly delight is made with just 9 ingredients! The moist, fluffy cake is coated with creamy, melt-in-your-mouth buttercream frosting to get a taste of heaven in every bite. This recipe can be customized to complement every occasion!
22. Vegan Zucchini Fritters
Make snacking easy this summer with zucchini fritters. They are perfectly well-browned and crispy on the exterior and tender on the inside. The addition of crushed garlic and onions to the mix makes sure that every bite is bursting with flavor. These quick and easy fritters go well with tangy, sour vegan sour cream and a spring onion garnish.
23. Creamy Avocado Gazpacho
This no-cook recipe is just what you want on hot summer days. Make it with blanched peas, avocado, Serrano pepper, English cucumber, shallot, and full-fat coconut milk. All you have to do is blend them all together, add salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with some mint leaves to serve!
24. Cucumber Avocado Watermelon Salad
Nothing says summer like juicy watermelon! This recipe pairs cubed watermelon with scooped avocado and sliced English cucumber. Topped with a drizzle of olive oil mixed with salt, pepper, and freshly chopped basil, this bright, fresh salad will cool you down on hot afternoons!
