Making small changes to your menu such as swapping out ingredients for meat-free alternatives are simple ways in which to ensure dishes are vegan friendly.
Using a product such as Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo is just one example of how this can be achieved this Veganuary.
The global organisation behind Veganuary encourages and supports people and businesses to move to a plant-based diet in a bid to help protect the environment, prevent animal suffering and improve the health of people.
Research revealed
Results from the Official Veganuary 2023 Six-Month Survey, which were published in October, found 80% of those who participated in January 2023 were not vegan when they signed up to the pledge but 28% were still eating a fully vegan diet.
More than a third (36%) of the 6,967 respondents were eating at least 75% less meat and animal products than pre-Veganuary while 16% were eating 50% less meat.
Some 96% of those who were not fully vegan said they were likely to try a vegan diet again in the future.
Other research from YouGov in January 2023 showed 9% of UK adults have taken the pledge to try vegan for January’s 31 days at least once.
Operator opinion
Furthermore, research from the data organisation in 2022 of 1,000 UK adults found the top reasons people originally became vegetarian or vegan were not wanting to eat animals or animal products (63% of veggies and 70% of vegans).
A snap survey conducted by The Morning Advertiser earlier this year showed the demand for meat-free dishes was strong at the majority of pubs.
Almost eight in 10 (78%) of 349 respondents said the consumer demand for meat-free dishes was not declining while around a fifth (22%) said it was.
However, in contrast to the YouGov research, head chef of multiple operator Anglian Country Inns Kumour Uddin reported diners were eating less meat in a bid to be healthier.
All menus across the group’s nine-strong estate have a vegan option and vegetarian dishes can be easily altered to cater for vegan guests.
Fellow multi-site firm Brucan Pubs also has a broad variety on its menus to cater for all tastes.
Director James Lyon-Shaw said sales data revealed meat-free dishes had stayed fairly consistent after a strong increase last year.
With the demand for vegan food continuing, we’ve got two dishes that will satisfy those looking for a meat-free option.
How to create a vegan Caesar salad
Ingredients:
For the roasted onions
2kg red onion
150g Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo
45g white miso paste
45g Henderson’s Relish
45g brown sugar
For the sourdough croutons
900g sourdough
100g extra virgin olive oil
20g salt
For the vegan Caesar dressing
100g nutritional yeast
10 garlic cloves
600g Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo
25g capers
14g Henderson’s Relish
70g Dijon mustard
75g extra virgin olive oil
3 lemons
25g salt
To serve
10 gem lettuce leaves
150g olive oil
How to create vegan spicy squash tacos
Ingredients:
For the butternut squash
5kg butternut squash
50g chipotle paste
100g Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo
20g salt
3 limes
12g ground coriander
12g ground cumin
For the tacos
1.25kg plain flour
130g vegetable oil
30g salt
750g hot water
For the cabbage slaw
1.5kg red cabbage
400g carrots
200g Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo
3 limes
30g salt