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Vibrant Autumn Bowls: Colourful Plant-Based Recipes to Try

Summer might be over, but autumn is the perfect season for renewal. The leaves have changed colour, the air turns crisp, and we all return to our routines. It is the ideal time to experiment with cooking and focus on creating meals that will nourish and revitalise your body as you prepare for a colder winter.

Whether you’re following a vegan diet or simply wanting to eat less meat, our high-protein, vibrant bowls are the perfect recipes that are both flavour-rich and caring for your wellbeing. These dishes are proof that plant-based recipes can be tasty and warming, whilst being packed full of seasonal vegetables and hearty grains.

We’re all preparing for the ‘Great Lock In’, so why not get involved too and try out these different recipes for your next lunch or dinner?

Autumn Bowls Packed with High-Protein Ingredients

Tired of taking the same packed lunch into work each day? These bowls are great to be batch prepared at the beginning of the week, as a one-off satisfying dinner, or as a sharing dish when hosting friends and family.

 

Roasted Butternut Squash and Chickpea Bowl

What is better than roasted butternut squash and crispy chickpeas? This autumn favourite is the ultimate colourful combination that encapsulates the essence of autumn, whilst being high in protein and ready to keep you energised all day.

Chop up your butternut squash, drizzle with some oil and toss in salt, pepper and some chilli flakes. While that’s roasting, mix your chickpeas in olive oil, paprika and garlic and cook in your air fryer for 15 minutes until crispy. Once both are ready, build up your bowl. Starting with a base of quinoa or cous cous, followed by the butternut squash and chickpeas. Add a crunch with diced cucumber and ribbons of carrot.

The best part is the dressing. To complete the dish, drizzle a tahini-lemon dressing and sprinkle a crumbled plant-based feta on top. This is a perfect dish that is warming and delicious.

Hint: To bulk out the dish, heat the butternut squash and chickpea mix with some tinned tomatoes and create a delicious stew. Toast a few slices of sourdough to dip in for a cosy meal.
 

Rainbow Veggie and Lentil Bowl

If you can’t figure out which vegetables to choose, then you don’t need to decide, and you can have them all! This rainbow veggie and lentil bowl is beautifully colourful and nutritionally balanced.

Combine a mix of sliced roasted peppers, diced beetroot, roasted sweet potato chunks, halved tenderstem broccoli and a small portion of pickled red cabbage in one big bowl. Once tossed together, add your cooked or canned green lentils. For the extra crunch, add a portion of crushed almonds or a sprinkle of seeds.

Complete your dish by mixing a few tablespoons of hummus, a squeeze of lemon juice, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and a dash of oil. Add salt, pepper and other herbs to season. Drizzle this over for a creamy dressing.
 

Creamy Vegan Mushroom and Tofu Bowl

Our creamy vegan mushroom and tofu bowl is the ultimate high-protein food that can be served warm.

Sauté mushrooms in garlic, chilli and olive oil until golden. Whilst this is happening, air fry or roast your tofu. Top tip: coat in cornflour and seasoning for that extra crunch, or marinate in a soy sauce mix the night before for a burst of flavour.

For the creamy sauce, mix a few tablespoons of tahini, salt, pepper, lemon juice and a splash of vegan milk product (Note: oat milk alternative is our go-to choice). Add a range of your favourite vegetables with a base of whole-grain or rice noodles. Finish with chopped nuts for an indulgent and protein-packed dish.
 

Tips for Making Autumn Bowls Nutritious and Delicious

Autumn bowls are wholesome and comforting during the change in seasons, so here are our top 4 tips for making sure each bowl is delicious.

Tip 1:
Mix a range of textures. Add a sprinkle of nuts, seeds or roasted chickpeas to add a crunch to your bowls.

Tip 2:
Switch between creamy and sweet dressings. Use vegan milk products or plant-based cheese for dressings, but also try a tangy miso sauce to change up the flavours.

Tip 3:
Don’t rely on one form of protein. The best thing about vegan bowls is that each dish can have a wide range of high-protein foods. From grains, lentils, chickpeas, tofu or nutritional yeast, vegan protein dishes don’t have to be boring!

Tip 4:
Eat seasonally. At Milk & More, we curate boxes that supply fruit and vegetables that are in season. We want to make sure meals are sustainable and full of flavour.
 

Find The Ingredients for Your Autumn Bowl

These high-protein, plant-based bowls are the best way to embrace the season. You can become experimental and artistic when designing your colourful bowl by exploring different combinations of vegetables and flavours. But let us do the hard work and bring a variety of the season’s best veg to your door. Stock up at Milk & More and enjoy nourishing vegan dishes.