Post: 10 Traditionally Vegan Meals From Around the World

By Colman Andrews

About 88 million people worldwide practice a vegan diet, according to the World Animal Foundation, 13 million of whom live in the United States.People abstain from meat and all other animal-derived products for various reasons, including religion, animal welfare, health, or the environment.Showcasing a variety of plant-based fare, VNutrition explored global culinary traditions to outline 10 popular vegan dishes from around the world.

Traditional cuisines of countries such as Indonesia, Ethiopia, Israel, and India—where at least 1 in 10 people (11%) are vegan—include vast repertoires of plant-based dishes that highlight flavors and textures of locally available fruit and vegetables enhanced with spices and other nonanimal ingredients.

Even in places less known for meat-free fare, there are plenty of options: Mexico serves up guacamole and nopales (cactus paddle) tacos, mochi and soba or udon noodles are deliciously common in Japan, and Italy offers a range of pasta- and plant-based cuisine. Elsewhere, soy-based foods like tofu and tempeh have long substituted meat and cheese: Chinese Buddhists developed a range of savory “mock meats” in the 10th century.

For those who’ve yet to experience the limitless palates of a vegan diet, it might be noted that Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan—one of only four restaurants in New York City to boast a coveted three Michelin stars—has served a plant-based menu exclusively since 2021. Falafel

Falafel is a croquette made with ground chickpeas mixed with minced garlic, parsley, scallions, and spices, then formed into balls or patties before being deep-fried. It’s eaten, usually as a sandwich in pita bread, throughout the Middle East and beyond. The Egyptians call it ta’miyya and make it with fava beans instead of chickpeas. Misir wot

Ethiopia’s cuisine is wonderfully rich with vegetable specialties.

Misir wot—”wot” means “stew”—is a hearty dish of red lentils and long-cooked onions. Complex flavors come from berbere, a wonderfully all-purpose spice mix of a dozen or more ingredients, including cayenne, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon.

Like most Ethiopian food, misir wot is traditionally eaten without utensils and with the help of a piece of crêpelike bread called injera. Trinidadian doubles Doubles are a quintessential street food […]

10 Traditionally Vegan Meals From Around the World