12 seriously comforting vegetarian recipes

1. Wild mushroom and madeira stew with walnuts

It’s time to get cosy. Here’s a hearty, well-rounded stew that’s bursting with flavour – think soft, garlicky mushrooms, a gentle crunch of walnuts and undertones of earthy thyme, sitting on a buttery bed of polenta. There’s no doubt that you’ll go back to this recipe time and time again.

2. Squash and stilton veggie toad in the hole

Loaded with caramelised roasted squash, redcurrant jelly and gooey stilton, this vegetarian toad in the hole is so rich, creamy and filling that you’ll forget all about the lack of meat.

3. Goat’s cheese and sun-dried tomato risotto

Nothing screams comfort quite like a bowl of risotto. And we can assure you, this vegetarian risotto goes a long way, oozing with cosiness thanks to the creamy goat’s cheese and the sweet tart of sun-dried tomatoes. Bake until bubbling and golden on top then grab a fork and dig in. You’ll need to source a vegetarian parmesan, if using.

4. Macaroni cheese with spinach and pesto pangrattato

We all love a bit of mac ‘n’ cheese now and again and most of us seem set on a particular recipe. But after you taste this version, you’ll be pining for it every time hunger strikes. We’ve upped the ante on the classic recipe, adding more enticing flavours to make it that much creamier and cheesier because, why on earth not?

5. Baked gnocchi with cream, mushrooms and blue cheese sauce

Soft, pillowy gnocchi truly is a thing of beauty. Better yet, gnocchi baked in a creamy, blue cheese and mushroom sauce. If we could, we’d be reaching for a bowl of this every night…

6. Squash, chard and hazelnut cannelloni

When we think of comfort food, a creamy pasta bake almost immediately springs to mind. This recipe has everything you need for a cold winter’s night: cheese sauce, sourdough bread, sherry, crunchy hazelnuts and of course, pasta.

7. Sweet potato chilli nachos

As the nights draw in, comfort food has never been so necessary. By tucking into these veggie chilli nachos – stacked with seasonal sweet potato, a generous dollop of soured cream and a smattering of cheddar cheese – treating weather-induced qualms will feel easier (and tastier) than ever.

Serve with spicy Mexican bean burgers and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Mexican feast.

8. Cheese and thyme potato tart

Name us a more iconic duo than cheese and potato… we’ll wait. This cheese and thyme potato tart is testament to that. Turn up the heat on a cold and rainy evening and serve bubbling hot – you deserve this.

9. Braised leek and cheddar rarebit

This decadent take on Welsh rarebit, with buttery braised leeks and plenty of mature cheddar, has never offended anyone. Top with a fried egg, drizzle with Henderson’s relish and you’ve got yourself a treat-yourself dish fit for royalty.

10. Squash parmigiana

As the temperatures drop, you’ll need a five star recipe for cosy nights in. We feel this veggie parmigiana, baked to golden, bubbling perfection, ticks all the boxes: garlicky tomato sauce, parmesan cream, and even more parmesan.

11. Fettuccine alfredo

As darkness spreads, light up your gloomy evenings with a bright bowl of pasta. Fettucine, to be precise. These silky thick ribbons are stirred through a sauce of double cream, parmesan and butter to achieve pasta perfection all in the comfort of your own home.

12. Fresh ricotta and spinach crespellini

Stuffed savoury pancakes: a slice of hope in the colder, darker months. This recipe doesn’t hold back on cheese and cream, which seems to us to be the epitome of culinary comfort.

Discover all of our vegetarian recipes here.