International Women’s Day: spotlighting recipes created by women

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March for many reasons; among them it aims to uplift women and recognise their achievements.

As part of our ongoing work to diversify our recipe content, we have the privilege of bringing you dishes that include traditions and stories from a variety of food cultures. In this blog we share some of our recent additions, from decadent desserts to flavourful mains, prepared by inspiring vegan women. Read more about them below and follow the links to find the full recipes.

Mocha panna cotta hearts 

This mocha panna cotta hearts recipe was created by Amee Vora for Valentine’s Day – but why stop at one day to treat a loved one! This melt in the mouth dessert can be prepared in ten minutes but will need four hours to set in the fridge. It’s perfect if you want to do something a little extra and effortlessly surprise someone at the end of a meal. Amee is a software developer by profession, who shares beautiful and colourful vegan dishes as her creative outlet. You can find her recipe developer and food stylist work at yummee.with.amee.

Chow Mein (raw vegan)

Chow Mein is a classic! This recipe is by Raw Chef Yin, described on her Instagram account as a raw vegan Asian food expert, she is a bestselling author, which includes her Fun with Vegan Cheese eBook. You can find her TEDxTalk, The Transformative Power of Raw Vegan Food here. Yin created this Chow Mein (raw vegan) for Chinese/Lunar New Year, this version includes spiralised courgettes for a lighter meal and is a great way to include more veggies.

Spicy vegan ‘chicken’ patty (Pakistani puff pastry)

If you’re looking to try a new pastry recipe then these Spicy Vegan ‘chicken’ patty (Pakistani puff pastry) may be what you’re after. They’re made with seasoned extra firm tofu and can be enjoyed with your favourite sauce or chutney. This recipe was originally shared to celebrate Ramadan, made my Sara of The Pakistani Vegan. Sara is a Pakistani American who shares Pakistani inspired plant-based recipes on her Instagram.

Vegan Meatless Meatloaf

The decoration on this vegan meatless meatloaf, is next level – this dish is designed to be the centrepiece of a meat-free celebration table. It was made by Kirly-Sue (aka Susanne Kirlew) for Easter, but it can also be shared during your next upcoming gathering. It’s made with lentils, mushrooms, chickpeas, onion, garlic; ground flaxseed, oats and seasonings, so you can be eating a super healthy dish that also tastes amazing! Susanne is a is a vegan Chef, an award-winning published author and TV presenter, you can find her cookbook, Cooking with Kids here. Find more of her work on her Instagram.

Rainbow fonio salad

We’re still feeling the last chill of the colder season, but when you’re ready for tasty salads this vibrant rainbow fonio salad will be here for you! Fonio, described best by the recipes author, Ngwafu Tansie (founder of gwafuvegan), as “a popular ancient grain used in West Africa and it's packed with nutrients and high in protein. Similar to couscous and quinoa”. Fonio puts the heart in this hearty salad, along with it is a mixture of fresh veggies that add crunch and a white bean dressing to top it all off! Ngwafu shared this recipe for Pride Month, which in the UK also marks the beginning of summer. Ngwafu is a vegan chef, providing West African/Cameroonian vegan catering in Manchester. Find more of Ngwafu’s work on her Instagram.

Ethiopian Misir Wot (Spicy Red Lentil Stew)

This beautifully presented Ethiopian misir wot (spicy red lentil stew) speaks for itself. Just look at those colours! In this image the stew is served hot with traditional Ethiopian injera, but it can also be served with rice or any other flatbread. This dish is made with slow cooked whole red lentils and Berbere, a traditional Ethiopian spice blend. Helen Mebrate created this recipe for Black History Month, she creates more recipes like this to share on her Instagram. Helen is also the founder of Amaarech Spices.

These six recipes are just a small insight into the wonderful work being done by women in the vegan community. This International Women’s Day we celebrate the creators who continue to inspire others to experiment and connect through their vegan recipes. If you’d like to try any of these recipes, be sure to find and support the creators we’ve shared so they can continue their meaningful work.

By Jennifer Jones, Senior Digital Content Officer