When you are in the mood for a little heat, here are 19 delicious spicy vegetarian recipes to satisfy!! From easy main meals to sauces, salads and even a dessert, there’s sure to be something to heat up everyone’s taste buds!!
Why You Will Love These Spicy Vegetarian Recipes
Spicy foods are the perfect way to introduce new or beginner vegetarians to eating plant based meals. Adding spice to vegetarian foods adds flavor in the absence of meat which is a plus when new to a more plant forward style of eating.
Spicy food tastes better. Ok this might simply be my opinion, but the number of ingredients available in the ingredient to add and make food spicy, tells me I’m not the only one!
In this list of spicy vegetarian recipes there are lots of vegetarian and vegan options in a variety of flavors and styles. So there is something for everyone!!
Easy and delicious spicy vegetarian recipes for any level of cook. My emphasis in most recipes is to keep it simple for you so meals are quick and easy to prepare.
How to Add Spice to Food
Sure there are lots of hot pepper sauces, salsas and much more in the grocery store that you can buy and use to add flavor to your meals, but in many cases these are more like a condiment that appears on the table.
In this collection of spicy vegetarian recipes, meals are cooked with fresh and dried chilies or spice blends like these mentioned below.
Dried Chilies
When preparing spicy vegetarian recipes, there are some benefits to cooking with dried chilies, but also some drawbacks. The main benefit is that they last longer than fresh and you can store in your cabinet. This means that you don’t have to worry so much about waste.
However, the process of drying chilies does alter their flavor a bit so using them as substitutes for fresh in recipes the results may taste slightly different.
If you are cooking with dried chilies, you can activate their flavor by placing them in a 350° F oven for 4-5 minutes to warm up. This process makes a huge difference when cooking with dried chilies.
Some of my favorite dried chilies include in spicy vegetarian recipes:
- Chipotle peppers, which used to be jalapenos before they were dried. These are often found in cans with adobo sauce. They are moderately spicy and have a smoky flavor.
- Ancho chilies, which used to be poblano peppers are mild in their heat with a slight smoky flavor.
- Aji mirasol were aji amarillo chilies before being dried.
- Aji panka, a Peruvian aji with an amazing smoky flavor that’s mild in heat
- Chile de arbol, a Mexican chile pepper with a fair amount of heat
Dried Spices
Dried spices are another great way to use when cooking spicy vegetarian recipes. These may be easier to find than dried chilies in many cases.Like the dried, they will last longer than fresh chilies especially if stored properly.
Store all your dried spices and peppers in a well sealed container in a cool dark cabinet.Excess light, heat and air can cause the flavor of the dried spices to diminish more quickly.
These are the dried chili spices and blends that I keep on hand throughout the year:
- Chipotle chili powder is great to add some spice and heat to soups, chilies, sauces and other preparations. And it’s less messy than dealing with the little cans of chipotles.
- Cayenne pepper, a common ingredient in many recipes and a pantry staple for me. A little dash goes a long way.
- Crushed red pepper flakes, another common ingredient in many recipes and fantastic sprinkled on pizza! Like the cayenne, a little goes a long way.
Fresh Chilies
I love cooking with fresh chilies whenever it’s possible. Living in Peru, I don’t have access to many of my favorite Mexican chili peppers but they do have many amazing varieties here that I use as substitutes.
My favorites when it comes to fresh chilies:
Jalapenos, which I thankfully can find often. A great addition to salsa, chili and any other way you can think to use them.
Aji amarillo, an orange chili pepper with a fruity, spicy flavor is delicious though difficult to find in the United States. Sometimes available frozen in Latin American grocery stores or you can substitute the paste or powder in a bind.
Serrano peppers, slender green peppers which are a great stand in for jalapenos. I don’t get to cook with them as often now but still really enjoy them as an ingredient.
If you want to learn more about chilies such as their heat level, flavor profile and easy substitutions, check out the PepperScale website. It’s a super handy tool with lots of information and recipes too!
Expert Tips and FAQS When Cooking Spicy Vegetarian Recipes
What are some good spicy foods?
Foods from other cultures are my top pick for good spicy foods. Peruvian ceviche, Chili sauce, Thai curry, Indian curries are some of my favorites. They also are a great way to introduce yourself to cooking vegetarian dishes and adding flavor.
How to handle fresh chilies?
It’s important to handle fresh chilies and even some dried chilies with care. When you are cutting them, the spicy flavor is transferred to your fingers and can be a problem if hours later you rub your eye. Most of the spiciness of chilies is found in the seeds and the interior membrane.
If you want to ensure absolute protection, using latex gloves or something similar when cutting chilies is a good practice. Other less protective measures include using a spoon to scoop out the seeds and membrane inside the chile so you don’t touch it with your fingers too much.
Also be sure to wash your hands with soap and water, scrubbing well following cutting up a chili. And use caution when touching delicate areas of the body following handling a chile pepper.
Spicy Vegetarian Recipes
Easy Thai Vegan Massaman Curry
A deliciously sweet and spicy vegan Thai curry made a store-bought curry paste, chickpeas and potatoes. A quick and easy recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights and easy enough for any level cook!
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Spicy Vegan Potato Corn Chowder
A delicious and creamy vegan chowder packed full of potatoes, corn, and other chunky veggies. Easy to make and on the table in about 30 minutes. It's an entire meal in a bowl.
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Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
We all need more tacos in our life, of that I’m certain! This quick and easy buffalo cauliflower taco recipe is a unique and tasty spin on one of my absolute favorite foods! It’s spicy but the pineapple and avocado pico de gallo helps to cool it down a bit.
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Chile Lime Mango Cucumber Salad
Sweet, crunchy and a little bit spicy. This quick and easy salad is bursting with lots of different flavors….sweet, spicy, fresh, vibrant and much more. The coolness of the cucumber and sweetness of the mango help to tame the bit of spiciness from the chilies.
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Vegetarian Causa with Quinoa and Avocado
Potatoes flavored with lime and chilies are layered with red quinoa, veggies and avocado in this makeover of a Peruvian classic.
Easy Vegan Thai Green Curry with Quinoa Brown Rice
A quick and easy recipe for cooking during the week when you are craving a bit of Thai. Prep and cook curry while the rice pilaf cooks and dinner is ready in about 45 minutes.
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Vegetarian White Bean Chili
This hearty vegetarian white bean chili recipe makes a quick and easy dinner you will love! Using cooked or canned beans helps you create a tasty weeknight dish in about thirty minutes. It tastes so good, no one will know you didn’t spend hours over it in the kitchen.
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Cinnamon Chili Cacao Chia Pudding
Creamy and delicious vegan chia pudding with the hint of spice from cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Delish!!
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Spicy Stir Fry with Sambal Oelek & Vegetables
Serve up quick and easy spicy sambal oelek stir fry as a main dish or side dish for busy weeknight meals. An easy meal that delivers great flavor and lots of healthy veggies.
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Vegan Ceviche Recipe (Peruvian)
Inspired by the traditional seafood ceviche in Peru, this vegetable ceviche is prepared using mushrooms, zucchini and artichokes in a vegan leche de tigre, the name given to the lime marinade used to "cook" the vegetables. A vegan ceviche recipe that's delicious and super easy to make for any level cook.
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Vegetarian Japanese Curry
A delicious vegetarian Japanese curry recipe that's on the table in just over 30 minutes. You wil love the flavors of this spicy sweet curry sauce served up with stir fried vegetables and sticky rice or noodles.
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Best Peruvian Salad Recipe (Solterito Salad)
Looking for a way to spruce up your meals? This amazing chopped Peruvian salad recipe, AKA solterito salad, makes a great addition to a variety of dishes ! It’s packed with plenty of fresh and crisp veggies with a zesty dressing. This Peruvian side dish is sure to be a hit for all your summer salad needs but it's perfect to serve any time of year.
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Vegan Lettuce Wraps (No Tofu)
Tired of the same old lunch every day? Why don't you spice up your meals with these delicious vegan lettuce wraps no tofu! Instead, these lettuce wraps are made with a quick and easy chickpea filling with either a buffalo, teriyaki, or bbq flavor! So easy and perfect to make ahead.
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Aguadito de Verduras (Peruvian Green Soup with Vegetables)
This delicious, veggie packed soup has just a slight bit of spice from some peppers combined with cilantro and tons of lime juice. The result is a lovely bright flavor combined with tons of vegetables and legumes. Great to make ahead of time and freeze or store for use during the week.
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Pasta a la Huancaina with Mushroom Saltado
A spicy creamy sauce tossed with pasta and served up with sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and onions is a vegetarian version of an authentic Peruvian meal.
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Easy Black Bean Dip (Vegan)
Black bean dip vegan is also a gluten-free and healthy snack that positively bursts with flavor — from the spicy jalapenos to the earthiness of the spices and finally the zing of the lime juice! It’s a spicy black bean dip recipe you’ll come back to time and time again because it’s easy to make and tastes amazing!
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Spicy ceviche with tarwi
A delicious spicy version of Peruvian ceviche made vegetarian with a traditional andean bean, tarwi. The recipe goes together quickly and makes a perfect no-cook meal for a hot summer day.
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Creamy Chipotle Yogurt Sauce
Creamy chipotle yogurt sauce is made with only three ingredients but really packs a punch of flavor to tantalize your taste buds. It's perfect for a salad, grain bowl or drizzled over tacos. Only three ingredients, quick and easy to make and use for a meal or keep on hand to use throughout the week.
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Smoky Grilled Tofu & Vegetable Skewers
Tofu is out-of-this-world delicious in this Smoky Grilled Tofu & Vegetable Skewers recipe. With an easy-to-make smoky and spicy-sweet marinade, bright and crunchie veggies, and a creamy avocado sauce, these grilled tofu skewers are a fun and delicious dinner recipe.
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If you try a recipe from this vegan lemon recipes collection, why not drop a review in the comment section further down the page I always appreciate your feedback. You can let me know how the recipe went for you and which one you’re cooking next. And don’t forget to tag me @cookeatlivelove in your photos on social media so I can see your creations.
