
25 vegetarian Easter ideas
Try our impressive main courses and ideas for a stunning vegetarian Easter menu – we've planned everything you need for an epic feast
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Sometimes it's hard to cater for everyone at a big family gathering. That's why BBC Good Food has planned out a perfect Easter menu for vegetarians, bursting with seasonal treats and hearty mains that won't leave anyone going hungry. For more inspiration, see our best vegetarian Easter recipes and vegan Easter recipes.
Starters
Kick off your veggie feast with a colourful sharing platter, fresh spring soup or light and herby salad.
1. Spring sharing board
Make veg the focus of your seasonal starter with an easy mix-and-match sharing board. This delectable platter of nibbles features crunchy radishes, chicory, asparagus, quail's eggs and crackers. Serve with homemade pea & artichoke dip, marinated feta and pink pepper salt so everyone can help themselves.
Discover more entertaining dishes with our sharing recipes.
2. Watercress salad with Jersey Royals, roast shallots & pickled radish
Feeding a smaller group? Keep the springtime flavours coming with our colourful watercress and Jersey Royal salad. Teamed with crunchy pickled radishes, refreshing mint and sweet banana shallots, this dish is full of exciting textures and flavours.
Discover more vegetarian salad recipes.
3. Leek, pea & watercress soup
Serve a warming bowl of vibrant green veg soup for a vegan starter that sings of spring. Packed with seasonal leeks, peas and watercress, this wholesome blend also delivers two of your five-a-day. Add a touch of luxury by swirling through oat crème fraîche and serve with a hunk of crusty homemade sourdough.
Discover more vegetarian soup recipes.
4. Caramelised onion & mushroom tartlets
These caramelised onion & mushroom tartlets are a great fuss-free starter. There’s no need for tricky pastry assemblage, as the bases of these tartlets are stamped-out circles of bread. They can be on your table in only 30 minutes and require only 10 minutes of preparation.
Discover more vegetarian canapé recipes.
5. Radishes with herby whipped feta
Serve this creamy whipped feta dip as a sharing starter. Drizzle over a little olive oil and serve with radishes for dunking, along with carrots and cucumber. If you want to impress your guests, why not also bake a homemade flatbread for dipping?
Discover more dip recipes.
Discover more meat-free marvels in our collection of vegetarian starter recipes.
Mains
Serve one of our flavourful meat-free mains for a stunning Easter centrepiece, from veg-stuffed filo pastries and comforting tarts, to roasted stuffed cauliflower and butternut squash.
6. Leek & globe artichoke pie
Hearty veggie pies can make really impressive Easter centrepieces. Even devoted carnivores will want a slice of this cheesy coiled pie, which is loosely based on the Greek agginaropita.
Not a fan of artichokes? Try our veggie spiral pie instead – a light, crisp pastry stuffed with rice, feta and spinach. For an even simpler version, this crispy Greek-style pie is made using just five ingredients for a delicious no-fuss main.
Discover more delicious vegetarian pies.
7. Cavolo nero, mushroom, potato & fontina strudel
Filo works in strudel-like pastries as well as Greek ones, and is easier to handle than strudel dough. Our impressive savoury version takes a little effort, but is well worth it – the result is a creamy, spiced veg filling encased in golden, crisp pastry. If you can’t find fontina, comté or gruyère work well, too.
Find more stunning centrepieces in our collection of vegetarian wellington recipes.
8. Roasted stuffed cauliflower
Make this gloriously golden stuffed cauliflower the star of your Easter menu. The kale-based filling is packed with the aromatic flavours of rosemary, sage, chestnut and lemon. Cleverly bound together with linseed paste, this vegan centrepiece has a chestnut and breadcrumb coating, creating a mouthwateringly crisp outer layer.
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For more plant-based inspiration, check out our vegan Easter ideas.
9. Stuffed butternut squash
Roasted butternut squash makes another satisfying meat-free main. Stuff with a moreish mixture of pearl barley, pine nuts, fresh herbs, leeks, feta and dried fruit. Serve with a lemony tahini and honey sauce and scattering of parsley.
Browse more butternut squash recipes.
10. Charred courgette, lemon & goat’s cheese galette
Bake this colourful free-form tart for a veggie main with wow factor. Rye flour gives the pastry a nutty flavour, which marries well with the topping of lemony goat’s cheese, charred seasonal veg and toasted pine nuts. Any leftovers are delicious eaten cold the next day, with a peppery dressed salad. If you’re short on time, use a block of ready-made all-butter puff pastry instead of making your own.
Try more of our glorious sweet and savoury galette recipes.
11. Double cheese & spring vegetable tart
A true celebration of spring, this easy make-ahead tart is packed seasonal asparagus, peas and watercress, combined with tangy goat's cheese and mature cheddar in a rich, quiche-style filling. We’ve used shop-bought pastry for ease, but given it a personal touch by laminating it with cheddar, which gives the tart a beautifully crumbly base. You could also add herbs like thyme, finely chopped rosemary or crunchy poppy seeds. Discover our how to cook asparagus guide.
We've got plenty more inspiration for impressive vegetarian main course recipes.
12. Butternut squash & spinach lasagne
Swap lasagne sheets for layers of butternut squash in this veg-packed main topped with melted cheese. It makes a great Easter main, as it can be prepared the night before and cooked from frozen until piping hot.
Discover more vegetarian lasagne recipes.
13. Roasted carrot & whipped feta tart
This vibrant veggie tart is simple to prepare, as it uses shop-bought puff pastry. It makes the most of budget-friendly carrots, using the carrot tops for the pesto. Flavoured with za’atar, honey and lemon rind, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and zesty.
Discover more savoury tart recipes.
14. Lentils with spring greens & watercress walnut pesto
These lentils with spring greens & watercress walnut pesto make a great Easter main, as it’s a healthy supper that delivers four of your five-a-day, and it’s gluten-free. Keep the pesto separate so that vegan guests can enjoy the bulk of the salad.
Discover more lentil salad recipes.
15. Mushroom, leek & miso spelt galette
This mushroom, leek & miso spelt galette might require a little extra effort, but it’s worth it for this punchy showstopper main. And, you can prepare your dough up to two days ahead, so it needn’t be a hassle on the day. Fry your leeks in garlic and miso for a savory umami flavour.
Discover more miso recipes.
Sides
Some would argue that sides bring pizzazz to a large lunch like Sunday Roast, and we’d have to agree. From delicious classics like the humble roast potato to vibrant salads, the sides to a meal can make or break it.
16. Roasted new carrots, cauliflower, grains & carrot-top dressing
Accompany your main with a hearty warm grain salad featuring carrots, cauliflower and green beans with pearly barley or spelt. We've used whole vegetables – including their leaves and stalks – to make a deliciously zingy dressing. To save on last-minute prep time, all the components of this dish can be made the day before, and don’t need to be chilled before serving.
Discover more carrot salad recipes.
17. Crispy new potato traybake
The veg patch starts to come into its own in spring, so make the most of homegrown Jersey Royals in this traybake. A little white wine vinegar mixed with punchy capers, olives and thyme goes a long way.
Discover more new potato recipes.
18. Cheesy vegetable gratin and braised carrots
Give cauliflower cheese a springtime twist with fresh purple sprouting broccoli and spinach in a punchy cheddar and chive sauce. Serve alongside a bowl of buttery fennel-braised carrots – the best part? They don't require any chopping or peeling!
Discover more gratin recipes.
19. Warm spring vegetables
This zingy spring veg dish features delicate lemony courgette ribbons with seasonal asparagus, peas and broad beans, all drizzled in olive oil and topped with parsley.
Find more fresh spring greens recipes.
20. Roast garlic and tahini spinach
This roast garlic and tahini spinach makes a delicious side dish. The recipe calls for the garlic to be wrapped in foil and cooked on the barbecue, but if this isn’t possible, it works equally well in the oven (but it will lack that smoky taste).
Discover more tahini recipes.
Desserts
Whether you want to indulge in Easter chocolate or something fruity and fresh to finish off your feast, spring is a great season for both.
21. Rhubarb & apple crumble
Use up a glut of rhubarb in this comforting fruit pudding. Ground ginger adds a hint of warm spice to the crumble topping. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Liven up your bakes with more seasonal rhubarb recipes.
22. Chocolate egg baked tart
For a truly showstopping Easter dessert, this decadent chocolate tart is deceptively easy to make. Try our simple version with eye-catching golden eggs, or give it an extra-special finish by dusting with cocoa powder, then decorating with piped ganache, extra golden eggs and chocolate shards.
Treat yourself to more Easter chocolate recipes and Easter egg desserts.
23. Lemon layer cake
Serve up a slice of citrus cake with soft cheese icing. Adding yogurt to the sponge makes it light and moist, which balances perfectly with the creamy icing. Soak in a warm lemon drizzle sauce and top with candied lemon zest for a fresh dessert.
Find more citrussy bakes in our selection of lemon dessert recipes.
24. Devil's food cake
This devil’s food cake is our most decadent chocolate cake to date – perfect for Easter celebrations when no amount of chocolate is enough. It's great for a crowd, as it can serve 15-20 people.
Discover more chocolate cake recipes.
25. Cherry bakewell crêpe cake
This impressive crêpe cake can be made without turning the oven on. The cherry and almond flavours pair perfectly with chocolate, making this a great Easter dessert.
Also check out our Easter dessert recipes for more sweet treats.
Like this? Discover more:
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What's your favourite vegetarian Easter recipe? Let us know below.