Wholesome, comforting, and still full of that Pinoy flavor—these easy vegetarian meals prove you don’t need meat to enjoy Filipino food!
Going plant-based (even just a few days a week) has been something I’ve been trying to do for the family. Hindi naman kailangan all-out vegetarian agad, but introducing more veggie-based meals has been surprisingly fun—and delicious! And to be honest, it’s also been easier on the budget.
I used to think, “Paano ang Filipino food without meat?” But the truth is, our cuisine already has a lot of hearty vegetable dishes that can stand alone. And when you tweak a few classics, you’ll find na puwede pala silang gawin all-veggie without sacrificing flavor.
Here are some of my favorite easy Filipino vegetarian meals that you can make for your family:
1. Vegetarian Kare-Kare
Use eggplant, puso ng saging (banana blossom), sitaw, and pechay as your main veggies. Pair with a bagoong alternative like spicy peanut sauce if you want to keep it meatless. Or you can also use, vegetarian meat substitute. Check out my recipe for Vegetarian Kare-Kare.
2. Laing (Taro Leaves in Coconut Milk)
Rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Skip the usual dried fish or shrimp paste if you want it fully vegetarian—gawing star ng dish ang coconut milk and taro leaves.
3. Ginisang Ampalaya (Sautéed Bitter Gourd)
I know, not everyone’s favorite, but when cooked with eggs and lots of onions, it’s surprisingly comforting. Tip: soak the ampalaya in salt water before cooking to reduce bitterness.
4. Vegetarian Adobo
Instead of pork or chicken, try making adobo with mushrooms, tofu, or even kangkong stems. The soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and bay leaf still give you that unmistakable adobo flavor.
5. Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelette)
Grilled eggplant dipped in egg and pan-fried until golden—simple, cheap, and so filling. Serve with banana ketchup on the side!
6. Ginisang Monggo
This is one of our ultimate budget-friendly, protein-packed dishes. You can make it meat-free with malunggay, ampalaya leaves, or spinach. Pair with crispy fried tofu for extra texture.
What I love about preparing these meals is that it introduces variety to our table while keeping the flavors familiar. Twinkle likes the creamy ones (hello, laing and kare-kare!) while Ykaie always enjoys tortang talong and adobo made with mushrooms.
And me? I just love how these meals make me feel lighter and healthier—pero busog pa rin, kasi Pinoy food will always be comfort food.
If you’ve been curious about going plant-based, or just want to add more gulay sa weekly menu, these dishes are a great place to start. 🌱💚
Have you tried cooking Filipino dishes meat-free? Which one is your favorite?
