National Vegetarian Week

World Vegetarian Day takes place on 1 October, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate just how exciting, versatile and delicious meat-free food can be.

First established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977, World Vegetarian Day has grown into an international celebration of vegetarian food and also marks the beginning of Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Here in the UK, it also kicks off National Vegetarian Week, running from 1–7 October 2026, making the beginning of October a great time for chefs, caterers and home cooks to experiment with more meat-free dishes.

Give vegetables the starring role

Vegetarian food has come a long way from simply removing the meat from a dish.

Some of the best vegetarian cooking starts with the vegetables themselves, making the most of their different flavours, colours and textures to create something that deserves its place at the centre of the plate.

Autumn provides plenty of inspiration. Think roasted squash with warming spices, cauliflower charred until caramelised, earthy mushrooms, sweet beetroot, creamy celeriac, leeks, greens and root vegetables.

Add grains, pulses, beans, nuts, seeds, herbs and good cheeses and there are endless possibilities for creating satisfying vegetarian dishes.

We’ve included some tasty choices below 

Broccoli Quinoa Cakes

Veggie Fajitas

Time: 30 minutes | Serves 2

There’s nothing better than fajitas for a quick DIY build your own evening social supper.

Source: Olive Magazine – Find the recipe here

Tomato Pappardelle with Shallot Sauce

Time: 30 minutes | Serves 2

A buttery tomato and shallot sauce is really easy to make and really hits the spot.

Source: Olive Magazine – Find the recipe here