40 healthier vegetarian comfort food recipes

We all love comfort food - especially when the nights are closing in. Salad is a no-no at this time of year, and all I want is a big warm bowl of something to curl up with on the sofa under a blanket (...I only mean my legs will be under the blanket, not the food as well. I don't make blanket forts... though now I kind of want to).

Alas, comfort food is often pretty bad for you - full of carbs and fat, and not much else (I'm looking at you, macaroni cheese). So here are some of my favourite vegetarian comfort food recipes that are just a touch healthier, and perfect for any evening between now and February (or, knowing the UK, April).

Everyone's definition of 'healthy' is different, so all of these recipes are healthy in different ways - some are low carb, some are low fat, some are vegan or gluten-free, some use plenty of veg to bulk out the less nutritious ingredients, and some are simply made with whole food ingredients. Whatever your definition, you're bound to find something here that you can enjoy eating while feeling good about yourself too.

(One day I'll do you a round-up of totally not healthy comfort food... but today is not that day.)

Comfort food ahoy!

Cheesy pesto white bean mash (pictured above)
Curried broccoli dal [vegan]
Veggie-packed slow cooker black bean soup [vegan]
Shepherdess pie with creamy cauliflower mash from Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary [vegan]
Thai coconut corn and mushroom soup from Bev Cooks [vegan]
Cauliflower pizza crust from Cooking Classy
Eggplant 'meatballs' from Connoisseurus Veg [vegan]
Creamy tofu tortilla soup from One Ingredient Chef [vegan]

Garlicky quinoa bowls with broccoli and chickpeas [vegan] (pictured above)
Risotto primavera with parsley pesto [vegan]
Summer vegetable pasta in garlic butter sauce
Richly braised lentils from Tinned Tomatoes [vegan]
Easy lo mein from Damn Delicious [vegan]
Hungarian summer squash with sour cream, paprika and dill from Kalyn's Kitchen
Cauliflower coconut masala from The Roasted Root [vegan]
Smoky butternut squash sauce with pasta and greens from Oh She Glows [vegan]

Caribbean-style sweet potato stew [vegan] (pictured above)
Restaurant-style black beans [vegan]
Creamed kale with chickpeas
Crock pot black bean and brown rice soup from Kitchen Treaty [vegan]
Artichoke and fava bean tagine from Closet Cooking [vegan]
Shakshouka with kale and mushrooms from The Roasted Root
Cauliflower fettuccine 'alfredo' from Oh She Glows [vegan]
Slow cooker spicy brown rice and black bean cheesy bowl from Kalyn's Kitchen

Weeknight tikka masala (pictured above)
Low-carb cauliflower fried rice
Veggie burrito bowls
Healthy macaroni cheese from Hungry Healthy Happy
Green pea, baby potato and cauliflower curry from An Edible Mosaic
Sweet potato and spinach curry from Kavey Eats [vegan]
Cannellini bean and broccoli rabe risotto from Connoisseurus Veg [vegan]
Black bean and pepper jack stuffed poblano peppers from Oh My Veggies

Vegetarian sausage hotpot [vegan] (pictured above)
Roasted vegetable enchilada casserole
Creamy spring vegetable soup
Mediterranean macaroni cheese from Cooking Classy
Thai green curry lentil soup from Kitchen Treaty [vegan]
Tofu vindaloo from Oh My Veggies [vegan]
Madras lentils from Peas and Crayons [vegan]
Cauliflower 'risotto' from Fork and Beans [vegan]