Veganuary with Hammonds

January is here and ‘tis the season to get organised, start your resolutions, and throw yourself into new things. But when the weather is cold, half of your friends are doing Dry January and you’re still catching up from the post-Christmas chaos… sometimes all you want to do is hibernate indoors with some tasty dinners.

Veganuary, the celebration of an entire month dedicated to plant-based living, emerges as the perfect excuse to shake things up in the kitchen! The challenge is to stick to a vegan diet for the whole 31 days but we’re also a big fan of starting out with meat-free Mondays to ease yourself in. Staple vegan foods are a great place to start—think oats, pasta, rice, and potatoes (great news: chips are vegan!). 

Try our creamy tomato soup recipe below for a burst of flavour without the fuss. It also freezes well, if you’re looking for an even quicker dinner option… we enjoy ours curled up on the sofa!

Ingredients:

A tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 can coconut milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh basil leaves for garnish 

Instructions:

• Heat up the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Toss in the chopped onion and garlic and sauté until they're nice and translucent.
• Pour in the chopped tomatoes and coconut. Give it a good stir to mix everything up.
• Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, letting all those fantastic flavours meld.
• Blend the soup until it's silky smooth.
• Serve it up hot, garnished with some fresh basil leaves and a swirl of coconut milk.

So, here's to diving into Veganuary with a spoonful of creamy tomato goodness! It's not just about resolutions; it's about savouring the delightful journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Happy Veganuary! 🌱