25 Mouthwatering Vegan Catering Menu Ideas for Your Event
With more and more people leading a plant-based lifestyle, vegan options are a must at any event. In fact, it’s increasingly common for things like community festivals and corporate gatherings to be completely herbivorous!
If you haven’t served up a vegan catering menu before, you might be looking for inspiration. Or maybe you’re just struggling to think of ways to make your vegan catering stand out compared to other events. Both those scenarios are even harder if you’re not vegan yourself – unfamiliar with the myriad plant-based options available.
Whatever your circumstances, Gwafuvegan has you covered. Below, we’ll run through 25 vegan catering ideas including mains, canapes, desserts and more!
Vegan catering ideas – mains
If you want your mains to stand out, the key is in your choice of cuisine. West African vegan food is a great option because it has bold flavours, vibrant colours and plenty of naturally plant-based dishes. On top of that, it’s not one of the most common cuisines in the UK – so you can certainly leave a lasting impression on your guests. Here are some of our favourite dishes...
Party Jollof – A West African staple featuring rice, vegetables and flavourful aromatics like garlic, ginger and chillies.
Puff puff and beans – Gorgeously soft puff puff doughnuts with a savoury bean stew.
Puff puff and cornchaff – Or pair your puff puff with a spicy kick from cornchaff.
Spinach stew and plantain – A deep-flavoured stew served with Africa’s favourite side dish.
Groundnut stew with buttered mushrooms – Made with pine nuts to avoid allergens.
Kondres – This plantain stew is unlike anything else you’ve tried!
Mushroom kebabs – Eliminate the need for cutlery with tasty handheld dishes.
Canapes and snacks
Maybe you just want something for people to pair with drinks or to add to the ambience and experience at your event. Canapes and snacks are the perfect fit. Here are some stand-out ideas for your vegan catering menu:
Mushroom and thyme pate bites – A tasty canape that will get people talking.
Suya black-eyed bean tofu bites – Topped with grilled seasonal salsa to set tastebuds alight.
Akara bites – Delicious little fritters that will satiate your guests.
African vegan pastry wheels – Topped with a wild garlic pesto that cranks up the flavour.
Plantain – Keep it simple with delicious plantain, fried or baked.
Plantain bites – Level up your plantain with a spiced kelewele crumb.
Plantain chips – These thin crisps are a great snack for any event.
Desserts for your vegan menu
Don’t forget desserts! Serving up something sweet will end your event on a positive note and complete the experience for many guests. Here are two vegan catering menu ideas that are great for a sweet tooth:
Sweet puff puff – Puff puff doughnuts are as versatile as they are delicious. As well as being served with a range of savoury dishes, they can be finished with mouth-watering toppings like cinnamon, African nutmeg sugar or vegan chocolate sauce. These are great for events where people are standing and don’t want something too difficult to eat.
Golden puff puff cake – We also make a puff puff cake by grinding down the doughnut-like balls. The texture and flavour really are unlike anything else available. Give it a try and thank us later!
Breakfast, brunch or lunch
For events earlier in the day, a hot and spicy stew might not be the ideal choice. Thankfully, there are a range of delectable vegan goodies you can serve for breakfast, brunch or lunch:
Vegan cream cheese bagels – A modern classic for breakfast and lunch.
Veggie frittatas – Packed with different vegetables for flavour and colour.
Vegan yoghurt granola pots – Perfect for a quick breakfast or lunchtime snack.
Tofu egg mayo – A buffet classic made vegan with tasty tofu.
Ackee-egg scramble – Our vegan take on scrambled eggs.
Veg pate – Rich, savoury paste that’s completely cruelty-free!
Seasonal salads and slaws – Colourful and flavourful with carefully selected seasonal ingredients.
Pastry galette – A mouthwatering French pastry topped with fresh, ripe tomatoes.
Last but not least are tea and coffee. Having a vegan caterer with a selection of dairy-free milk alternatives will make sure nobody misses out on their favourite hot drink!
Build your ultimate vegan catering menu
We hope the ideas above have got you inspired for your next event. If you’d like to talk more about the different options available, Gwafuvegan is ready and waiting. As vegan caterers in Manchester, we pride ourselves on building bespoke menus for every client and every event – whether it’s a corporate gathering in Castlefield or an educational event in Eccles.
Get started today with our online contact form or hit us up on Instagram or Facebook.