50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (2024)

In every list of the healthiest vegetables you can eat, leafy greens, and particularly dark leafy greens always come out on top. They are nutritionally dense, low in calories and fat, full of fibre, protective against chronic disease, and pretty darn cheap. Unfortunately, they can also be boring af.

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (1)

Many people associate leafy greens with thepathetic iceberg lettuce side salad you get at a restaurant or that limp frozenspinach that mom used to defrost in the microwave when you were a kid. It canbe hard to come up with flavourful and interesting ways to incorporate moreleafy greens into your daily meals.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! The 50+recipes listed below will hopefully inspire you to the possibilities of theseversatile vegetables; from hearty vegan salads to pastas, tacos, burgersand stir fry, there are a multitude of creative and delicious ways to add moreleafy greens into your diet!

How much leafy greens should I be eating?

The USDA recommends eating 1 ½ - 2 cups (1 cup = 1 cup cooked or 2 cups raw) of dark green vegetables per week. Lol, who comes up with this stuff? Every plant-based doctor recommends DAILY, no weekly, consumption of leafy greens.

In How Not to Die, Dr. Greger recommends two daily serving sizes of 60 grams of raw greens or 90 grams of cooked greens and Dr. Esselstyn has spoken extensively of the importance of leafy greens in reversing (yes, reversing) heart disease with six fist-sized servings of leafy greens daily.

(If you don’t have heart disease you can eat less, but considering that 9 out of 10 Americans don’t even meet the USDA recommendations for total daily vegetable consumption, you almost certainly need to be eating more leafy greens than you do now!)

I’ve divided the recipes below into the following categories:

  • arugula / rocket
  • Swiss chard
  • kale
  • spinach
  • beet greens
  • collard greens
  • bok choy
  • lettuces
  • microgreens

However, the beauty of leafy greens is that they are often interchangeable in recipes. Don’t like kale? Sub in spinach or Swiss chard. Bought some turnips or radishes? Use the greens, too!

So take a look through the recipes belowand let them inspire you to get creative with your daily dose of leafy greens!

Arugula / Rocket

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (2)

Vegan Arugula Avocado Pesto Pasta - Lively Table

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (3)

Fresh Arugula and Black Bean Tacos (omit feta) - Cookie and Kate

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (4)

Roasted Eggplant Sandwiches with Arugula Walnut Pesto - This Savory Vegan

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (5)

Creamy Vegan Arugula Soup - Detoxinista

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (6)

Vegan Gnocchi with Arugula Pesto - Lauren Caris Cooks

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (7)

Arugula Lentil Salad - Hurry The Food Up

Swiss Chard

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (8)

Swiss Chard Mushroom Enchiladas - Making Thyme for Health

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (9)

Swiss Chard Gratin - From Scratch Fast

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (10)

Swiss Chard Soba Noodle Stir Fry - A Virtual Vegan

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (11)

Restorative Rainbow Chard and Leek Soup - Quite Good Food

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (12)

Swiss Chard with Crisp Apples - Fat Free Vegan

Kale

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (13)

White Bean and Kale Vegan Pot Pie - The Stingy Vegan

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (14)

Kale Quinoa - Veggie Chick

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (15)

Kale Chip Nachos with Black Beans and Sweet Potatoes - Minimalist Baker

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (16)

Kale Falafel (Baked, Not Fried!) - Yup... It's Vegan!

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (17)

Sweet Potato Kale Chili - Wallflower Kitchen

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (18)

Kale Brownies - Chocolate Covered Katie

Spinach

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (19)

Spanish Chickpea Stew - The Stingy Vegan

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (20)

Vegan Spinach Mac & Cheese - Love and Lemons

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (21)

Cheesy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip - Minimalist Baker

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (22)

Vegan Spinach Blender Pancakes - Vibrant Plate

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (23)

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream - Wallflower Kitchen

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (24)

Vegan Spinach and Mushroom Pasta - Salt and Lavender

Beet Greens

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (25)

Beet Greens Lentil Burgers - Light Orange Bean

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (26)

Borscht with Beets and Beet Greens - Sharon Palmer

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (27)

Sweet Potato and Beet Greens Soup with Farro - Will Cook for Friends

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (28)

Beet Green Pesto - The Roasted Root

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (29)

Beet Pizza with Beet Leaf Pesto - Veggie Desserts

Collard Greens

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (30)

Southern Vegan Collard Greens - Sweet Potato Soul

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (31)

BBQ Black Eyed Pea Collard Rolls - Vanilla and Bean

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (32)

Healthy Vegan Collard Green Wraps - Feasting at Home

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (33)

Vegan Garlic Braised Collard Greens and Cabbage over Creamy Jalapeno Grits - Darius Cooks

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (34)

Vegan Lentil Stew with Sweet Potato and Collard Greens - Parsnips and Pasteries

Bok Choy

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (35)

Vegan Ramen with Creamy Sesame Broth - Cilantro and Citronella

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (36)

Black Pepper Tofu with Bok Choy - Feasting at Home

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (37)

Bok Choy Stir Fry - Love and Lemons

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (38)

Vegan Curry with Bok Choy - Sweet as Honey

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (39)

Garlicky Asparagus, Mushroom and Bok Choy Noodle Bowls - Vanilla and Bean

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (40)

Hot and Sour Soup with Bok Choy - Connoisseurus Veg

Lettuces

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (41)

Green Pizza with Herbed Vegan Cashew Cheese - The Stingy Vegan

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (42)

Grilled Romaine Salad with Corn, Fava Beans and Avocado - Feasting at Home

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (43)

Potato Mache Salad with Fried Capers - Gourmande in the Kitchen

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (44)

Fat-Free Pea and Lettuce Soup - Fuss Free Flavours

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (45)

Quinoa Salad with Apricots, Endive, Brussels Sprouts Leave and Toasted Almonds - She Likes Food

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (46)

Rosemary Garlic Cannellini Agnolotti with Mesclun Pesto - Well and Full

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (47)

Firecracker Vegan Lettuce Wraps - Pinch of Yum

Microgreens

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (48)

Green Goddess Spring Socca - The Full Helping

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (49)

Vegan Microgreens Salad - Garlic Matters

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (50)

Mushroom Potato Watercress Pie - Vegan Food and Living

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (51)

Vegan Alfredo with Watercress and Chives - Pickles & Honey

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (52)

15-Minute Watercress Soup - Wilde Orchard

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (53)

Avocado Hummus Toast with Microgreens - This Savory Vegan

50+ Vegan Leafy Greens Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the best leafy greens for vegans? ›

Healthy Tip: Powerhouse greens like kale, collards, spinach, and Swiss chard are loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, folate, magnesium, iron, calcium, and fiber.

Is it good to eat leafy greens every day? ›

Add to that the fact that most leafy green vegetables contain high levels of fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, folate, and calcium, are rich in v​​itamins A, C, E and K, and have very little sodium, cholesterol, and carbohydrates, you can see why green vegetables should be a part of your daily diet.

What are 10 examples of leafy vegetables? ›

Leafy green products include romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, baby leaf lettuce, escarole, endive, spring mix, spinach, cabbage, kale, arugula, and chard.

What are the best anti inflammatory leafy greens? ›

Dark, leafy greens

Vegetables like kale, spinach, and swiss chard pack a high antioxidant punch. If you aren't a big fan of traditional salads, try blending spinach and kale into fruit smoothies; adding bok choy and shredded cabbage to a stir-fry; or sautéing swiss chard with a little butter and dill weed.

What 4 nutrients are vegans likely to miss? ›

Vegans had the lowest vitamin B12, calcium and iodine intake, and also lower iodine status and lower bone mineral density. Meat-eaters were at risk of inadequate intakes of fiber, PUFA, α-linolenic acid (ALA), folate, vitamin D, E, calcium and magnesium.

Which greens to eat everyday? ›

Greens are also low in calories, but high in nutrients and volume, which can be helpful if you're trying to manage your weight," Moore points out. Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see "Salad greens by the numbers").

What green vegetables should you eat everyday? ›

As a nutritionist, I would highly recommend getting more of the following salad leaves in your diet.
  • Spinach. Spinach is easy to get all year round, and is chock full of iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins B6, C and K. ...
  • Kale. ...
  • Swiss chard. ...
  • Collard greens. ...
  • Rocket. ...
  • Romaine lettuce. ...
  • Watercress. ...
  • Bok choy.
Nov 13, 2023

What leafy green is a Superfood? ›

Kale is considered one of the most nutrient-dense super greens, containing over 100% of the daily value of vitamins A and C and 684% of vitamin K's daily value. This super green is also known for helping the body digest bad fats.

Why is it advised not to eat green leafy vegetables at night? ›

One should not eat green vegetables at night due to following reasons: Explanation: The green vegetables are sources of cellulose fibers which will take a long time to digest. During the day the person remains conscious and conducts physical activities so the involuntary actions are also remain active.

What is the healthiest lettuce to eat? ›

There are five different categories of lettuce: loose-leaf, cos/romaine, butterhead, crisphead, and asparagus-stem lettuce. Romaine lettuce and lettuce greens are the most nutritious types of lettuce.

Do leafy greens burn belly fat? ›

Loaded with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, leafy greens are a great addition to your daily eating routine because they can support belly fat loss while also helping you maintain a youthful glow.

Does cilantro count as a leafy green? ›

As such, “leafy greens” can include iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, baby leaf lettuce (i.e., immature lettuce or leafy greens), escarole, endive, spring mix, spinach, cabbage, kale, arugula and chard. The term “leafy greens” does not include herbs such as cilantro or parsley.

Does broccoli count as a leafy green? ›

Broccoli is indeed a dark green leafy vegetable. It belongs to the cruciferous family, along with collard greens, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.

Which salad greens are healthiest? ›

The darker leafy greens, such as spinach, romaine and leaf lettuce, contain more of certain nutrients, including vitamin A and other carotenoids, vitamin C and potassium, than iceberg.

What is the best vegetable for vegan? ›

green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and okra, but not spinach (spinach does contain high levels of calcium but the body cannot digest it all) fortified unsweetened soya, pea and oat drinks. calcium-set tofu. sesame seeds and tahini.

What are the healthiest vegetables vegan? ›

In particular, cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kale, spinach, and Brussels sprouts, are powerhouses of nutrition! They're rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K and the minerals Iron and Calcium, fibre and folate.

What vegetables should vegans eat? ›

Vegetables: fresh or frozen, nutrient packed vegetables are the base of the vegan diet food pyramid. Leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers…the more, the merrier!

Which greens have more protein than meat? ›

Vegetables you should include in your diet to improve your protein intake include:
  • Corn.
  • Broccoli.
  • Asparagus.
  • Brussels sprouts.
  • Artichokes.

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