These 5 Gordon Ramsay Recipes Are 100-Percent Meat-Free
In 2022, on an episode of Masterchef: Back to Win, Gordon Ramsay revealed that he had “a secret so big,” he was “afraid to say it on national television.” The renowned British celebrity chef—known for Kitchen Nightmares, a love of swearing, and for being awarded 17 Michelin stars—confessed that he loved vegan food. Initially, it doesn’t sound like a ground-breaking revelation, but for Ramsay, who in the past claimed he was “allergic to vegans,” it was a big deal.
Two years on, and the popular chef is still promoting vegan food. It’s important to note that most of his recipe portfolio and restaurant menus are filled with animal-based options, but among all the steak-, pork-, fish-, and cheese-heavy dishes, there are a few delicious plant-based gems. Below, we’ve picked a few of our favorites.
1
Vegan Summer BLT With Basil Aioli
There’s no doubt that a BLT is a universally loved sandwich, but we think this classic brunch dish tastes even better when there is no real bacon involved. If you want that delicious meaty, crispy, signature bacon taste without any actual meat, check out Ramsay’s recipe for vegan bacon strips, which involves combining ingredients like sriracha, nutritional yeast, liquid smoke, and maple syrup with tofu and rice paper. It’s best served with a generous dollop of the chef’s Summer Basil Aioli, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes, and plenty of creamy avocado.
2
Vegan Steakhouse Dinner
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel in 2022, Ramsay surprised everyone when he showed viewers how to transform eggplant into a tasty vegan steak alternative, and revealed he was “turning vegan, for lunch … only.” If you want to sample the dish that converted the meat-loving chef, you can, because he’s included a recipe for juicy eggplant steaks, which are served with wine-glazed mushrooms, charred vegetable melange demi-glace, and creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes, on his website.
3
Banana Ice Cream
Is this the simplest dessert of all time? It could be. Banana ice cream, often referred to as “nice cream,” is made with just one ingredient: bananas. According to the recipe, which was taken from Ramsay’s Ultimate Fit Food by Gordon Ramsay cookbook, all you need to do is slice the banana into chunks, freeze, and then blend—the result is a deliciously creamy and fruity soft serve.
4
Simple Marinara
Marinara is an Italian staple. It’s a simple sauce, but it’s incredibly delicious when cooked well, and it will go with many different dishes, including pasta, pizza, gnocchi, and so much more. For the best results, Ramsay recommends opting for traditional San Marzano tomatoes if you can, but any canned tomatoes will work.
5
Beet Wellington
Traditional Wellington recipes usually involve wrapping a beef fillet in puff pastry, before serving it with a rich, red wine gravy and creamy mashed potatoes. But, just like this recipe from Ramsay proves, this indulgent dish is just as delicious when made with beetroot instead of beef. The top chef recommends opting for the most “cylindrical” raw crapaudine beetroot you can find on the shelf to “improve the shape of your Wellington.”