Creative dishes to try this Veganuary, from elephant foot yam to walnut 'meat'

Chefs in Dubai are flexing their culinary muscles this month

Jimikand ka seekh, a vegan seekh kebab at Punjab Grill. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

The main ingredient in the seekh kebab is elephant foot yam

Head chef Vikash Sah cooks the fluffy bread that accompanies the kebab

Plant-based taco at Bounty Beets, made from courgette taco shells, lentil and walnut meat, avocado, chipotle aioli and jalapeno

Chef de cuisine Chandika Ratnayaka fries the lentil and walnut mixture for the tacos

Chef Ratnayaka plates the tacos

Impossible meatloaf with onion gravy, green beans and sweet potato fries at The Strand

The green beans are fried for maximum flavour

Valerio fries the meatloaf

Vegan burger with crumbed sweet potato mash and chickpea patty at Drip Burgers in Arjan

Chef Dorathy Ayenyo adds homemade Drip sauce to the vegan bun

Ayenyo garnishes the burger

Vegan pad Thai rice noodles with mixed veggies and tofu at Cafe Isan

Head chef Keng cooks the rice noodles

Keng plates the dish, which is coated with sweet tamarind sauce

Pumpkin and mango cheesecake at Angel Cakes

Pistachio and raspberry cream tart at Angel Cakes

Vegan donut with peanut praline at Angel Cakes

Vegan chef and co-owner Alina Tutkova also offers tomato and avocado toast

Restaurants across the UAE have unveiled limited-time plant-based menus in keeping with Veganuary.

Some follow the movement, which encourages people to stick to a vegan lifestyle for January, to improve their well-being. The Vegan Society reports benefits associated with veganism include lower blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Others opt in for environmental reasons. The production of beef has the most damaging carbon footprint among all meats, according to scientific online publication Our World in Data.

Still, others simply can't stomach the thought of slaughtering animals for human consumption.

For those joining Veganuary, here are some creative dishes to sample at six restaurants in Dubai.

Jimikand ka seekh by Punjab Grill

The vegan seekh kebab is made of elephant foot yam, a tropical plant native to South-East Asia. In Ayurvedic medicine, the tuber is known to treat inflammation, fatigue and dysmenorrhoea, among other ailments. The kebab is served on fluffy phulka tacos and dressed with green chilli and peanut chutney.

Open daily, 11.30am-11.30pm at Anantara Downtown Dubai; noon-midnight at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal; punjabgrill.me

Plant-based tacos by Bounty Beets

A courgette taco shell is filled with vegan meat derived from lentils and walnuts. The filling also includes lettuce, avocado, chipotle aioli and jalapeno.

Daily, 8am-7pm; Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina; 04 511 7373

Vegan pad Thai by Cafe Isan

The popular Thai dish by the JLT restaurant is made of rice noodles and mixed vegetables, while tofu is the protein of choice. It is tossed in a homemade sweet and sour tamarind sauce.

Sunday to Wednesday, noon-midnight; Thursday to Saturday, noon-2am; Armada Avenue Hotel, Cluster P, JLT; 058 529 1003

Impossible meatloaf by The Strand

The Impossible meatloaf is served with charred sweet potatoes and green beans, accompanied by an onion gravy. The vegan meat is courtesy of Impossible Foods, which sells plant-based burger patties, sausages and other meat alternatives.

Daily, 8am-11pm; Palm Views West, Palm Jumeirah; 04 430 2221

Vegan burger by Drip Burgers

The patty is homemade, comprising sweet potato mash and chickpeas. The burger also has lettuce and tomatoes, as well as tahini sauce and Drip Burgers sauce, served on a vegan bun.

Daily, noon-3am; Miracle Residence, Arjan; 056 544 2144

Vegan pumpkin and mango cheesecake by Angel Cakes

The sugar-free and gluten-free dessert is made of tofu cheesecake with pumpkin puree and fruit sauce. Angel Cakes is also offering a pistachio and raspberry cream tart; and a vegan doughnut with peanut praline.

Daily, 8am-midnight; Bluewaters Island; 058 583 6523