Nando’s Vegan Options

Nando’s is famous for its spicy peri chicken, so maybe it isn’t the first choice for a vegan meal. Still, vegans may be surprised to find how many different “plant-based” dishes are on the menu. 

In the Kitchen 

Nando’s keeps meat-free items in separate parts of the kitchen, using different baste bottles and making the food on its own portion of the grill. Nando’s also separates the utensils that it uses in the preparation of non-meat products. 

The company doesn’t guarantee that their meat products can never touch non-meat products but they do make an effort. It’s a chance that you take when you buy from a meat-based franchise. Nando’s cook vegetarian foods on the same grill. There is, therefore, a risk of cross-contamination with dairy on the grill. 

You’ll notice that none of the foods are labelled as ‘vegan’ on the menu, and this is likely because they can’t guarantee cross-contamination. 

Some food products such as ‘The Great Imitator’, although labelled plant-based may not be suitable for vegans too as they say “we cannot guarantee the WRAP or BASTE uses shellac free lemons.”

This is something to look out for and may be a deal breaker for some vegans as shellac is made from beetle excretions. It is used in many food products and is strictly speaking not vegan. 

Hey Jasmine, our wraps contain Lemon and Herb baste which contains lemon, therefore, we cannot guarantee the lemons do not have shellac. This is why our wraps are not classed as Vegan friendly.

— Nando's (@NandosUK) April 1, 2021

When ordering from Nando’s we’d advise speaking to the manager on duty at the restaurant who’ll be able to advise further and also to reduce the risks of cross-contamination. 

The Great Imitator and Other Mains

The Great Imitator, Nando’s vegan chicken, is made from pea protein. This alternative tastes like the Peri Peri Chicken which brought Nando’s to fame. Nando’s has several imitator main dishes including strips in wraps with garlic, lettuce, and chilli jam and burgers on Portuguese rolls. 

If you’re not a great lover of pea protein, Nando’s has just added a chickpea patty to their vegan burger line-up. The burger is spiced with cumin and coriander. Served on a sweet roll, it’s topped off with hummus, pickled onions, and red pepper chutney. 

The vegetarian portabella and Halloumi pitta is also an option if you skip the cheese. Ask for a Portuguese roll rather than the pitta which contains animal products. 

Salads

The Rainbow Bowl

Full of bright colours and bold flavours. The Rainbow Bowl consists of spicy grains, rainbow slaw, slender broccoli and houmous, seeds, and pickled carrots. Try it with a drizzle of vegan perinaise. 

This delicious sauce is the winner of the Best Vegan Mayo in the 2020 PETA Food Awards. Aside from buying this sauce at a Nando’s food outlet, it is also available in many supermarkets. 

Quinoa Peri Tomato Salad

New to the menu, this salad combines fresh lettuce with salted pitta croutons, partly dried peri tomatoes, and quinoa, all tossed in a lemon and wild garlic dressing. You will have to skip the croutons as they contain dairy products. Swap the sauce for garlic perinaise. 

Sides

Sweet Potato Wedges or Potato Chips

Help prevent malaria in Africa when you buy sweet potato wedges with a garlic perinaise dip 10p from an order of each serving is donated to the fight against malaria in Africa.  

If you prefer potatoes, Nando’s also sells chips, salted or with a spicy peri seasoning.

Vegetables

The Nando’s menu contains several vegetable sides. These include delicious flame-grilled corn on the cob. It’s served with butter so make sure to tell them to leave the butter off. 

An interesting veg side is the mixed spiced grains and butternut squash combined with dried fruit and green beans. If you’re looking for something a little less exciting to add to your main, try the long-stemmed broccoli or baby tomatoes. 

Salads

A regular or large four-leaf salad that combines plum tomatoes with cucumber and mixed leaves drenched in balsamic vinegar. Match it with some plant-based garlic bread.

Other Vegan Sides

Nando’s also serves three snack sides that may be good for the table to share. They’re listed below

• Pita triangles with a dipping sauce of houmous and peri drizzle designed to serve three
• Mixed spicy olives with mushrooms and red pepper

To Finish

Most of Nando’s desserts are vegetarian rather than vegan since they are yoghurt or custard-based. The only plant-based desert is a Mango Galada.

Nando’s Vegan Chicken

The Nando’s menu has an interesting selection of vegan meals. Salads, a choice of vegetables, chips and Nando’s vegan burgers stuffed with vegan chicken and other delicious fillers are enough to have you return for more. Let’s not forget the award-winning Nando’s vegan sauce and delicious garlic bread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Nando’s chips vegan?

Nando’s chips are pure potato sprinkled with salt or vegan seasoning.

Is Nando’s garlic bread vegan?

Nando’s garlic bread is vegan. It contains no animal products

Is Nando’s sauce vegan?

Yes, all Nando’s peri-peri sauces are vegan, with the exception of the perinaise sauce which contains egg, although there is a plant-based garlic perinaise available too!

Hey, you can now get Garlic PERI-naise within restaurants which is Vegan! ☺

— Nando's (@NandosUK) October 16, 2020

Are Nando’s nuts vegan?

No, Nando’s PERi-PERi Nuts are not suitable for those following a plant-based diet as they are produced in a factory that handles milk

Are Nando’s macho peas vegan?

No, Nando’s macho peas are not suitable for a vegan diet as they contain Butter (from cow’s milk).