Your best vegetarian recipes

[realmenhatelife]

So, I've been trying to eat vegetarian once or twice a week for no real reason except that it's cheaper and typically better for you. My problem is I dont really know how to meal plan vegetarian. What are your best vegetarian dishes?

The ideal candidate is less expensive than cooking with meat (no truffles), can be cooked in 45 minutes or less, and has some protein in it.

I'm gonna make bean burritos tonight, I'll eat lentils and rice, I've made vegetarian chili. What else?

[CountryBob]

So, I've been trying to eat vegetarian once or twice a week for no real reason except that it's cheaper and typically better for you. My problem is I dont really know how to meal plan vegetarian. What are your best vegetarian dishes?

The ideal candidate is less expensive than cooking with meat (no truffles), can be cooked in 45 minutes or less, and has some protein in it.

I'm gonna make bean burritos tonight, I'll eat lentils and rice, I've made vegetarian chili. What else?

I do stir fry "sans the meat" every now and then. Or throw some Shrimp in there (some vegatarians I know dont count seafood).

Also, Veggie Pizza rules!

[Furtherman]

Your best vegetarian recipes

...have meat in them.


:happy:

[sailor]

Chop up 1 each zucchini, yellow squash, onion. Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper. Roast in oven, turning/tossing once.

[Dude!]

Chop up 1 each zucchini, yellow squash, onion. Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper. Roast in oven, turning/tossing once.

this is not what
he had in mind

you might as well have said:

chop up some lettuce,
add a diced tomato and
sprinkle with oil and vinegar

[sailor]

this is not what
he had in mind

you might as well have said:

chop up some lettuce,
add a diced tomato and
sprinkle with oil and vinegar

Nice contribution.

[Manning, Esq.]

Mexican Fiesta:
Chips warmed in oven, while prepping beans (I use dry, every time), grilled onions & peppers, and the cold side. For the cold side, lettuce/spinach/arugula, tomatoes, black olives, avacado, cilantro, and some shredded cheese (I get Chihuahua if I can, or Jack).
Pile the beans and grilled goods onto the warm chips, cover with cold goods, and you have a fulfilling dish that may be good with meat, too, but I never need it.

Veg Night:
Sometimes, I just go with a starch and a green veg. I like to get fingerling, or other small potatoes, chop them bite-siz-ish, drizzle on olive oil, salt & pepper. Simply roast on a baking sheet for 25-35 minutes. Awesome, especially if you get local. I'll then indulge in creamed brussel sprouts: Boil clean, whole sprouts, just until you can stick a fork in with a little oomph; drain 'em; melt some butter in the pan, and cook them in the melted butter on lo-med for 5 minutes. Heat the oven to 375, cover the pot, and put it in for another 10 minutes. Remove the lid, pour 3-4 tablespoons of cream on, and bake 10 minutes more. I really comes out like a cheese sauce.

Curries, Too:
Cut up 3-5 vegetables, at least including onions, peppers (hot, bell, both). Cook them on med in a pan covered in olive oil. Add a can of curry paste & cook down until it's most water's evaporated; turn to low. Meanwhile, prepare some couscous (easily done in five minutes). Add a can of (not light) coconut milk to the curry, but don't cook too high/long; add some lime zest if you have it (or lime juice). Fluff the cous with a fork, and serve the curry over it. Again, good with shrimp, chicken, crab; but good without.

[Manning, Esq.]

Oh ... I wanted to mention that hot fudge sundaes [usually] don't have meat, either.

[realmenhatelife]

Oh ... I wanted to mention that hot fudge sundaes [usually] don't have meat, either.

When you cook beans from dry do you just follow the directions on the bag, or is there more to it/a better method than that? I really like beans but always use canned.

[Misteriosa]

When you cook beans from dry do you just follow the directions on the bag, or is there more to it/a better method than that? I really like beans but always use canned.

when you use dry beans, you have to soak them in water (usually with a little salt) for about 8 hours or so before you can cook with them. i just throw the beans in water the night before im gonna use them so they are soft when i get home from work. you can also take a sunday and boil the bag of beans for a while and soften them up ahead of time.

[realmenhatelife]

Is it worth it when you cook the beans to season the pot with anything other than salt or would it just be a waste? Like if I put onion, cumin and a jalepino in the water while it boils will my beans get a good flavor?

[Kublakhan61]

Ate this Plum and Avocado Salad over the weekend and loved it.
http://www.food52.com/recipes/6130_plum_avocado_summer_salad

[Manning, Esq.]

When you cook beans from dry do you just follow the directions on the bag, or is there more to it/a better method than that? I really like beans but always use canned.

I think following the bag is user friendly. Too often, I don't get the hankerin' early enough to soak them (if that's even what the bag directs-I buy in bulk). Rather than soaking them, as is traditional: beans + water 2 inches higher than beans; bring to boil in an open pot; turn down to bubbling simmer; add water when it drops to beans' surface; skin off film from time to time. I add liberal salt & pepper, onion "scraps" or chopped onion, peppers, liquid smoke (sometimes); or, french herbs if we're not talking about beans for a Mex. dish.

I follow that path for all types of dried beans. Also, if you buy bulk, wash them well, and look for rocks.

[danner1515]

I've also been trying to do a lot more vegetarian cooking lately simply to get some more veggies into my diet. My cheap, quick, and easy meal is stir-fry. I just fry up some cubed tofu in the wok (I know it's not for everyone, but it's a good way to get some protein into your meal), throw in a bag of frozen vegetables, and then coat it in spicy stir-fry sauce. I usually cook some brown rice to go on the side as well.

Just remember, with vegetarian cooking, combining beans and rice is an easy way to get all the essential amino acids you need.

[feme]

I want to add more vegetarian dishes in our weekly menu. Ive been sick for over a month now and havent been able to handle eatting meat, plus at this point I have no desire too ... I would love to eat more then just side dishes.

Can you please post some of your favorite vegetarian Main dishes, sides and soups. basically anything.

Thanks in advance.

[realmenhatelife]

Sauted eggplant with white beans. I put garlic, some dried red pepper, thyme and rosemary in it. I made it with chicken but I realized I could have just as easily eaten it without or added some rice, which I probably will do in the future.