Best vegetarian recipes for non-vegetarians?

ChocClare

I am hoping that all you leaf-eaters out there can give me some pointers.

My 14-year-old DD has just announced that she has decided not to eat meat any more. TBH this is no great surprise as she has never been that keen - except every so often when she would kill for a fillet steak or a roasted breast of duck. I suspect that this will still be the case every so often, but I am happy for her to be a veggie even if it is only for 95% of the time.

DH and I are much the same - could happily do without meat a lot of the time - but DS will need to be convinced. He pointed out when she made her announcement that to replenish muscle the best way is by eating animal protein (he has just done his Sports Leadership Award and they do things like this) and that she will quickly turn into a spotty weakling. I don`t want to get into discussions about Studies Have Shown etc but it is also true that when my DH used to work on exhibitions and they had to take out or put in stands through the night it was always the vegetarians who flagged first. I only mention this because I obviously want my daughter to get the best possible nutrition at a time when she is actively growing, and I realise I am going to have to be fairly clever about protein if she doesn`t eat meat.

So, enough blah di blah. What I would like, if possible, is your favourite mouth-watering recipes which don`t involve meat, which non-veggies would be happy to eat (and possibly ask for a second time - thinking of DS here!:rolleyes:) and which don`t involve too much wading through 1000-page threads if possible. DD will happily eat eggs, dairy, nuts, beans and pulses but doesn`t like anything curried (sadly, or we`d have a whole cuisine to choose from!). I am not keen on things which "pretend" to be meat - tvp, bought vegetarian sausages etc - only because I don`t know what`s in them, and we don`t eat processed food now so I`d rather not start if possible.

I already have a repertoire of non-meat dishes which we happily eat. Balanced with meat the rest of the time, these form part of a well-balanced diet but I desperately need some more! So come on chaps! What veggie recipes does YOUR family request? Don`t care how complicated, don`t mind if you give me a link to another post (but please not another THREAD if possible) but they have to be DELICIOUS!!!

Sorry to be so demanding. All contributions VERY gratefully received. :T Thank you in advance!

v8monkeyboy

I don't often recommend cook books (or spending money!), but I was given a book called 'Gaia's Cookbook' by my best friend, and I have to say it's one of the best I've ever owned.

You can get it on Amazon, and believe me, the recipes in there are so good, your son will come back for seconds. My OH and father perfer meat over everything, but I make the lentil shepeherd's pie from there and my dad loves it!

Sorry it's not a direct recipe, but I hope it helps anyway.

T xx

ChocClare

Thanks very much v8monkeyboy, but I can't find that one on Amazon. Can I just check, is it Gaia's Kitchen? It looks likely but I want to be sure if I'm (gulp) going to be parting with cash (might see if the library has it actually!).

v8monkeyboy

D'you know what, it IS called Gaia's Kitchen . Sorry - was miles away.

I'm also not at home so couldn't check the title.

Your library might have it, but it's not a well known title, so you may be out of luck.

Let me know how you get on.

T xx

floss2

We often eat meat-free meals, using roasted mixed mediterranean veg & pasta or polenta, slow-stewed aubergines, roasted peppers, tomatoes or courgettes, lots of couscous, polenta, pasta, beans, pulses & mixed salads.

Don't forget vegetable soups - whether made with a meat based or veg based stock.

Will she consider fish? And is she a cheese / eggs / dairy eater, as she won't go too short of animal protein with those in her diet.

Also have a look on the Vegetarian Society website, as they have a 'Guide for New Vegetarians' which may be useful.

purpleivy

I went through this with my dd. As a family we have an advantage as we eat curried this that and the other. Non curry things I do...

Pasta bake, with a separate dish with different 'addings' for dd.

Bolognaise made with quorn which I freeze in individual portions. She loved the lasagne I made with it. Also did a lentil bolognese that made a good lasagne. Roasted veg are nice in a lasagne.

We have tortilla wraps with guacomole, cheese, hm refried beans. The tortilla beany bake on the VS website is good.

I do burgers with potato wedges and keep a small supply of hm veggie burgers in the freezer.

Pizza is flexible for mixed veggie/non veggie. SO are jacket potatoes with fillings.

What about risotto?

twinkle_star_2

My OH always enjoys chickpea and vegetable burgers. We have them both cold (in pittas or with salad for work) and hot (with chips, beans and coleslaw for a vegan KFC). The recipe can be found on this post here.

lightisfading

ChocClare wrote: »

DH and I are much the same - could happily do without meat a lot of the time - but DS will need to be convinced. He pointed out when she made her announcement that to replenish muscle the best way is by eating animal protein (he has just done his Sports Leadership Award and they do things like this) and that she will quickly turn into a spotty weakling. I don`t want to get into discussions about Studies Have Shown etc but it is also true that when my DH used to work on exhibitions and they had to take out or put in stands through the night it was always the vegetarians who flagged first. I only mention this because I obviously want my daughter to get the best possible nutrition at a time when she is actively growing, and I realise I am going to have to be fairly clever about protein if she doesn`t eat meat.

People need nowhere near as much protein as some people seem to think (this is based on evidence, but as I'm at work I don't have the links/exact figures to hand). A balanced diet will provide more than enough, as even grains etc contain protein nevermind nuts, beans, dairy, eggs etc. I know a LOT of vegetarians (I grew up in Brighton!) and the only ones I've ever noticed to be 'weak' were those living on a student veggie diet of chips and cheese on toast! As, from the sounds of it, you like to cook nutritious meals, this won't be a problem.

Anyway. Veggie chilli (well made!) is satisfying for non meat eaters - I used a good mixture of beans, lentils, maybe some sweetcorn in place of the meat, plus veggies like carrots and peppers. The trick is to make it with lots of spices - i use about a tablespoon each of cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper, then chilli powder to taste, with 2-3 cans of chopped tomatoes. Weird as it sounds add a teaspoon or two of cocoa powder, it makes it feel richer.. it doesnt taste like chocolate as long as you only add a bit! Serve with rice, and some sour cream, and there won't be any complaints

Invest in some vegetarian worcestershire sauce (available in 'free from' section of big tescos/asda, or holland and barrett etc), and some 'mushroom ketchup' (as above - not actually ketchup but a concentrated savoury sauce like worcestershire). A few splashes added to savoury dishes like chillis and shepherds pie makes it taste a bit 'meatier'. The bisto granules in the red tub (original? i think?) are vegetarian, and taste a bit 'meatier' than normal vegetable gravy.

I'm sure she won't expect you all to go veggie for her so keep some things on hand that you can substitute the meat in your meals with. I really like Asda's nut cutlets (frozen) - these aren't fake meat, just nuts, veggies etc, yummy with a sunday dinner. Quiche freezes easily too so you could make up some individual ones to keep ready.

Also, can I just say, congrats on being a great mum who supports her children's choices :T rather than telling them they'll just have to eat the normal dinners without the meat, like some :rolleyes:

rockie4

I agree with Floss - the Vegetarian Society is an excellent place to start!

I've been veggie since I was 3 and have never had any significant health problems, I'm now in my 50's and was told the other week that my cholesterol level was 'stunning':D

My OH was a commited carnivore when we met but now prefers veggie meals and only has meat or fish on the rare occasions we eat out.

My best recipe for feeding to carnivores is Sweet potato stew, very easy, nutritious and they often ask for seconds!


Sweet Potato stew

1 onion, chopped
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
knuckle of freshly grated ginger
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon hot curry paste (or to taste)
350g sweet potato, peeled and cubed
225 button mushrooms, halved if large
300ml passata
300ml vegetable stock
250g spinach, washed and roughly shredded
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
4 tablespoons peanut butter



1. Heat oil, then fry onion, pepper, ginger and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until beginning to soften
2. Add the paste and fry, stirring constantly for one minute. Then add the potato and mushrooms, stirring for a minute or so to make sure they get well covered in the spice mixture
3. Add the passata and stock. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 15- 20 minutes until the mushies and potatoes are tender.
4. Add the spinach and stir in until just wilted.
5. Take a couple of spoons of the liquid from the pan and mix with the peanut butter to soften, then add this mixture to the pan with the coriander. Heat until peanut butter is to same temperature as rest.
6. Serve and enjoy. I like this with rice but it’s better with couscous!

ChocClare

lightisfading wrote: »

Veggie chilli (well made!) is satisfying for non meat eaters - I used a good mixture of beans, lentils, maybe some sweetcorn in place of the meat, plus veggies like carrots and peppers. The trick is to make it with lots of spices - i use about a tablespoon each of cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper, then chilli powder to taste, with 2-3 cans of chopped tomatoes. Weird as it sounds add a teaspoon or two of cocoa powder, it makes it feel richer.. it doesnt taste like chocolate as long as you only add a bit! Serve with rice, and some sour cream, and there won't be any complaints /QUOTE]

That sounds yummy, lightisfading. Just to be dense, would I make it like normal chilli, ie, fry off onion and carrot and then stir in - what - red lentils? puy lentils? - in place of the meat before adding the spices, tomatoes and beans? I am the condiment queen and have mushroom ketchup (preens self) though only non-veggie Worcestershire sauce (what the hell meat is there in Worcestershire sauce - beef stock is it? Or are you counting the dead beetles (oh no, that's HP sauce, isn't it?)). I think I can cunningly use up my supplies without her noticing, tbh.

If you have a more exact recipe, that would be brill.

floss2

ChocClare wrote: »

....what the hell meat is there in Worcestershire sauce - beef stock is it?....

Anchovies. Honestly, it is!