Want to go half veggie

mmmsnow

Justamum wrote: »

I'll have a go at that maybe later this week. I have to say though that I'm rubbish at curries, so usually buy a paste :rotfl:

It's quite an expensive recipe if you don't have all the spices lying around - if you want to make a nice, cheap, easy curry, I would recommend the aubergine one I posted a link to earlier.

mmmsnow

Diflower wrote: »

I wasn't having a go at you:) I just meant it sounded as if it should be really tasty. We're going away on Saturday so trying not to buy any food this week, but when we're back I shall try it.
Know what you mean about 'complex', that was what we really liked about the spicy lentil dish, it had ingredients that I use a lot, but somehow tasted quite different.

I know . I was just really disappointed by the results - that's what's came through in my posts, not a reaction to anyone on the thread. I've been collecting veggie curry recipes for a while and I was annoyed because this was one of the more complicated recipes I'd tried yet also one of the most bland. It was worse than shop bought :eek:

medsdemon

my favourite food is now veggie, since my DD decided she wanted to eat a veggie diet more. We do eat meat sometimes but it's not a need, just an alternative and because we eat it less we spend more on "good quality" meat when we have it, which isn't that often now.

I have found the best recipes I've found have been in my stack of Delicious Mags. Adapt recipes to suit your taste and diet ( we also have to cook GF)...there is sooo much choice. Batch cook lentil and veg sauces in the slow cooker and make up lasagne, chilli, pasta sauces, shepherdless pies etc and freeze for emergency meals. We eat alot of salads too, big hearty ones like Middle eastern Aubergine & Chickpea Salad or a big Greek Salad with baked potatoes. What about refried beans with wraps and all the yummy trimmings, various veggie gratins, H/M soups, split pea croquettes, vegetable Tagine & Couscous, risotto, dahls, my list could go on.

Go get some books from your library and you can work out which authors suit your palate and inspire you. I loved the Plenty book after reading some of Yotam's recipes in a magazine. Really lovely photography but I've yet to cook anything from it yet( he is actually a meat eater but was asked to write the veggie column in the Guardian??, apparently an uproar from Staunch veggies when they heard!!).

VfM4meplse

tilly2484 wrote: »

My fave cookbooks are The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick Goudreau, Yegan Yum Yum and Vegan with a vengeance.

Veganomicon and Chef Chloe can be inspiring too....

Am I the only vegan who gave up meat (previously vegetarian for years) because I hated the taste as much as the practice of slaughter? I don't get why the meat "substitutes" are so popular, both Isa Chandra Moskowitz and the Skinny !!!!!es spend too much energy on extolling the virtues of fake bacon, burgers, hotdogs etc

If you like the taste of meat that much just eat it. Let your conscience be your guide.

tilly2484

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Veganomicon and Chef Chloe can be inspiring too....

Am I the only vegan who gave up meat (previously vegetarian for years) because I hated the taste as much as the practice of slaughter? I don't get why the meat "substitutes" are so popular, both Isa Chandra Moskowitz and the Skinny !!!!!es spend too much energy on extolling the virtues of fake bacon, burgers, hotdogs etc

If you like the taste of meat that much just eat it. Let your conscience be your guide.

Both of those are also fab-love Chloe. The list is endless really.

Agree with the meat substitute point but if it makes more people turn away form meat that makes me a bit happier I try to say away from meat subs as much as I can. But I couldn't live without Linda McCartney's sausages! I don't eat Quorn as it's not Vegan but could be a good option for the OP as she is only thinking about going veggie to save on cost etc.

Diflower

This is a nice veggie chilli recipe I've used for several years, think it came from a newspaper originally. The trick is in mashing some of the beans so you get a good texture. Of course you can cook your own beans.
1 onion
2 sticks Celery
1 sweet potato
1/2 butternut squash
1/2 red pepper
10-12 mushrooms
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tin tomatoes
1/2 teasp red chilli (from a jar) or more to taste
Approx 1/2 pint vegetable stock (made with powder or cube)
1 teasp dried oregano
Salt & black pepper
Large tins beans (kidney, black-eyed, or any mixture).

Chop the onion, celery, sweet potato, squash, pepper and mushrooms into even-sized chunks. Heat a little oil and cook the chopped vegetables except mushrooms gently for 5 mins. Stir in the garlic, then add the chilli, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Add about half the stock, lower the heat and cook for about 20 mins, stirring every now and then. Add the mushrooms; mash half the beans and stir in, with some more stock. Once boiling again add the whole beans; lower heat and cook until done, about 10-15 mins. Add more stock if needed; taste for seasoning.
Serve with rice or just pitta bread.
This will make about 4 portions but can be easily increased using more of any of the vegetables.

The veg can be varied, any of them can be omitted but it’s nice to keep to the orangey-red colours.

Also, don't think it's been mentioned, but our favourite way of eating lots of raw and cooked veg is gado-gado. Basically it's any veg you have (we usually have hard boiled egg as well), with a satay-type sauce to either pour over or dip into. Summer veg work beautifully:)

VfM4meplse

tilly2484 wrote: »

! I don't eat Quorn as it's not Vegan

I didn't know this..however have only tried it twice (1994 and 1995) and it made me violently sick on both occasiions! So not on my menu.

tilly2484

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I didn't know this..however have only tried it twice (1994 and 1995) and it made me violently sick on both occasiions! So not on my menu.

Yeah most of them have egg in them- not sure why- they are cutting big market out.

redlady_1

I made the soba noodles with aubergine and mango tonight from the Plenty book and it was flipping lovely. Really tasty and as a confirmed carnivore that is saying something.

ceridwen

Was it this thread where someone mentioned serving vegetables as gado gado - ie with Indonesian peanut sauce?

Recipe purlease?:D