Vegetarian Main Meals

diddly74

When I was a small child, my Dad used to come in and expect meat with his main meal of the day. My hubby is the same, but with the way food is going up all the time I am finding it hard to keep us in this life to which we are accustomed.

I have warned the family (hubby and 2 daughters 12 and 8) that we are going to have to drop meat for a few days a week, as I don't want to resort to "crappy" cheap meats (i.e. processed chicken pieces, or cheap sausages which are more fat than meat).

But even tho I have warned them, I still feel guilty in not providing that meat element to a dinner.

Can I ask for hints, tips and advice on good, healthy filling meals which the whole family can enjoy which don't involve me using meat.

Thank you.

geri1965_2

What about a veggie pasta bake? Red pepper, aubergine and courgettes with a tin of tomatoes, maybe some chillies if you don't mind spicy?

Rummer

We have been in the position of not being able to afford quality meat for quite some time and we eat a number of vegetarian meals each week. Some include:

• Chickpea curry with lots of other veg
• Omlettes
• Baked potatoes - numerous toppings
• Pasta dishes - you can add Chorizo for a non veggie meat treat
• Couscous - cheap, filling and quick
• Stuffed peppers
• Veggie and haloumi kebabs
• Lentil stew

Also remember mince is great for creating HM burgers, spag bol, chilli and numerous other things

gingin_2

I like veggie food but don't like meat substitutes. Shepherless pie ( made with lentils), chickpea and veg curry, mushroom stroganoff, variations on tomato sauces for pasta, macaroni cheese ( I put cauliflower into mine to make it less stodgy). Falafels in pitta with couscous on the side. But my husband still insists with meat with his meal as well so I cook him some chicken or something to go with it.

BitterAndTwisted

See if you can nab one of Rose Elliott's cook books at the charity shop or carboot. Failing that, your local library.

Don't neglect egg and diary recipes. Both can go a long way to satisfy the meat-needing person.

Pink.

Hi diddly,

On meat free days we have pizza, omelettes, quiche, pasta with sauce, pasta bakes, veg lasagne, veggie curries, vegetable chilli, filled baked potatoes, mushroom risotto, soups or salads with crusty bread, pannini or a cheap night eg beans, mushrooms or scrambled eggs etc on toast.

These threads have lots more ideas:

Best vegetarian recipes for non-vegetarians?

Want to go half veggie

My food budget has halved! Need lots of help please, including veggie recipes!

The Complete Vegetarian Collection

Easy, cheap Vegetarian recipes?

Gingham's Vegetarian Meal Planner

Gingham's vegetarian meal planner - SUMMER

Gingham's vegetarian menu planner SPRING

Vegan and vegetarian food on the cheap

A vegetarian meal planner, please

Vegetarian OSers

Cooking for the freezer - vegetarian

I'll add your thread to the first link later to keep the suggestions together.

Pink