I wanna be a better vegetarian ...

Cmandy67
Cmandy67 Posts: 108 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I want to be a better vegetarian but I only have like two recipes that I use: Stir fry with Tofu and Curried coconut chickpea and veggies. That's it!

I need more resources and some staple food to work with. Any one got a good recipe for lentils?

And I need to stay on a good diet, can anyone help?!

Replies

  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    Here is a delicious recipe for megadarra from Cooking light. Lentils and carmelized onions; mmmmmmmmmm.

    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/megadarra-brown-lentils-rice-with-caramelized-onions-10000000226714/


    Also here is another great recipe I love, Chickpea and Spinach Curry, also from cooking light:

    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chickpea-spinach-curry-10000000354461/

    Both these recipes are quick, easy and delicious.

    blessings.
  • redcat17
    redcat17 Posts: 267 Member
    Here is a whole page of lentil recipes:

    http://www.theppk.com/tag/lentils/
  • cheesy_blasters
    cheesy_blasters Posts: 283 Member
    Here is a whole page of lentil recipes:

    http://www.theppk.com/tag/lentils/

    The PPK has amazing recipes!
  • redcat17
    redcat17 Posts: 267 Member
    Here is a whole page of lentil recipes:

    http://www.theppk.com/tag/lentils/

    The PPK has amazing recipes!

    Yes it does! The cook books aren't too shabby either.
  • cheesy_blasters
    cheesy_blasters Posts: 283 Member
    Here is a whole page of lentil recipes:

    http://www.theppk.com/tag/lentils/

    The PPK has amazing recipes!

    Yes it does! The cook books aren't too shabby either.

    I recently invested in Veganomicon and Appetite for Reduction. I've been trying test a new recipe every day. LOVE them so far! I also really enjoy her writing style. It makes them fun to read too.
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    Most of my vegetarian meals are soups or stews. I find that it's easier for me to improvise with what I have on hand. I always keep canned beans, and Trader Joe's steamed lentils on hand for the days I need to throw something together quickly. I also keep broth and canned tomato sauce in the pantry, and miso in the fridge.

    An improvised recipe might go like this:

    1 cup vegetable broth
    1/2 cup tomato sauce (or miso)
    1/2 cup beans or lentils

    Then a few of the following: yellow onion, celery, carrots, frozen peas, frozen corn, zucchini, red pepper, spinach, brown rice, mushrooms, green onion, olives, raw cashews, left overs maybe...

    Add 1 - 2 of your favorite herbs or flavorings: rosemary, oregano, parsley, basil, thyme, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, etc.

    If you're careful not to mix ethnic flavors, you really can't make a mistake - I promise!
    You may not want to put rosemary with miso, ginger and soy sauce...just use good judgment.
    My best meals have been improvised, but I don't have the confidence to cook this way for company.
    Good luck, and happy cooking.
  • yourenotmine
    yourenotmine Posts: 645 Member
    I hate cooking from recipes and tend to just throw things together. I also eat a lot of salads and sandwich type items (avocados on toast, etc. ). The recipes on PPK do look great, but I don't think I've ever used one. I also like Vegan Heartland, and Chocolate Covered Katie (both are vegan recipe blogs).
  • hcoburn37
    hcoburn37 Posts: 442 Member
    my 14 year old son is a vegetarian ... I am bumping this to reread later...thanks for the info
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    check out:

    www.ohsheglows.com

    www.peasandthankyou.com

    they are vegan but if you want dairy you can use it.
  • LaPatrizia
    LaPatrizia Posts: 10 Member
    Susan at the fatfreevegan.com blog has some great recipes. I also second getting your hands on Isa's Appetite for Reduction. The recipes are easy, tasty, healthy, and they include all nutritional info which is a big plus.
  • smile02me
    smile02me Posts: 3
    My company has a meal replacement/protien shake that is vegetarian. It is good as long as you do not mix it with milk, my family is not vegetarian but I thought my husband would like it because it is strawberry. Just another idea.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    My girlfriend cooks lentils sometimes in the rice cooker, if just as a side, and it comes out great, for being so incredibly simple.

    If you have Netflix, check out "Rip Esselstyn's Engine 2 Diet" Rip shows off a bunch of good recipes, including a great lasagna. The movie is worth your time just for the lasagna recipe.
  • poseyj88
    poseyj88 Posts: 140 Member
    I LOVE this chili recipe (and I'm not a vegetarian).

    http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/quick-vegetarian-chili-with-avocado-salsa-10000000521432/

    or this Potato Leek Soup recipe:

    http://www.food.com/recipe/potato-leek-soup-62143
  • TinnedTuna
    TinnedTuna Posts: 208 Member
    Bumping this

    I want to be vegetarian and I'm slowly becoming one but i still eat a very small amount of organic chicken,
    i'm about 98% vegetarian, but with these recipes and ideas i might make it 100% soon
  • Ristia_Amore
    Ristia_Amore Posts: 15 Member
    Knowing how to make a basic pilaf with multiple kinds of grains has saved me as a vegetarian! They're so easy to make and super easy to change up while staying low calorie! (:

    But since it's summer, here's a good page on grilling as a vegetarian! http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/20-ways-to-grill-fruits-amp-veggies/

    Sign up to Vegetarian Times email newsletter and you'll get a delicious recipe in your mail box every few days! (:
  • Sharmender
    Sharmender Posts: 133 Member
    Just replace the meat with tofu in meals you used to love...
  • Ocarina
    Ocarina Posts: 1,550 Member
    Just replace the meat with tofu in meals you used to love...

    Not just tofu!

    They also have amazing selections /w brands such as Quorn, Boca, Morningstar, and others. They can subsitute anything you can think of. This week I have some meatless sausage, chicken strips, and crumbles to replace ground chuck. These all go right into meals that are meant for meat but are still vegetarian friendly!
  • pdworkman
    pdworkman Posts: 1,342 Member
    Hmm, I tried lentils in the rice cooker once and they foamed all over the floor. Maybe because they were split red lentils instead of whole lentils. Or maybe I did too many, not accounting for the foaming.
    My girlfriend cooks lentils sometimes in the rice cooker, if just as a side, and it comes out great, for being so incredibly simple.

    If you have Netflix, check out "Rip Esselstyn's Engine 2 Diet" Rip shows off a bunch of good recipes, including a great lasagna. The movie is worth your time just for the lasagna recipe.
  • LWeiler82
    LWeiler82 Posts: 40
    bumping for all the great ideas and websites :)
  • trudefaith
    trudefaith Posts: 50 Member
    www.vegweb.com has some good recipes but you have to watch the cals - some of the recipes there are great and good for you - while others are just fat fests
  • Cmandy67
    Cmandy67 Posts: 108 Member
    Just replace the meat with tofu in meals you used to love...

    Not just tofu!

    They also have amazing selections /w brands such as Quorn, Boca, Morningstar, and others. They can subsitute anything you can think of. This week I have some meatless sausage, chicken strips, and crumbles to replace ground chuck. These all go right into meals that are meant for meat but are still vegetarian friendly!

    What is Quorn, Boca and Morningstar?
  • Cmandy67
    Cmandy67 Posts: 108 Member
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

    Especially like the vegetarian times, a great resource.
  • Cmandy67
    Cmandy67 Posts: 108 Member
    My girlfriend cooks lentils sometimes in the rice cooker, if just as a side, and it comes out great, for being so incredibly simple.

    If you have Netflix, check out "Rip Esselstyn's Engine 2 Diet" Rip shows off a bunch of good recipes, including a great lasagna. The movie is worth your time just for the lasagna recipe.

    I would use a crock pot ... but never tried lentils yet. I make chickpeas, from the bag dried, in the crackpot adding a ton of water ... and cooking them till tender. I freeze portions in resealable bags and store for convenience. I am opposed to using canned food but still keep a can or two on had in emergencies. I will try to find the website that tells you how to do beans in the slow cooker.
  • Cmandy67
    Cmandy67 Posts: 108 Member
    http://crockpot365.blogspot.ca/2008/10/cooking-dried-beans-in-crockpot.html
  • happyfrogg
    happyfrogg Posts: 86 Member
    I am not vegetarian but my best friend from college is; living with her, I learned to cook a lot of different vegetarian dishes, and I still try to cook vegetarian at least once or twice a week.

    My favorite lentil recipe: http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/curried-lentil-soup
    (I use one sweet potato and one russet potato, otherwise I follow the recipe exactly and it is DELICIOUS.)

    Other vegetarian ideas: meatless lasagna (just layer boiled noodles, jarred sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, repeat); sesame tofu stir fry; frittata, quiche, and omelettes; tacos / burritos made with black and/or red beans, corn, peas, taco seasoning, onion, bell pepper, garlic, topped with avocado, salsa, cheese, etc; pasta w/ tomato sauce, cream sauce and veggies, or tossed w/ olive oil, parmesan, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil; stir-fry rice noodles, tofu, veggies and peanut sauce; make pizza using pita bread as the crust (or make your own dough) and top with whatever you want (spinach, sweet potato, caramelized onions, and feta sounds good); quinoa salads (just go to foodgawker and search "quinoa"); black bean and quinoa burgers (google it!).
  • verapamil
    verapamil Posts: 94
    [/quote]

    What is Quorn, Boca and Morningstar?
    [/quote]

    They are all yummy meat replacements. Quorn is made of mycoprotein (which is some sort of mushroom protein). I think it is the yummiest, it's slightly sweeter to me but made with eggs so I try not to eat it as much (I wanna be a vegan eventually). They have different chik'n patties (with and without bredding), nuggets and turk'y patties. Boca and morningstar are made of soy (I think) and have vegan and non vegan burgers, chik'n nuggets, chik'n patties, crumbles (like ground beef) and other bacon-sausage stuff that I'm not that familiar with since I've never liked bacon or sausage, even the veggie stuff.
    Gardein is good too. It's made out of pea protein. To me it tastes the most like meat...but then again I haven't eaten meat in 15 years :laugh: The "beef tips" remind me too much of meat that I won't eat them.

    Good luck being a better vegetarian! I need to work on my cooking skills more too and am glad you posted this. :happy:
  • Nickiii_123
    Nickiii_123 Posts: 134 Member
    Bump!

    I know someone already mentioned fatfreevegan.com but I just want to say that I have used her recipes many times and love them! She includes nutritional information for most of her recipes so it makes things easy.

    http://www.theglutenfreevegan.com is a good site too. Shes from Canada so it might be a good site for any Canadian vegetarians on mfp as far as stores and ingredients that she uses. I'm from the states and I haven't had any problem finding subs when needed though.
  • anthonyfoote
    anthonyfoote Posts: 5 Member
    I can't believe this many post and no one has mentioned TVP or Textured Vegetable Protein. This stuff has saved me many time when making meals to pack for work. It is made from defatted soy flour and comes in dried little chunks. Kinda looks like those bacon bits but not red. In fact bacon bits are made from it (and some bacon bit brands are actually vegan too). When you make it you rehydrate it with about equal parts of liquid. You can use water and add some flavor to it and it will change the flavor of it as well. I really like to use it for bbq sandwiches, taco meat, chili, or spagetti sauce. it is delicious this way and a quarter cup dry is 80 calories, 7g carbs, 0g fat, and 12g protein.

    Another resource to check into is seiten which is a wheat based protein that you can buy or even make yourself. VeganDad makes some sausages from it that are amazing. Here is the link

    http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2008/03/homemade-sausages.html
  • InnerFatGirl
    InnerFatGirl Posts: 2,687 Member
    This is my current fave;

    Quorn or a good meat sub.
    Pasta sauce. Can make your own if you want.
    Quinoa, bulgar wheat or wholewheat pasta/spaghetti
    Green, red or brown lentils.
    Mozarella.

    These are the meals I have created with it. Pretty much all the same, but so darned delicious, quick and easy to cook, and full of protein and other goodies. And because I simmer the Quorn in the sauce with the mozarella, it gets perfectly soft and stringy, but not melty. Yum.

    This was today;

    8fc8cf34adb311e1a92a1231381b6f02_7.jpg

    The other day;

    ff261346ab6011e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg

    63faa29aab0811e1abb01231382049c1_7.jpg

    Green lentils. quinoa and quorn

    01efee20a99111e181bd12313817987b_7.jpg

    62744d6ca8b611e1ab011231381052c0_7.jpg

    This is with red lentils;

    92013024a83711e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg

    6efc0022a83711e19dc71231380fe523_7.jpg

    Be creative :)
  • Squidgeypaws007
    Squidgeypaws007 Posts: 1,012 Member
    some great resources here, just bumping so I have them saved! My experiments are "usually" edible ;)

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