Really Easy Vegetarian Recipes

[PollyannaMom]

I'm looking to work a couple of vegetarian meals into our dinner rotation (kind of a vague New Year's resolution) but the few times I've randomly started to Google, I've run up against complications and given up too quickly.

I'm looking to start with something very easy, and not have to go buy a ton of different spices, etc. than I would normally have on hand.

Also-> DH is diabetic, so it can't just be pasta-heavy, and neither DH nor DS is interested in trying tofu.

Who's got a favorite "baby step" recipe I could try?

 

[mjkacmom]

Minestrone soup? It has pasta but it’s about a 1/2 cup dry.

 

[TwoMisfits]

https://cookieandkate.com/spicy-vegan-black-bean-soup/

Use the lime juice...and definitely use the cilantro. And offer the different toppings you like...(and if you need to lower the sodium, rinse the beans before adding or buy low salt beans)...

If you like this, then you can offshoot to a black bean sweet potato and pumpkin chili...or you can go in an Indian direction and do Indian lentils (which I won't post yet, b/c you wanted very easy)...

Edit to Add: Although if you want EASY, and vegetarian, there's not much easier than scrambled eggs or frittata...

 

[Travel60]

Ratatouille is a go-to for me. Eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion, garlic, Italian spices. Dozens of recipes but basically cut into bite sized pieces and stir-fry. Serve alone, over rice or riced cauliflower, or pasta. Little Parmesan cheese....sometimes I add some pasta sauce

 

[Buzz Rules]

I'm looking to work a couple of vegetarian meals into our dinner rotation (kind of a vague New Year's resolution) but the few times I've randomly started to Google, I've run up against complications and given up too quickly.

I'm looking to start with something very easy, and not have to go buy a ton of different spices, etc. than I would normally have on hand.

Also-> DH is diabetic, so it can't just be pasta-heavy, and neither DH nor DS is interested in trying tofu.

Who's got a favorite "baby step" recipe I could try?

@PollyannaMom , the Mediterranean diet and Keto diet recipes would help in my opinion. I personally like recipes from the Youtubers Spain on a Fork, Akis (greek chef) and the Mediterranean Dish. They have a variety of healthy recipes, many of which being vegetarian and totally customizable. Here are their websites:

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/

https://spainonafork.com/

https://akispetretzikis.com/en/

 

[AnnaS]

During the summer months, we practically eat vegetarian. We have so many different fresh vegetables from the garden.

We grill our vegetables - (We have used the Greg Foreman grill in the house during the winter months).

Grilled eggplants with some mozzarella slices, tomatoes and a little balsamic vinegar.

Stuffed peppers with rice/add some peas/carrots (frozen package) into the rice/a little sauce/cheese

We make omelettes for dinner - potatoes and onions or with asparagus/cheese, you can add or make with spinach/mushrroms etc. Bread and we are set.

Vegetable soup - add some croutons or just a tiny bit of pasta or rice

We use cauliflower - mashed or we use it as a "pasta" or "rice" dish (if you are watching cabs/sugar)

The Bubba veggie burgers are okay

Lentil or split pea soup - add croutons or again - a little bit of pasta to make it more fulling (don't use much if watching carbs/sugar).

I am sure there are many ideas out there. Once you have the basic ingredients - just keep the meat out

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I just made an all-vegan Kenyan meal for Christmas which, in addition to being outrageously delicious, struck me in regards to how simple most of the dishes were to prepare. So, here are two of those:

https://healthiersteps.com/recipe/matoke-recipe/

https://www.africanbites.com/githeri/

Chickpea noodle soup is an easy one. Just use a vegetarian broth and substitute chickpeas for chicken.

On the subject of chickpeas, lablabi is a staple in our house. Make it even easier by using canned chickpeas and cooking the onions first in the pot to turn it into a one-pot meal. Substitute cayenne if Harissa isn’t something you keep on hand:
https://www.themediterraneandish.com/lablabi-tunisian-chickpea-stew/
Likewise, yellow dal is about as easy as a recipe can get:
https://plantbasedonabudget.com/yellow-dal/

I consider everything I posted to be good “beginner meals” in that they’re simple to make, don’t require a lot of ingredients, and aren’t particularly “exotic” or spicy and should have broad appeal. Also, there are so many substitute products available today that cooking vegetarian/vegan doesn’t even require new recipes if you don’t want it to. Most of your regular recipes will probably convert over just fine if you switch out whichever ingredients you need with a veg alternative to make it as free of animal products as you want.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Good for you! These shifts are tough at first but you get used to it. I do mostly veggie heavy meals but usually add some protein so people aren't looking to eat again in an hour.

Made this yesterday for a chicken base but you can just skip if and do the rest without any protein, I have beeter luck reducing protein than cutting it.
I am partial to Trader Joes stuff I really like the Trader Joes Soyaki sauce, which I use very sparingly for myself but other family members use more. Typically I marinate a big tray of chicken thighs for a little while and use it as protein in all sorts of mostly veggie dishes. Marinate about 2 hours then either bake or grill, everyone loves it and it is a great go to or starting point, to me it takes up a little flavor bot not enough to be an issue if it isn't the main part of the dish.

While the chicken was baking
Frozen cauliflower rice, saute' at high heat, and put aside.
Saute' Stir fry veggies in another pan, I like TJ fresh but frozen any kind also work.
I pull out my veggie portion and heat about 1/4 cup of the Soyaki sauce with their veggies, anything you like is fine though and making your own is fairly easy.

Zoodles with pesto alone or with a bit of chicken or shrimp.
Have ice water in a bowl ready in the sink & a big towel.
Boil the zoodles 3 min, empty into a colander then drop into the ice water until it is chilled to stop them from cooking.
strain again then drop onto a big towel to twist out the extra water. You can put this aside a few hours if you need to do other things.
Make a pesto with fresh basil, some parmesan, pine nuts and olive oil, this is no cook and can be frozen.
Just saute' the zoodles in some oil, toss in the pesto and add whatever protein you would like or none.

I adore eggplant Parm or Rollatini, little pizzas can also be made with eggplant.

Avocado toast

TJs makes Jicma taco shells in the fresh veggie areas and we love that for taco, beef shrimp or fish with a little sour cream blended with siracha and lime, I serve heavy on the veggies with a smidge of other stuff but they can be only veggie too.
From google just to see what they look like


TJs also makes cauliflower puff rounds that I really like with a burger, but I guess a portobello burger too.
Portobello, oven to 400, pull off stem and I use in a omelette another day. Sprinkle inside with some parmesan cheese, then sprinkle small bit of breadcrumb (or just use the cheese) them a splash of olive oil and bake about 20-30 min - great alone or as a portobello burger
From google



Wegmans soy noodles are really great in chicken soup, they just need to be rinsed a few times to get rid of the strongish smell, my chicken soup has A LOT of carrots and celery, I mean a lot, the chicken is a small bit.



soups:
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/potato-leek-soup/
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cauliflower-soup/

 

[firefly_ris]

I make this one a lot --

https://damndelicious.net/2014/04/09/one-pan-mexican-quinoa/

 

[AnnaS]

Yes - zucchini noodles - is this what is called Zoodles? We make this a lot and use Spaghetti squash - shredded into noodles (both instead of pasta). Forgot about these two.

Buy tons of canned beans - cannellini, chick peas, etc. Add them to so many dishes (pastas, vegetable dishes, soups, salads).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Another easy dish is shakshuka...sounds foreign, but it's pretty much spiced tomato sauce with poached eggs - add cheese or meat to the top if you want and dip or don't dip with any carb you want...here's a pretty straightforward take...

https://downshiftology.com/recipes/shakshuka/

Edit to Add - I'm trying to make sure every recipe I give has protein and fat in it, and not just carb, b/c I know how important that is to a diabetic's meal planning...

 

[barkley]

one of our favorites (very easy)-baked portabello stuffed mushroom caps (south beach diet)

​

• 1 cup spaghetti sauce
• 4 large Portobello mushroom caps
• 1 package (4 oz.) goat cheese, cut into 4 pieces
• 2 Tbsp. pine nuts, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
• Sprig basil, for garnish

​

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Spread the sauce in the bottom of a 9" X 9" baking dish. Arrange the hollowed out mushroom caps, hollowed side up, on top. Place a piece of goat cheese on each mushroom. Sprinkle evenly with the pine nuts.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Top with the chopped basil. Garnish with the basil sprig.

we add some of the sauce inside the cap and put the goat cheese on top (makes it moister), we also take the stems and mushroom cap portions that are removed to hollow it to the sauce surrounding the caps-put it on pasta or drizzle on top. we've also done it where we get a small container of pesto and spread it in the hollowed out portion for one layer, the marinara for a second layer-the goat cheese/pine nuts the top layer.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Okay, last one - I make this one, although I use the whole container of hummus in the food processor, and then just up the flour by a TB or 2 to make sure I have a consistency that holds together in my hand and isn't too wet.

You can make falafal as a sandwich or to top a salad (and you can use the topping suggested or not). It's the easiest falafel there is, and one of the tastiest b/c you start with a hummus flavor you like.

And if you don't have the navy beans, you can swap in chickpeas (I actually like it better that way)...

https://theadventurebite.com/easy-hummus-falafels/

PS - I've been known to add tzatziki or yum yum or the white sauce from Halalal guys as my "sandwich" sauce...but a 2nd hummus works as well...

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

For us, one of the easiest meals that still gives you protein is a quiche.

Use a premade (non-lard) deep dish crust, fill it with your egg/spinach/feta/mushroom filling -lots of easy recipes online - bake and voila. Side salad and you are set.

 

[hertamaniac]

Red beans and rice (just don't use any meat). I make this about 1X/month and, in fact, today is the day.

https://www.camelliabrand.com/recipes/new-orleans-style-red-beans-rice/

 

[PollyannaMom]

for the great suggestions, everyone!

 

[Minnesota!]

I am a diabetic vegetarian.

Roast your favorite veggies with olive oil and your favorite spices.

Put a base of field greens on your plate. Add roast veggies. Add cheese, nuts, etc.

Add your favorite dressing.

Giant warm salad. This is my go-to...keep the roast veggies in my fridge for weeks.

Black bean/veggie tacos on low carb shells.

Omelettes and hash-radishes. I just shred radishes, soak in salt water, drain and squeeze out. Mix with garlic and onion powder, cook like hash browns.

Soup, chili, stew.

 

[barkley]

Also-> DH is diabetic

i'm told that jicama is a good food for diabetics to include in their diets-that said, jicama hashbrowns are fantastic! just prepare the jicama as you would potatos for hashbrowns.

my kids used to attend a private school that was strictly vegetarian and parents took turns providing/preparing hot lunches a few times a month. easiest thing i found to make was something that would normally call for ground beef (like sheperd's pie-using an envelope mix, chili, sloppy joes...) but substituting morning star brand 'crumbles'. if you try it and like it you can save money by getting the larger bags at costco.

 

[PollyannaMom]

hash-radishes. I just shred radishes, soak in salt water, drain and squeeze out. Mix with garlic and onion powder, cook like hash browns.

DH hates radishes, but I love them! I might need to make these for myself.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I think I'm going to try to do minestrone soup first - seems easiest since I already make tortellini soup.

For after that, I've printed out the falafal recipe and the stuffed mushroom caps.

I'll try to remember to post back how it goes.