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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsA question for my vegetarian / vegan friends who are former carnivores
What is the most satisfying dish that you prepare as a former meat eater?
I've never found the "lentil loaf" and "veggie burger" route to be my cup of tea. Of course, that may simply be a result of my only sampling bad lentil loaves and veggie burgers.
I do eat a lot of non-meat dishes. When I prepare my home-made pasta sauce, I'd say I put meat in it 25% of the time. The rest of the time it's mushrooms or something else. I like spinach but you have to steam it, get the moisture out, and add it just long enough to heat it at the end of cooking time or you get watery sauce.
I'm not at the point of becoming either a vegan or vegetarian, but there are times when I do eat meat, and if I don't eat something that tricks my mind into thinking I just had something as good as (or better than) meat, I pretty much want meat.
The empressof all
(29,098 posts)I personally find very strong flavors more satisfying for totally vegetarian meals. The other night I had a Papperdelle with a very garlicky "pesto". I also lean towards Indian and Asian flavors in my veggie meals. I also use quite a bit of cauliflower. Cauliflower, chickpeas and sweet potatoes make a lovely "curry" over rice. I also use TVP which you can get in the bulk section of many large grocery stores. It adds a meaty texture to tomato sauce but I use it most often in highly spiced dishes like chili or veggie enchiladas.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Hoppin' Johnny with spicy brown rice, three bean chili with organic white basmati, three bean salad with barley green and yellow beans chickpeas , black bean and quinoa salad with fresh tomatoes onions corn zucchini, spicy pinto beans with salsa and rice
Not a vegetarian either but I can go without it as long as I have beans, vegetables and whole grains.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)...it seems to be a matter of bulk for me. I love broccoli but if I eat it by itself I'm thinking "this would go really well with meat loaf or a steak."
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)...make a simple rice pilaf, and steam some broccoli. I don;t eat that way 7 days a week, but when I make that specific meal, it's always satisfying.
jen63
(813 posts)but the quinoa sounds like heaven. Is there a formal recipe, or something that you put together?
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)1 cup quinoa
1 cup cooked black beans
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 diced zucchini or cucumber
1/2 cup cooked corn
1/2-3/4 cup Italian dressing or olive oil/ balsamic vinegar/oregano/salt/pepper
I used an organic ginger dressing the last time and it was delish! Lots of veggies and whole protein, healthy fats if you make your own dressing
jen63
(813 posts)Sounds heavenly. I'm going to make this!
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)Also, falafel
I don't make either, as I know several great places in town to get both kinds of cuisine
CrawlingChaos
(1,893 posts)Typical dinner for me is a big salad with lots of walnuts. Without the nuts I'd be hungry again quickly, but the good fats in nuts are very satisfying and loaded with health benefits.
Also, if you've ever had properly prepared tofu, tempeh or seitan, it can be very delicious. The key is to marinate with wonderful flavors.
Another favorite meal of mine is baked polenta heaped with black beans and veggies. Very filling and satisfying.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)...mainly because pine nuts are so ridiculously expensive. Came out pretty good but you do have to remove the skins from the walnut halves. It's a little time-consuming but worth it.
I do enjoy tofu as well. I've made many a stir-fry with firm tofu.
And being Italian, polenta was always lurking on the horizon somewhere.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)CrawlingChaos
(1,893 posts)I used to buy the sun-dried tomato polenta mix by Fantastic Foods (so damn tasty) but now that I'm off dairy (the mix has parmesan cheese, I believe), I just get the ready-made plain polenta log you can buy in any supermarket. Cut that into 1" slices, brush with oil and bake until golden brown.
While that's baking, I just steam an assortment of fresh veggies - I like broccoli, red peppers and carrots for lots of color on the plate.
For the black beans, I also take the lazy route -- I use canned refried black beans, which has a bit of light seasoning. Again, a readily available item
Then I just spooned the warmed up beans on top of a polenta slice and arrange the veggies on the side. You can sprinkle some mozzarella cheese over the beans, which people seem to love. Since I've gone vegan that's not an option for me, but I still thoroughly enjoy it without the cheese. And, wow, it's so filling.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)I only eat fish and occasionally chicken and those makeup about 10% of the food I now eat. Everything else is veg, legumes, potato, and grains, but I'm also beginning to try things I've not eaten much before like farro, chickpeas, quinoa, parsnips, etc. My daughter is a USDA farm inspector so she brings me new things to eat all the time.
- For ideas on how to bulk-up your meals, you might want to try Bhavna's Kitchen.
And you might also like this one fish deal from my new favorite Aussie:
hunter
(38,326 posts)Although technically, mushrooms are not vegetables.
Soy "Chorizo" is pretty good too.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)When I was in Colorado (just moved back to Nevada two weeks ago today), they had just opened a local Trader Joe's. A;ways intended to go there and grab some soy chorizo to try. I've read a couple of reviews that said it's not bad at all.
Avalux
(35,015 posts)For me it's the consistency; dense or heavy similar to meat, and I am definitely not into the 'fake meat'. I eat portobello mushrooms, all kinds of beans, eggplant, cauliflower. Cauliflower can be sliced into slabs, dressed up and baked; so good! Roasted brussel sprouts are amazing. I eat a lot of nuts too - walnuts are a daily staple.
I'll never be able to be a vegan though; I love cheese and yogurt too much. And when I visit my parents I always eat a giant cheesesteak hoagie just so I can remember what meat tastes like.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)I've made it through some lean times with a fully stocked spice rack, so I do pretty well with making things taste good. But munching on a veggie really doesn't compare to sinking your teeth into a burger, so that's what I'm trying to master.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)I live on a steady diet of cheese, chocolate and fettuccine Alfredo.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)There's a long story behind this, especially the 4 AM part. But the Kroger's that was 2 miles away didn't carry it and the Albertson's 9 miles away did, so...
One thing I noticed about Texas...at least in Denton...is that Texans really seem to hate lighting their freeways. They also don't like to put those reflectors in the lanes that let you see where you're driving at 4 AM on a freeway that is poorly lit.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)There are a great number of dishes you can do so that potatoes, combined with cauliflower, or beans and vegetables can take on the spices of India, or a soy based peanut sauce. Things to have on hand always are -
onions
fresh ginger
garlic
flat leaf parsley
fresh cilantro
fresh okra
plum tomatoes
spinach (frozen or fresh)
cheeses or whole milk to make your own cheeses
potatoes
broccoli
greens (kale, romain lettuce)
lemons
limes
chiles
seeds (cumin, fennel, mustard)
nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts)
good rices (jasmine, bastmati)
mucifer
(23,565 posts)JCMach1
(27,572 posts)which leaves a lot of beans off the table as well.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)It's soy, and it makes a pretty convincing sausage substitute.
As for burgers, black bean burgers are becoming much more popular in restaurants. The ones I've had had the near-exact consistency and taste of a beef patty, to the point that I no longer crave the real thing.
Ahpook
(2,751 posts)I can't speak for anyone, but that worked for me.
I admit to cheating from time to time and that's ok
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Jenoch
(7,720 posts)I like meatless meals. Tonight we ate a garden salad and shrimp bisque.
I will cook lentils and then season them the same as I would ground beef when making taco filling. We make tacos and taco salad with the spicy lentils.
a la izquierda
(11,797 posts)I've been veg for 17 years, after growing up in a Mediterranean/Irish (read meat-heavy) home.