Interested in bringing more vegetarian meals into weekly familiy meals but need help

[Molly333]

Hi all, im interested in bringing more vegetarian meals into my families weekly menu ( im the only one who cooks but they are quite fussy grr) . Do you have any stock ones you do regularly use? Im not v confident and not sure where to start i also have limited time but could prepare at weekends in advance . Also any books you would recommend ?

Puy lentils are also a good substitute for mince. As others have said, try doing half Puy lentils and half mince to start with.

Delia has some brilliant vegetarian recipes on her website. I love her vegetarian moussaka.

I love Delia's vegetarian recipes too - I have her vegetarian collection cookbook and have cooked lots from there and have always enjoyed the results. The vegetarian shepherd's pie is delicious and nutritious, the mushroom penne also good, and leek, cheddar and boursin baked potatoes. I think all of these are on her website too.

Quesadillas are a favourite in our house. We usually have it with carrot and cucumber sticks (you can chop them up while the quesadillas are cooking). If you have a non-stick pan you can cook them in very little oil.

Easy Quesadillas
1 tin beans in water (kidney, borlotti, mixed etc.)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1tsp smoked paprika/ Cajun spice mix/ Mexican seasoning mix/ chipotle paste
75g grated cheese
Pack of tortillas
Vegetable oil for frying

1. Mash the beans in a large bowl. Add the onion, garlic, seasoning and cheese and mix together.

2. Cut tortillas in half (for small ones) or quarters (large ones). Put about a tablespoon of the mixture onto half of each piece of tortilla, then fold the other half over the top. The filling should be about 70mm/ ¼ inch thick - too thick and the onion doesn’t cook and it all leaks out.

3. Shallow fry in a little oil for about 5 mins on each side until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper and eat while hot.

They also reheat easily the next day, or can be frozen.

This lentil bolognese is delicious and versatile. You can freeze portions.

Google veggie recipes...I use a lot fro BBCgood food, Olive and Delicious.

@faceicle

What do you mean?

We're vegan, but things we eat most weeks include (dairy free) pesto pasta, vegan pizza, puff pastry tartlettes topped with roasted veg, tofu stir fry, "quiche" made with silken tofu (recipe is on the vegan society website and its much nicer than it sounds), enchiladas with mixed veg and black beans (and sometimes mock meats), curry's with lentils or chickpeas, quinoa with roasted veg and falafals. Lots of really good mock meats out there now as well if you don't mind more processed food, especially recommend "oomph" soya pieces, birds eye "green cuisine" veggie sausage, and quorn mince (though this isn't vegan as it contains egg). The quorn vegan fish is really good as well, although quite expensive.

Which veggie sausages are the best?

Veggie Chili
Veggie stir fry
Veggie soup
Vegetarian lasagna
Veggie pasta bake
Veggie fajitas

Do you love Quorn or not?

No faceicle i am not looking to make a publication. Im quite offended you think that...

Im an average mum at home fed up of cooking meals after meals that are meat heavy . Also i want us to eat more healthily . I have been very very pleased by the interesting and kind responses ive had to my request this morning where im now sitting at my dining table writing some out which i will try when i can get more ingredients . Thank you all who have helped this morning thats why i love mumsnet

We love the Bosh cookbooks they are fab

www.easypeasyfoodie.com/quorn-shepherds-pie/

One of our favourites, add a spoonful of red pesto to add more flavour.

looQoo if you like fake meat then I think the birds eye or quorn veggie sausages are nicest, but if you want something less processed and aren't too bothered about it exactly resembling a sausage then heck or shroomdogs are both delicious.

I'd second the green roasting tin. So easy. Also Anjum Anand's vegetarian book is brilliant.

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings

Thank you. I think I may have to taste test some. I had sausage and mash at a veggie cafe and they were delicious but the supermarket ones I tried afterwards weren’t that nice.

I think the Linda mc cartney sausages are my preferred choice. The quorn bratwurst are very good but hard to find.

I think cauldron veggie sausages are delicious. I don't like Quorn, far too rubbery. I think when people first become vegetarian they often look to meat alternatives - veggie sausages burgers, mince etc. I've been a vegetarian for 25 years and only very rarely use a meat alternative (usually if I'm craving toad in the hole). I eat lots of veggie chillies, lasagne, bolognaise, shepherd's pie etc and never use veggie mince - just lentils, beans and veg. Much tastier and healthier than meat alternatives. I don't think quorn is particularly healthy. It's highly processes gunk.

Some things I do:

Bean chilli with couscous
Veg and tofu Stir fry with rice noodles
Chickpea korma with rice
Spag Bol with lentils or soya mince
Baked potato with hummus and salad
Vegan shepherds pie
Vegan lasagne
Nut roast with veg and bisto gravy
Vegan pizza
Jus rol pesto and med veg pastry parcels
Mac n cheeze
Refried bean tacos
Veg fajitas
Mushroom risotto
Veggie burger in a bun with chips and salad
Richmond vegan sausages with mash and peas

Thanks @SallyWD and @ifoughtforliberty

I’ll see what’s available next time I go to the supermarket.

Cauldron Lincolnshire Veggie sausages are my favourite, found in the chiller aisles rather than the freezer.

Coming on to second the Green Roasting tin cookbook. It's Sooooo easy, my husband is vegetarian which basically makes me veggie too which is fine but as I do 90% of the cooking I struggle sometimes to find new stuff to make but this has been a godsend. And the one dish element is great for less washing up.