Vegetarians - recommend a recipe to convert an enthusiastic carnivore

[Words]

I eat too much meat. I enjoy cooking and love protein.

Some parameters:

No fake meat, fake cheese or tofu
Love umami flavours and strong flavours generally
Do not enjoy Indian curries ( although I admit have never probably eaten authentic high end Indian cuisine)
Love Thai and Japanese food. Favourite cuisine is French.
Something colourful with good texture contrasts would be great. I don't really enjoy ´ sloppy' food

I will eat almost anything except coconut (the milk is fine) and anything with an aniseed flavour.

What would you recommend ?

Meat is a perfect meal - not sure why you say you eat too much - if you want to add a different protein then add prawns for surf and turf or eggs / cheese.

Oh Gara don't encourage me!!! I know...
My ideal meal is a hunk of meat and lots of veg

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/miso-peanut-butter-chickpea-salad

This is delicious - but of a faff about to make but it's crunchy, umami deliciousness.

That looks nice @AspirationalTallskinnylatte thank you. And not a ludicrously long list of specialist ingredients either.

It's on the list!

Do you like aubergine? I haven’t a recipe to hand but there are some fabulous french dishes with those as the main ingredient. Perhaps not super strong flavoured but I like an aubergine stack (tomato cheese and herbs) with a crust of breadcrumbs.

do you like Mexican flavours?

Do you eat mushrooms?
I absolutely love mushroom and chestnut puddings, which is a Waitrose recipe.

Google the happy pear. They are actually vegan but you could use butter/milk/cream rather than the dairy free subs with no problem. Their insta account makes my mouth water.

No. You’re ruling out tofu, a major source of protein and commonly used in two of the cuisines you say you love, for no reason.

Go eat a steak.

I love mushrooms but not a huge fan of aubergine, though I do like it in capponata.

I once had an aubergine 'stack'of something at a veggie restaurant and it was so horrible it (unreasonably) put me off.

I knew I would get told off for the tofu comment! . @Birdscratch - hit me with your favourite tofu recipes

Aubergine can be disgusting if not cooked properly!

I was going to suggest some tofu dishes but you've said no to tofu, so I won't!

Have you ever had Japanese style aubergine in miso (nasu dengaku)? It's one of my favourites. Japanese style mushroom dishes can also be good, like ones with king oyster mushrooms. Can do winemaker in teriyaki sauce, miso again, with lots of garlic.

In terms of French food, do you like Puy lentils? Braised and served with goats cheese and whatever green leafy veg you prefer. Or a mushroom bourguinon?

I love traybake veg (onion, peppers, courgette, potatoes, cauliflower, anything goes) roasted with harissa paste and some grilled halloumi on top - easy and delicious

Ratatouille for a French option with crusty bread and sharp salad

I’ve been trying to find puy lentils for ages but they seem to have disappeared

puy lentil salad with beetroot, parsley and goats cheese with a vinaigrette is yum. Lots of recipes online

Rather than giving you a recipe that might make you more deeply anti tofu, when you next go to your favourite Thai or Japanese restaurants try some tofu there - maybe as a small, shared dish. It sounds like you would be better going for firm tofu that’s cooked to be crispy (as you’ve said you don’t like sloppy foods) with a dipping sauce.

How to eat tofu please 🙏 recipes?

Tofu needs to be cooked properly to be good for me preferably in a crispy coating and cooked separately and served on top

aubergine is the same lovely if cooked properly but awful and chewy if not

Sausages with Sicilian-inspired carrot stew recipe
On the Tesco website is really good with mashed potato or with pasta

Oh, also tabbouleh with grilled halloumi - as colourful as whatever veggies you put in.

My favourite tofu dish that I will mention is sticky crispy fried tofu in teriyaki sauce. Use a very firm tofu, drain and dry for as long as you have patience for. Coat well in seasoned cornflour and shallow fry in hot oil. You can make your own teriyaki sauce and thicken it with cornflour, or use a ready made bought sauce, cook/heat it and then toss the crispy tofu in the sauce. Garnish with spring onion and sesame seeds, then serve with Japanese style rice and whatever veg you want.

Any Italian recipe with beef mince, swap it out for puy lentils and mushrooms.

Merchant gourmet do a pack of puy lentils, available in most supermarkets I think.

Hodmedod's olive lentils are lovely.

I like roasted mix veg.

i was looking for dried ones

Forgot to say that the tofu needs to be in small cubes!

Not seen any in any supermarket since our whole food one closed.