Easy and tasty vegetarian meals

[Rainybohoho]

DD (12) has said that she would like to try being vegetarian for the whole of January (originally it was vegan, I think for veganuary, but I think the reality of that was a bit much for her in the end).

Anyway, I’m happy either way, perfectly happy for us to all go vegetarian for January (me and two DDs). In fact I’d like to eat more vegetarian meals as a family long term.

I work full time - can you suggest your tastiest quick or batch cookable vegetarian recipes?

You can't beat a good veggie chilli www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/veggie-chilli/
This curry is both delicious and quick www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coconut-squash-dhansak
And we love noodles in my house! www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/764645/spicy-mushroom-and-broccoli-noodles

risotto with peas, broccoli and lemon
spaghetti pomodoro
baked potatoes with spicy beans/cheese
stuffed peppers

Lots of good ideas at www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/vegetarian

Thanks Ricekrispie, all notes!

*noted! Stupid phone!

Vegetarian products I like include:

Linda Mcartney quarter pounder cheese burgers
Pieminister pies (not all veggie, but a good selection)
Quorn sausages
Tofoo tofu
Quorn family roast

This Jamie Oliver recipe is lovely and easy peasy. We leave out lots of the steps/ingredients and it still works 😬

Enchiladas. Really quick and easy. Buy tin of Heinz veg chilli beans. Use to fill tortilla wraps. Place in oven dish. Cover with grated cheese and stick in oven for half an hour.

Lentil ragu is delicious
Vegetable curries
Stir fry
Puff pastry tart
Pizza
Risotto
Thai curry

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1977654/roast-red-pepper-and-tomato-soup

This soup is delicious and freezes well. I double the recipe and freeze in portions. It calls for sundried tomato paste; I've left that out and just upped the tomato purée and it was still good

I do egg fried rice for a quick tea, using brown basmati in those ready to microwave packs. Do whatever veg you like with it - I usually do onion, pepper, carrots, peas, sweet corn etc. Sometimes I add some ready marinated tofu for a more substantial dish.

roasted peppers and tomatos and red onions.sitr through couscous or other grains.makes a lovely dish.
veggie rice stuff peppers.
butternut squash and sage risotto
veggie casserole
veggie lasagnes
veggie crumbles.
veggiew stew
veggie chilli on jackets.
chickpea and veggie curries.
broccoli cheese pasta bake.

If your DD will eat chilli, there's a recipe on Lidl's website for bean chilli (kidney beans and butterbeans so a bit different) in tortillas - I was thinking about doubling it up to have a chilli with rice one day and a filling for tortillas the next day.

If you want an easy meal, I often gently cook potatoes, carrots, peas/broccoli, cauliflower/green beans (whichever we have in) and add chickpeas and just add a shop bought sauce.

I also fry onion, pepper, sweetcorn, add baked beans a chilli flakes and a little pepper - sounds odd but goes down well with rice here.

If you're cooking meals that are just veggies and whatever, add a little cheese as a topping to provide some protein.

My DD has just gone veggie and I have to admit it helps if she'll sometimes have a shop bought something or other from the freezer as there are times when others fancy fish/meat and you don't want to be cooking two different meals.

Pasta is a staple here. Chop up a load of Mediterranean vegetables and roast. Make a spicy tomato sauce with tinned tomatoes, chilli, garlic, olives, capers and sundried tomatoes. Cook pasta. Combine and enjoy. If time, add cheese and then grill.

If you’re not averse to meat substitutes, quorn chicken pieces are great for curries, stir fries etc.

Paneer, boiled eggs and/or tinned chick peas are easy meat replacements in curries.

This is a hit with my non-veggie DH www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/oven-baked-sweet-potato-fajitas
Curries are also very easy to make vegetarian/vegan, chickpeas and lentils can help make it more filling. We're having a Thai red curry tonight with random bits of veg- squash, cauliflower, spinach and chickpeas.

Marking place- trying to increase number of veggie meals we eat so watching with interest...

Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall(sp?) Veg Every Day cookbook is excellent and I imagine you'll get a fair few of the recipient online

Can I recommend Anna Jones A Modern Way to Cook? V good at explaining what goes with what to make a more balanced meal etc. Some recipes a bit out there ingredient wise if you don't live near any large shops or eg Asian supermarkets (basically what I'm saying is if you live in rural NI like me and a chick pea is exotic) but her one pot lemon pasta is a staple in my very carnivorous household

Thank you all so much for the further suggestions (and DD says thank you too!). There are quite a few here to try!

I’m not against meat substitutes, i know she will eat quorn. I like tofu but haven’t had it for a while, not sure if she will like it. I must keep an eye on the protein though.

Off to look up the books!