Vegetarian (non processed) alternatives to the easy lump of meat/fish type meal

[Fluandseptember]

Kids have gone veggie. I didn't realise that going totally veggie was going to make such a difference (we bought v little meat and no fish already).

The biggest difference is TEXTURE, and I'm struggling with this. It feels as if pretty much every dish is slop - all tasty, but just the same same same.

So I'm looking for ideas of food that's a big more chewy, or crunchy, or just, I don't know, piece-y.

I don't want veggie meat etc, or anything any more processed than plain tofu.

What do you suggest?

Grilled halloumi
DD likes slices of aubergine topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella and baked.
Large mushrooms

Chickpea burgers (can make yourself)

Toasted cashews or peanuts added to stir fries or curries add crunch, and grilled vegetables tend to be chewier

I make bean burgers with mixed beans, onion, sweet corn, mint sauce and halomi topping

Quiche or, egg and chips are not sloppy

And yes, walnuts on a mushroom stroganoff add a lovely crunch

Tacos made with quorn mince or beans would have the crunch from the shell.

We also make bean burgers.

Mushroom sausages (bought) made into toad in the hole.

Falafel, halloumi, nut roast, veggie pie

Halloumi fajitas with fresh avocado and pico de gallo.

Bean burgers

Coronation chickpea salad

Roasted vegetable quinoa.

Aubergines and mushrooms both have a naturally chewy texture, and that might help. I had something recently that might have been tempeh (bought for me by someone else and vaguely described as vegetarian chicken ), which I doubt is processed any more than tofu, and that was chewy. How do you feel about Quorn? I like it, and one of the reasons is texture.

Nuts and seeds are nicely crunchy.

Nut loaf/nut cutlets
Lentil loaf
Cheese pudding www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/savoury-cheese-pudding/ or recipes.sainsburys.co.uk/recipes/leftovers/cheese-and-tomato-bread-and-butter-pudding
Frittata
Falafel
Bean burgers

What about puff pastry tart? Either individual ones or big one cut up. Can have all sorts of toppings and serve with salad or steamed green veg, or roast veg or whatever, depending on what's on the tart? (I'm using the word 'tart' loosely here!)

Pie! We do a gravy type pie with veggie mince/beans in an onion gravy, and a creamy one with brocolli/leeks/smoked tofu in a white sauce. Both topped with puff pastry.

Whole flat mushrooms baked with garlic and thyme and then topped with mozzarella.

Bean burgers (Jack Monroe's kidney bean ones are delish and very easy).

Quiche or frittata if you do eggs.

Toad in the hole.

Plain tofu and process it yourself? So drain and press, marinade and grill. I particularly like tikka... actually tikka paneer also. Grilled mushrooms are quite meaty. Make your own beanburgers / veg cutlets. Roasted whole cauliflower, or cauliflower steaks. Braised fennel / celery. Halved baked squash.

Seitan is a meaty textured food that is made from wheat gluten. You can buy it ready made but it's pretty easy to make yourself (if you can get hold of vital wheat gluten, my local co-op sells it). I make a big batch and freeze it in "steaks" and chunks. There are lots of recipes available on line.

Cheese coated in bread crumbs
Cauliflower "steak"
Nut roast
Quiche or frittata

Big slices of aubergine or marrow fried in garlic and peanut butter (with fresh chilli for adults). Like steak but veggie.

Paneer, Haloumi, Tofu, Cauliflower, Beans mashed and made into burgers/patties, Chana Dal soaked ground and steamed to replace chicken/meat.

Roasted squash. Just halve a butternut squash, spray with oil and a dry spice rub and roast in the oven. Anything that's left chop up and add to veggie stock and blitz to a soup.

Mushroom sausages, especially good in a casserole with butter beans.

Big portobello mushrooms

Spicy bean burgers - home made with whatever beans you have in.

Sorry also filo pastry tart with feta, sweet potato and beetroot :) gorgeous with new potatoes and asparagus!

Also broccoli quiche. Iceland do a vegan chorizo that goes lovely in quiche.

One of the nicest barbecue or grilled dishes I know is portobello mushrooms with finely chopped onion, garlic and vinaigrette on them. This sort of thing

I'm also a huge fan of curried eggs a la 70s, eggs mornay etc. Hard boiled eggs in any form, basically.

Feta, beetroot and onion pie (or tart) with puff pastry yum!

Jamie Oliver has just done a meat free series on channel 4, there are some lovely recipes on there.

Massive portobello mushrooms treated in the same way as burgers. Or stuffed with various concoctions and baked.

I'm mostly replying to place mark as for some reason "watch this thread" has disappeared from my app but:

Bean chilli in burrito or taco form (and fried plantain/banana on the side)

Onion tart (rough recipe: caramelise and soften a variety of onions, and then mix with egg, in a pasty base)

I know this is an obvious one but pizza!

Quick freezer meals - veggie fingers (peas/carrots/corn covered in mash and then breadcrumbed)

Katsu-style curry where you roast the vegetables first (sometimes with a light batter too) and then make curry. Changes the texture.

Do you eat wholegrain versions of things: brown rice & wholemeal flour, I mean? That adds a lot of texture to the meal as a total.