Easy after work vegetarian meals

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

In a bit of a rut. Work full time and it can be very stressful.

Looking for quick meals to serve 2. I’ve got loads of recipe books, but they mostly serve 4 and I don’t really like leftovers.

Thanks in advance!

The carrot thing looks lovely too although more of a faff than I'm looking for. Maybe one for a weekend.

Stuffed field mushrooms
Put rice on to boil (or if really short on time use a microwave pouch) Field mushrooms, remove and chop stalks, finely dice a red onion and a stick of celery (if you don't like celery leave it out). Fry of the mushroom stalks, onion and celery. Once soft add plenty of chopped parsley and tarragon. 5 mins before rice is done throw in a handful of frozen peas.
Drain rice and stir in the veg and crumbled blue cheese of choice, season to taste.
Stuff the mushrooms with the mixture, top with a bit more blue cheese and a sprinkle of bread crumbs. (from time to time I blitz a load and and freeze them so I can just grab a handful when needed.) You will likely have left over filling but I just keep it warm and eat it on the side.
Pop into the oven for about 15 mins and serve with steamed green veg or salad.

Kwoklyn wan's Chinese takeaway book has lots of veggie recipes that serve 2 and most are really quick and easy...

Egg fried rice with peanuts, bag of stir fry veg, packet of rice, garlic, ginger, soy sauce. Fry the veg/garlic/ginger for a bit, in sesame oil if you have it. Make a well, put two eggs in, scramble. Stir in the packet of rice. Add soy sauce (about 1 tbsp) and handful salted peanuts. Dinner in 10 mins
I also make this with a packet of instant noodles sometimes.

We love this Riverford one, it says serves four but DH and I can polish it off in one go. It's lovely cold for lunch too.

https://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Northamptonshire/Towcester/NN12/Recipes/Recipe-of-the-Week/87515-Whole-Wheat-Pasta-With-Cauliflower-Walnuts-and-Feta

I didn't know he had a book!

I’ve had this Diana Henry pasta bookmarked for ages after it was recommended on her, but not tried it yet.

https://foodism.co.uk/recipes/make-diana-henry-turkish-pasta/

I find noodles a lovely quick dinner, you can add whatever veggies are languishing in the fridge and chuck some tofu on for protein.

This is a good one

www.wearesovegan.com/15-minute-easy-noodles/

Dh spotted it in the library! I didn't realise he is gok's brother

And I know this says serves 4 but we follow the recipe as written and just serve with less pasta.https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/food/2023/mar/27/rachel-roddy-recipe-pasta-leeks-mushrooms-thyme-soft-cheese?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16974045547524&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ffood%2F2023%2Fmar%2F27%2Frachel-roddy-recipe-pasta-leeks-mushrooms-thyme-soft-cheese

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/vegetarian-meal-two-recipes

I do a version of the roasted carrots thing that's super quick and very easy for 2 - I roast the carrots in the air fryer with cumin, honey, oil and salt (perfect for just two people). While that's happening, I'm sautéing chopped onion then adding my preferred spices - usually mustard seeds, fennel seeds, bit of cumin. Then I usually use pouch rice/lentil/grain bags - I like a mix for this. I make for 3 hungry people starved wolves so I also often add a tin of chickpeas but probably not ideal for just two. Then I whip up a quick dressing with the left over bits from the airfryer, and add lemon/oil/honey/mustard in whatever quantities work.

Grilled Aubergine, mushroom and goats cheese stacks - in a burger or with wedges, are delicious. Drizzle with a tiny bit of honey and some fresh thyme.

Something like this?

At lunch, I often roast tomatoes, onions and, if lying around, chunks of other veggies in the airfryer with some olive oil and garlic. DH and I eat that with couscous and feta or on pita breads with humous.

Oooh, @VineRipened the bbc veggie meals for two look good.

OP, every weekend in the Guardian or Observer —- I think the Observer, on Sundays —- Nigel Slater has a Midweek Supper column. The recipes are always for two, and always fast. The majority are vegetarian. The one from yesterday is still on the Guardian site.

Some of them are a bit minimal (like yesterday’s), but they can be rounded out with easy starters or side dishes, a salad, pudding, etc. Others are more substantial. They are almost all tasty.

https://www.bosh.tv/recipes/speedy-hoisin-mushrooms
This is delicious and very quick to make.
It says it serves 4 but I make it for two of us. No leftovers. I don’t do the pak Choi though.
I use frozen garlic and ginger for speed.

Macaroni cheese, add parmesan to breadcrumbs.

Mushroom Omelette and roasted peppers.

Spinach and rochotta tortellini in a tomato and herb sauce. DH buys ready made tortellini from Aldi and whips up a tomato sauce melting 1/4 packet of butter in a saucepan with a tin of chopped tomatoes blended, a squirt of garlic puree, a squirt of tomato puree, some basil and origano and seasoning, and he adds half an onion to saucepan whole to get onion flavour but removes it before serving. He simmers it on very low for about 8-10 mins. Strain tortellini and ladle tomato sauce on top. It makes enough for 4.

Not sure if I dare admit that I don’t like aubergines and mostly try to avoid tomatoes!

I definitely don’t view macaroni cheese as quick and easy after work cooking, although I do like to make it at weekends.

I’ve made that Bosh mushroom thing before. Good call.

Sounds like I might need an air fryer!

Today I made a quick and yummy mushroom stroganoff for 2.

First popped 100g brown rice on to boil for 25 mins.
Then melted a good knob of butter and fried a large chopped onion for about 5 mins.
Added 2 crushed cloves of garlic, a generous desert spoon of paprika and a shake of cayenne, let cook for a couple of mins.
Added a whole punnet of chopped mushrooms, I chopped in different shapes for variety! Stirred and cooked for about 10mins. Added some seasoning.
Added 250ml stock, simmered for 5 mins.
Removed from heat and added a generous tablespoon of creme fraiche and a handful of parsley. Ready just as the rice was ready.

Mushroom strog is one of our go to meals. I've recently adapted my recipe to pinch Jamie O's idea of adding some chopped silver skin pickled onions and gherkins to it. It adds a really welcome crunch/sharpness. I haven't yet tried his suggestion for adding whisky to it! I serve it with the Tilda wild rice sachet and some dressed salad (usually just baby spinach leaves tbh).

Thanks for the tip about tarting up mushroom stroganoff.

I'm making this tomorrow using frozen butternut squash for a cheat https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/creamy-baked-gnocchi-with-squash-spinach

Air fryer highly recommended for quickly roasting veg, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie. I could never be bothered to put oven on before, plus more expensive on fuel.

I have discovered a quick and really delicious macaroni cheese recipe. Honestly takes 12 minutes. It’s lighter than a traditional bechamel sauce, but not too rich like other crème fraiche quick sauces.

Bring 700ml whole milk to a simmer. I have found UHT is more stable, and obvs easier to keep in cupboard.
Add 500g macaroni. Simmer, stirring often, until tender (10 mins).
Add more milk if needed whilst cooking to keep a nice coating of sauce. The starch from the pasta thickens the milk like magic!
Take off the heat. Add a large knob of butter, pepper and 250g grated cheddar. Stir till melted into sauce. Done.

Optional:
Add optional flavourings, like a bay leaf, sage or sprig of rosemary, a teaspoon of mustard when starting to cook.

Add chives, parsley, baby spinach just before the cheese

Add extras such as roasted veg (mushrooms, peppers, squash, leeks, broccoli/cauliflower) as you serve up.

Obvs can vary the cheese - Gruyère, blue cheese, Parmesan, Red Leicester. Nice with a mix.

Sorry. That recipe is 6 good servings, so half or quarter as needed

I make this all the time for myself, (only vegetarian in the house)if the others are eating meat. I use Belazu vegan nduja and usually cook the rice but you can use ready prepared and make the whole thing in minutes
www.mob.co.uk/recipes/nduja-fried-rice

Apart from that, I do roast veggies with couscous, crumble feta over, have it with a bit of harissa and rocket leaves.

Egg fried rice or veggie stir-fry (supermarket bag) with noodles, peanuts and coriander.

What I make for teen DD and I (both veggie) during the week when we’re stuck for time:

• Tofu fried rice https://www.mydarlingvegan.com/vegetable-fried-rice/
• One pot mushroom tagliatelle -honestly amazing and so easy, wish I’d found this recipe sooner https://www.budgetbytes.com/one-pot-creamy-mushroom-pasta/
• Chicken and bacon Caesar salad (made with Quorn chicken + veggie bacon obviously!)
• Teriyaki tofu stir fry
• Quorn chicken korma, I buy jarred sauce for convenience
• Penne alla Vodka https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a26556220/penne-alla-vodka-recipe/
• Quorn spaghetti bolognaise

Aah, no tomato or aubergine limits my options! [Grin]

Baked feta with bread of choice and a side salad?
Burrata/mozzarella with salad of some sort? Char grilled peppers, some rocket, some olives/olive paste? Maybe some avovado?

Risotto? I like roasted butternut but it is a bit of a faff. Pea is easier. Nigella does a nice lemon risotto.

Nigel’s new Midweek supper for two has just been posted on the Guardian website. It is a vegetarian mushroom ragu, sounds good!

He suggests serving over rice. I think it would also be good with pasta or egg noodles