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Join Mumsnet's vegan community and discuss everything related to the vegan diet.

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Original poster

Vegan what's for dinner thread...

762 replies

FauxFox · 22/03/2017 18:33

I'm new at veganing and I'd like ideas and somewhere to record my meals... please let me know what vegan food is on the menu in your house tonight (or eating out too actually) I am really interested 😊

So tonight I am making veggie chilli out of sweet potato/courgette/peppers/carrot/baby corn/kidney beans etc served with guacamole and tortilla chips. I have homemade vegan brownies for dessert.

Don't think I will miss meat/dairy at all Grin

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
Maxwellthecat · 27/03/2017 21:49

We had leek and potato soup with left over cupcakes from afternoon tea yesterday

PaperdollCartoon · 27/03/2017 22:00

I'm not totally vegan (have been but now have fish and occasionally dairy when eating out) but our home is all vegan.

Tonight we had harrisa and paprika spiced baked tofu, quinoa/lentil/farro grain salad with onion and spices, and garlic and lemon green beans, plus garlic bread (we're on annual leave so went big for a Monday!)

TwentyCups · 27/03/2017 22:19

Ooh make no bones really is lovely! The reindeer inn also has loads of vegan food on the menu, even though it's not s vegan pub.

AliceByTheMoon · 28/03/2017 06:42

Morning all,

The harissa and paprika tofy sounds good. I have always really loved tofu.

Tonight I think I will make a really simple spicy chilli stir fry with cashews. Ds can have fried rice, corn, broccoli, carrots and chopped tomatoes with a bit of soy. The school does compulsory cooked lunches and they only do 'meat-free mondays' so lightening up a bit on his meat meals will do no harm there at all.

DeliveredByKiki · 28/03/2017 06:43

paperdoll and alice can you give your baked tofu recipes? I'm a big scared of rubbish at cooking tofu and would love some ideas

AliceByTheMoon · 28/03/2017 06:46

.... although this recipe is looking very tempting.....

chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2017/01/09/sticky-sesame-cauliflower/

MsJuniper · 28/03/2017 07:29

We had lentil shepherd's pie and it tasted really nice, slightly dry so next time I might add more liquid.

LaContessaDiPlump · 28/03/2017 07:56

I find hazelnut milk delicious on cereal (as does DS1); soy milk is best in tea though.

Last night we had the cheesy broccoli beer soup from Street Vegan. OMG. Bloody lovely!

On Sunday I had hemp-crusted tofu, again from Street Vegan, with mash and kale. I wasn't so sure about the tofu initially but it really grew on me (esp with onion gravy)!

I recommend Street Vegan; can you tell?!

PaperdollCartoon · 28/03/2017 09:06

DeliveredbyKiki
I do tofu a couple of ways. If you buy the new Tofoo brand it doesn't need pressing (good for beginners) and the smoked one is yum. Cauldron is also good but will need lots of pressing to get the water out. Freezing and defrosting before use really helped the texture too.

For this one I cut the tofu into the triangles (it was the plain Tofoo one) then put into a bag with mixed harissa spice, smoked paprika and a bit of water to make a paste in the bottom, closed the bag and moved it all around to coat, then left for about an hour. I'd have liked to marinate longer but didn't have time. All day or over night is ideal, the longer the better.

I then baked it on a wire rack in the oven for about 45 mins at 180? It's guess work though, I'm a 'make it up and see' kind of cook.

The other great way to cook tofu is, after marinating in whatever you like, lightly coat the tofu in seasoned cornflour and fry until crispy. This is my preferred way but I'm trying to use less oil.

PaperdollCartoon · 28/03/2017 09:08

Should add - the Tofoo brand ready flavoured chunks are not nice, too soft. Buy the blocks and marinade yourself.

thruthewisteria · 28/03/2017 09:35

Hello everyone, what a fab thread.

So glad I've stumbled across you all.

I've been vegan for a month now and after the initial enthusiasm my meal planning inspiration has dipped over the last few days and I've started craving cheese. All your wonderful recipe suggestions are just what I need!

Original poster
FauxFox · 28/03/2017 10:21

Can I just ask any 'pros' whether there is anything important to know about kids (well 12 year olds) in regards to not eating dairy?

Also any particular hits with kids re: Vegan milks/Yoghurts/sandwich fillings etc - DD is not keen on soya/oat/almond...am wondering if a sweetened one might be more palatable for her...any recs?

OP posts:
thetowpath · 28/03/2017 10:26

I'm doing this from guardian Cook -

Aubergine/lentils/ pomegranate molasses/ lemon/ parsley & tonnes of olive oil. It's zingy and delicious.

My five year old likes my B12 spray so much (it's like peach petit filous) he is now claiming to be vegan too! I said he needed to eat more more beans and lentils. 'I LOVE lentils mummy'. Ahem. We'll see ...

LaContessaDiPlump · 28/03/2017 10:35

My 5yo DS1 loves hazelnut milk, prob 'cos it tastes a little bit chocolately! Less sugar than dairy milk though, surprisingly.

I have head that some forms of calcium are more bioavailable than others - Tesco own brand soy milks (and other cheap versions) contain Tricalcium Phosphate, while Alpro contains calcium carbonate. However this source doesn't seem to agree (and is a useful ref in general on calcium absorption).

AliceByTheMoon · 28/03/2017 11:28

For y baked tofu I usually press it, then I brush maple syrup over it and then coat in bread crumbs. Then I either fry like a schnitzel or last night I just baked in the oven on 220 celsius for about 30 minutes and put the sauce over the top.

Otherwise I marinate the tofu in whatever sauce I am using and just bake in the oven.

I also quite often cut the tofu into fish finger shapes and crumb those. DS likes those. Even when not vegan or veg we eat alot of tofu.

Original poster
FauxFox · 28/03/2017 15:38

Thanks contessa i'll try her with the hazelnut or Alpro brands and see what she says - they should sell a pack of mini cartons of all the different ones so you can see which one you like without buying gallons!

Tonight the kids are having Jacket Potato and baked beans (optional non-vegan cheese)
Me and DH are having roast celeriac and walnut salad, possibly with crusty bread if I can be bothered to go and buy some.

OP posts:
wejammin · 28/03/2017 17:35

Very boring tomato soup and crusty bread tonight. Might up the excitement with some Sainsburys garlic and herb cream cheese spread which is gorgeous.

FauxFox my kids love all the desserts in the Tesco free from section, there's strawberry and banana yogurt aimed at kids (they are sweet though), strawberry rice pudding, chocolate mousse

saladsmoothie · 28/03/2017 17:38

B: not vegan (yogurt, mango and sprouted seeds)
L: Spinach salad w sweet pot, toms, pear, avo and sunflower seeds
D: red lentil lasagne layered w kale and cashew.

Yum

TwentyCups · 28/03/2017 18:13

Big spinach and basil salad today with baby plum tomatos, cucumber and avocado. With two chunks of seeded crusty bread. Was yum Smile

floraeasy · 28/03/2017 18:15

salad

Your day's eating sounds delicious!

Wish someone would make me those meals. I'm so lazy.

saladsmoothie · 28/03/2017 18:32

Honestly flora, not much effort went into today. I had all the stuff in. Breakfast and lunch i chopped up and ate, no cooking. Lasagne took 30 mins while dd did her homework at the table, and 40 mins in the oven while I drank wine with a friend!

TwentyCups · 28/03/2017 18:41

Dinner tonight will be falafel burgers with hummus, salad, paprika wedges and olives. I'm starving!

Frogtits · 28/03/2017 18:43

Baked potato with olive oil, home made baked beans and salad.

DeliveredByKiki · 29/03/2017 00:04

saladsmoothie can you post your lasagne recipe?!

Another boring soup night herr