Going veggie for a month

[Greenleaves]

I have decided to try going veggie for 30 days starting tomorrow.

Apart from the obvious salads, stir fry’s etc. has anyone got any exciting recipes up their sleeves?
I am a seasoned carnivore and will struggle I guess if I don’t have something to liven up my plate. The reason for this 30 trail is that I am taking part in a charity challenge later in the year to eat only what I grow (certain basics are allowed, flour, sugar, yeast etc.).
Any suggestions welcome

[BertieFox]

As someone who enjoys meat now and again but would love to be a full vegetarian, what I have found helpful is the following:
1. Home made veggie burger mixes. The best 'base' we have found is split peas cooked and pureed and mixed with the other cooked ingredients. Wholemeal and rye flour, oats and so on, with a good stock cube added give them a slightly 'meaty' flavour.
2. Aubergine roasted and mashed up or made into various things with cheese, garlic and so on. This too has a very 'meaty' and filling flavour.
3. Potato and pulses, like broad beans, mashed and fried into potato cakes, also make a good 'central' part of the dish.

Have you also thought of looking at some wartime austerity menus? They came up with some really good dishes back then when meat was very hard to come by.

Good luck with your veggie month. We all should eat far less meat, if not no meat at all. Not only is it healthier for us, better for the planet, but it also helps us appreciate and enjoy it more.

[Alison]

We eat loads of veggie curries and chillies and you don't miss out on flavour or texture at all as they're so packed with loveliness.

[KittyColdNose]

Crikey, I have been veggie for years. Occasionally there is nothing that satisfies like a Linda McCartney mozzarella burger, which is what we are having tonight with avocado, salsa and home made wedges

Home made falafal and bean chillis are staples in our house, along with wraps, salad and various sauces. The chilli that hubby makes was devoured by his cousin and friends in a holiday up here, all are dedicated carnivores like him. They didn't realise the meal was vegan

Pasta with pesto from your own garden is also great, try it with garlic, rocket, oil of choice and cashew nuts. Mix in some french beans in with the pasta for the last couple of minutes cooking for a nice crunch.

Ok, I'm getting hungry now!

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[Knight of Albion]

Good for you! I wish you well with your charity challenge later in the year.

This is an excellent recipe website. This one is, as you see, all vegan recipes. So there should be plenty of ideas for your charity week - i.e. eating only things you've grown yourself.

Vegan recipes - All recipes UK

[Greenleaves]

Sitting here salivating, does it matter if you get drool in your keyboard?

Going to try this tomorrow, Briam (Greek potato and courgette bake)

[KittyColdNose]

My laptop is splashproof so I'm safe. Pity I'm using my moby

[KittyColdNose]

Look up some Jewish recipes Greenleaves. The veg section in the cook book we have is amazing.

[Greenleaves]

Look up some Jewish recipes Greenleaves. The veg section in the cook book we have is amazing.

Thank you, i shall KittyColdNose

[gardening_gal]

Basic, easy and quick recipe for a (surprisingly!) filling meal considering it doesn't have many main ingredients. You can play around with the quantities, I tend to use large (or more than 3 small ones) sweet potatoes and usually increase the other ingredients accordingly too. I also add extra spices for the ones in the family who have cast iron stomachs and leave them out for the 'normal' folks.

Good source of protein and iron despite the lack of meat.

Spiced Chickpeas & Sweet Potatoes

3 sweet potatoes (chopped into chunks)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 red chilli (seeded and chopped)
4 spring onions (sliced)
400g can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
Spinach leaves (as many as you prefer, I use loads as they do tend to shrink down a lot)
Salt/Pepper

Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan oven/mark 6
Put sweet potatoes into roasting tin, toss in cumin and olive oil. Season with salt/pepper, Roast until tender (30 mins ish)

Mix the extra virgin olive oil with the vinegar, chilli and spring onions. Stir into the sweet potatoes. Add chickpeas and check seasoning. Put back in oven to warm.

Once chickpeas are warmed through, (don't leave in oven too long otherwise chickpeas will dry up and harden) add spinach leaves and stir through until spinach just starts to wilt.

Serve with crusty bread. (And wine )

Good luck!

[Raybon]

That looks fab, Gardening Gal. Tomorrow night's supper here we come!!!

[Greenleaves]

Thanks for all the ideas, quite looking forward to it, just hope my stomach is too

[out in the cold]

Hi Greenleaves.

I am a committed carnivore, but don't really miss meat in the house much, given that it is easier to cook one meal for 2 people, than one for me and another for KittyColdNose.

Mac cheese is a good veggie option, as are most pasta bakes.

Quite often I make a tomato ragu and add lentils instead of mince to make the "meat sauce" for either spag bol, and it works great in lasagne or cannelloni as well.

My current favourite things are chickpea based... Falafel are great stuffed into a pitta with salad, tomatoes and yoghurt.

I make a tomato and garlic puree and mix with stale crusty bread, loads of parsley, red wine vinegar and chickpeas, then roast in the oven (Yotam Ottolenghi did this on his most recent tv series...).

Soften an onion in lots of olive oil, add red and orange peppers, garlic, tomatoes, lots of fresh herbs and smoked paprika, then add some chopped parboiled potato chunks and a can of chickpeas, simmer for a bit... You will get something that would not go amiss in a Tapas restaurant, and have it with garlic bread, a dish of olives, and a nice glass of red... You get the picture...

As Kcn said, check out some Israeli cookbooks, as they do a million things with veg that are interesting. Indian is another food culture that is great for veg dishes too.

[veggiechicken]

I'm a pescy veggie (eat fish sometimes) but haven't eaten meat for 25+ years. There are lots of everyday meals that are meat-free and simple to substitute for whatever you normally eat.
Pizza is easy - just an ordinary cheese pizza but add extra veggies on top.
Mushrooms make great meat subsitutes - the big ones that you can carve or stuff !!
Pasta with cream cheese and toasted walnuts.
Chilli sin carne, made with lots of onions, red beans, tinned tomatoes.
If you need a meat substitute, I find Quorn sausages and burgers better than soya ones.
Good luck - you may find that after a month without meat, you don't want to go back to eating dead bodies.

[Greenleaves]

Pasta with cream cheese and toasted walnuts sounds very nice....thanks VC