Vegetarian Menu Ideas
As promised, here is a double menu plan for those of you who are interested in adding some meatless meals into your week. Whether you pick one day or a whole week, I hope you’ll feel inspired with all the filling, satisfying meals to choose from. There are tons of options.
Also, if you are trying to ease your family into the whole more-vegetables-less-meat mode, don’t make it too hard on yourself at the beginning. Think about all the things that you are already serving where the meat wouldn’t be missed too much. Burritos, stir fry, spaghetti, or pizza are all good places to start.
Here are a couple tried-and-true meatless menu plans. Oh, and if anyone has a good Black Bean Burger recipe, send it my way! I’ve tried several so far. All flops. Help!
Monday — Quinoa Patties, baked sweet potatoes, Tuscan Kale Salad (I could eat this salad every day of the week.)
Tuesday — Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce, green salad (optional: No-Knead Bread)
Wednesday — Leftovers
Thursday — Falafel, pita bread, tomatoes & cucumbers (optional: Homemade Hummus, Tzatziki Sauce)
Friday — Breakfast-for-Dinner: Orangette’s Morning-of Waffles (2nd recipe = waffle perfection), scrambled eggs, fresh fruit
Saturday — Zesty Wheat Berry Chili with fresh avocado, GF Corn Muffins
Sunday — Leftovers
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Monday — Quinoa & Black Beans, fresh fruit, (optional: tortillas)
Tuesday — Minestrone Soup or Creamy Tomato Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches
Wednesday — Leftovers
Thursday — Beans & Greens (Use any combination. I love cabbage & garbanzo beans.), No-Knead Bread
Friday — Black Bean Burgers, Baked Potato Chips, Creamy Kale Salad
Saturday — Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Herbs, green salad, (optional: biscuits)
Sunday — Leftovers
What’s for dinner at your house this week?
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I made the creamy kale salad tonight, which was proof to my kids that I’m willing to stretch my comfort zone. Why? I’m not crazy about avocados or beets. The salad was good, though. Not amazing, but still good. The rest of the fam wasn’t in love with it, but I’ll probably make it again. 🙂
thank you for posting these great ideas. we tried the beans and greens with garbonzo and cabbage like you suggested and perfect because i have cabbage i need to use up. we all liked it. can’t wait to try the quinoa patties next.
Emily, I love your posts. They are my favorites on FLNW. You have inspired me with your homemaking, everything from homemade bread and pies to picking berries. My husband and I switched to a vegetarian diet about 6 months ago, pretty much for the same reasons as you described. Your recent posts have been right up my alley. The quinoa patties are amazing! The best veggie burger I have found is from Angela Liddon at ohsheglows.com. http://ohsheglows.com/2011/07/13/our-perfect-veggie-burger
All of the recipes I have tried of hers have been wonderful. I have made the burgers with black beans and white beans, both turned out delicious. Her lentil walnut loaf is spectacular too.
No black bean burger, but these are our favorites:
Lentil Oatburgers
1 C lentils cooked in 2 1/4 C water
1 C oatmeal
2 T ketchup
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 small onion, diced
Cook the lentils with the salt. Add onions to your hot lentils as soon as they are done so they will partially cook (unless you like raw onions). Add balance. Heat frying pan, add oil. Shape mixture into patties and fry until crisp on both sides. You can add cheese if you like and serve plain or on buns with all the fixings as if it were a hamburger.
This week we’re having salmon with broccoli and rice, yakisoba noodles full of veggies, and vegetarian lettuce wraps via The Pioneer Woman.
For the black beans, there is a GREAT recipe that has never failed me yet for Mexican black beans..they are AWESOME! And even better with quinoa!
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2011/07/slow-cooker-mexican-black-beans-recipe.html
Insanely good, sub veggie broth for chicken broth and it’s vegetarian!
We are having Buffalo Chicken Pizza, A penne/sundried tomato pasta, Enchilada Casserole, Tacos and I’m making 3 desserts for different events: Cake batter bars, smore’s bars, and peanut butter eggs.
Recipes and menu here: http://www.lcvalleymom.com/2012/02/this-weeks-menu_22.html