I’ve been a vegetarian my whole life, so I would say I’m an expert on vegetarian cooking. If you’re thinking about saying peace out to meat, here are five of my favorite easy recipes to help you ease into herbivorism.
1. Roasted Potato Salad with Barbecue Dressing
This potato salad is so good, and you’ll probably have most of the ingredients in your house already! I like to double this recipe if I’m making it for more than 2 or 3 people. This dish is best in warm weather, and it’s so delicious to pack up for a beach day or pool party.
2. Smoked Gouda and Broccoli Flatbreads
Everyone loves pizza – and this is just one way you can spice it up, vegetarian style. I know that broccoli on pizza doesn’t sound great, but these flatbreads are so delicious and fun to make with family or friends. Personally, I prefer plain gouda over smoked, but you can use both or either type of cheese. If you want to get extra fancy, you can make your own mini flatbreads instead of buying premade ones!
3. Crispy Sheet-Pan Noodles with Glazed Tofu
If you’re feeling like you want to dive in with a tofu dish, this is the one for you! Tofu is a staple for the vegetarian diet (or, at least, my vegetarian diet) and there are so many ways to make it fun and tasty! This is one of my favorite recipes to make with my sister – and it is helpful to have a second pair of hands with this one.
4. Crispy Gnocchi with Brussel Sprouts and Brown Butter
This is one of my FAVORITE pasta dishes ever! It’s the perfect mix of pasta and vegetables – and it only takes one pan! If I’m making this for more than 2 or 3 people (or if I want lots of leftovers) I like to double the recipe. If you’re hesitant about brussel sprouts, don’t be! I didn’t like them at first, but when cooked properly, they’re amazing! Incorporating vegetables into pasta dishes is one of my favorite ways to work them into my diet.
5. Cauliflower Cheese Steaks
This last recipe is from a cookbook in my kitchen at home called The Forest Feast by Erin Gleeson. These cheese steaks are super easy to make as a snack, for a quick lunch, or as an appetizer for a bigger meal. I like to put a little extra cheese on mine so they’re nice and coated! Here are the instructions:
- Slice a head of cauliflower into ¾ inch “steaks”
- Roast the steaks on an oiled sheet (375° oven for 15 minutes per side) until tender and golden
- Top each steak with grated Cheddar cheese, chopped scallions, salt, and pepper
- Roast 3 more minutes (or until cheese melts)
Those are my top 5 favorite, easy vegetarian recipes to get you started! If you’re looking for recipe inspiration, check out websites like New York Times Cooking or Farm Fresh to You. You can even browse your local Barnes and Noble cookbook section and get a feel for recipes that inspire you. Cooking a balanced vegetarian diet can be hard at first, but once you find ingredients and dishes you like, you won’t even miss meat!