I have made a conscious effort to go meatless on Mondays. In fact, I try to hold the beef on other nights of the week, too. Many friends have told me they are trying to do the same.
The challenge we all face:
If your family moans and groans at the mere mention of a meatless meal, how do you find vegetarian alternatives that everyone will enjoy and actually eat?
I have been diligent at mastering this skill in my own household, and I have finally found a number of veggie creations that even pass inspection of my protein-craving, meat-loving spouse! Today, I’m sharing my favorite “meat-free” meals in hopes that you can find one or two that will please the palettes of your family.
Pasta
Spaghetti casserole (skip the ground turkey meat)
Back from vacation healthy veggie pasta
Tofu Meals
Whole Foods Tofu and Black Bean Tacos (Much better with home-made salsa on the top!)
Eating Well Szechuan Tofu and Green Bean Stir-Fry
Veggie Burgers
Made with black beans
Made with black-eyed peas
Made with walnuts and lentils (a Whole Foods recipe)
Peas/Beans
Black bean burritos
Soup
My simple Spinach soup
Asparagus, Spinach and Leek soup (How2Heroes)
Jamie Oliver’s Chickpea and Leek Soup (from The Naked Chef, reprinted on Food.com)
Pizza
Though I have no specific recipe here, you can create your own veggie paradise atop home-made pizza dough. Experiment with cheeses (e.g., fontina, mozzarella, goat, parmesan) and skip the tomato sauce in favorite of a “white” or “green” pizza (e.g., pesto, olive oil). Then add everything from caramelized onions to wild mushrooms to red peppers to olives to capers. YUM (always pleases the family, too)!
If you are interested in other posts I’ve written on vegetarian meals:
