Need help with non-dairy vegetarian cooking

[Brandi]

Try http://www.theppk.com/ . You don't have to go all the way to vegan to enjoy the site. And, I hear the forum is pretty good, with a lot of simple recipes. I'm not vegan, but we don't keep eggs and dairy (except for a some parmesean cheese) in the house. I'm surprised at how even baked goods just don't need it.

Without a protein in the meal, I do find the hunger kick in. As have been mentioned, nuts (throw some walnuts in the spaghetti sauce), beans (soups and stews), tofu, seitan, TVP. I tend to stay away from pasta and potato (fast sugars), but if I use them, they are just a small portion with more sauce/toppings.

Tofu takes on the flavor of the sauce. When you cook without meat, I believe, you need more herbs and spices. Try some Indian recipes. Sometimes use the tofu as-is, just heating it in the sauce; other times, oven fry it (sprinkle with oil and bake until brown) to give a different texture. Seitan gives a chewy texture to meals -- use where you might have used chicken in a stew. Lightly mash chickpeas and mix with veggies and salad dressing and herbs for a chicken salad substitute.

I checked out your above link. even if you arenot a full on veggie it still has some great recipes. The New years day recipe I am going to have to try! Thanks for sharing!

[indysteel]

I checked out your above link. even if you arenot a full on veggie it still has some great recipes. The New years day recipe I am going to have to try! Thanks for sharing!

Agreed. I think I might try the Ancho lentil tacos this weekend!

[ehirsch83]

On the curries- we eat meat- but not always- I have found if I add in sweet potato and eggplant, it helps to fill me up!

I do a lot with sweet potatos(roast in oven as fries, add to curries, stir fry, etc.etc.etc.)

[OakLeaf]

I missed it until today - this week Martha Rose Shulman is doing strict vegetarian recipes with whatever's in the pantry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/31/he...entil-dal.html

[lph]

Brilliant. I love having lots of ideas to go back and look up when I need inspiration.

[missjean]

This tread is very helpful to me - my daughter has not eaten meat since high school and has had to remove dairy from her diet for health reasons and I am (and I am sure she is too) is getting tired of making salmon for her when she comes over for dinner. I bookmarked the PPK web site. Thanks!

[indysteel]

Agreed. I think I might try the Ancho lentil tacos this weekend!

We just ate the ancho lentil tacos. They were very good and very easy. I added some red cabbage slaw dressed in a small amount of chipoltle mayo/sour cream dressing. If that doesn't appeal, just add some element of crunch to the lentil filling. Otherwise, it'll be too one note.

[lph]

I had an aha-experience last night, when I made one of the really simple recipes from this cookbook. It was just broad pasta (tagliatelle), with sliced raw sugar snaps and roasted cherry tomatoes on top, with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and chopped walnuts poured over. I was sure I'd have the too-little-protein urge hit me later, but we all ate, and no-one went raiding the fridge later. The oil-mix had too much lemon juice so it was too sour, but there was a liberal amount of oil and I think there was just enough fat that we didn't get hungry again. I.e. - cut meat, add fat.