Ideas for Meatless Meals?

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Ideas for Meatless Meals?

Submitted by: meredith 09/22/2009 5:34 PM

Does anyone have good recipes for 'meatless' meals. We are trying to cut down on our grocery bill and eating less meat sure helps. Would especially like a good recipe for bean burgers or veggie burgers.

Thanks!

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We have one night a week when we eat breakfast for dinner. We have eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns, and fruit.

Posted by anonymous on September 24, 2009 1:29 PM

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My favorite is:
Pasta Primavera
1 or 2 yellow squash
1 small onion
mushrooms
orange and yellow pepper
Slice veggies longways on baking pan (Flat with lip around the edge pan)
Drip olive oil over it and salt and pepper
Place in preheated 350 oven. cook for 30 minutes.
Boil water for bowtie pasta. Cook as directed.
Both should finish at same time.
Put pasta on plate, then add veggies, then add
fresh shredded parmasean cheese.
Wonderful

Posted by Denice on September 24, 2009 2:52 PM

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Love the Pasta Primavera!!! Make it all the time.

Posted by anonymous on September 24, 2009 5:13 PM

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We love Tomato Gravy and Rice. It's cheap, healthy and inexpensive.

1 can organic stewed tomatoes (crushed in blender)
1/2 onion (more or less)

Saute' onion in a little butter (or oil). Whisk 1 T flour in butter mixture. Add tomatoes, making sure you break up the lumps. Salt, pepper, little cumin, little curry and Tony Chachere's.

Serve over brown rice and side of cornbread.

Enjoy

Posted by Tiffani on September 24, 2009 6:01 PM

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Check out the website "Meatless Mondays" at http://www.meatlessmonday.com for some good recipes.

Posted by Charlie@PayLessForFood.com on September 24, 2009 6:17 PM

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Hi, Meredith--
Have you ever tried TVP (texturized vegetable protein)? It's available in health food stores, and sometimes in the big bins at bag-your-own grocery stores. I wouldn't actually try making meatless patties; but it seems indistinguishable from hamburger to us in spicier dishes, such as tacos or spaghetti sauce. It costs a fraction of what hamburger does. You buy dry "nuggets," and have to pour boiling water over them and let them sit for half an hour or so. It approximately triples in size. If you don't like it as 100% of the "meat" in your sauce or tacos, you can substitute it half and half with your cooked hamburger. We do that a lot.

Posted by Judy on September 24, 2009 6:49 PM

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Here's a recipe for TVP burgers, I do them quite often on the grill. Also I freeze any leftover patties for a quick meal any time. I change this recipe, usually cut down on the cayenne and add other seasonings.

2/3 cup TVP
1 1/4 cup veg, chick or beef broth
1 egg, beaten
1 cup flour
1 onion, finely diced
1 tbsp ketchup
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
dash salt and pepper
Add to taste: crushed garlic, creole seasoning, steak sauce, smoke sauce, cumin, etc.
Make into patties about ½ inch thick (or less). Cook on grill or in oiled skillet until medium dark brown.

Posted by Ruth on September 25, 2009 5:57 AM

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one quick easy meatless meal we have is pasta salad.... but we use spinach tortelini, add in a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas, some italian seasoning, a can of diced tomatoes, some olive oil, some garlic salt, pepper and a little bit of parmesan cheese .... its fast and easy!

Posted by justagirl on September 25, 2009 5:11 PM

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You can find lots of meatless recipes by searching on-line for "Daniel Fast Recipes". There are several on my blog as well as many other web sites.

http://jaelsmusings.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/daniel-fast-recipes-2009/

Posted by anonymous on September 25, 2009 6:38 PM

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We have a number of meatless meals we enjoy thanks to a daughter who is vegetarian:
Baked potato topped with steamed broccoli and shredded cheese; Spaghetti with meatless sauce, use steamed veggies instead; numerous quiches with various veggies and cheeses; potato soup with cornbread; corn chowder; cubed butternut squash and shallots tossed with EEOV, Italian herbs and parmesan cheese then roasted; French onion soup.

Posted by USMCmom on September 25, 2009 9:06 PM

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SOUTHERN STYLE BEAN PATTIES

3 CUPS PINTO BEANS (DRAINED AND MASHED)
1 LARGE EGG
1/2 PKG CRACKERS(CRUSHED)
1 SMALL ONION(CHOPPED)
SEASONING(YOUR CHOISE)
MIX IN A MED BOWL AND LET SIT FOR 10 MINS
FORM INTO PATTIES AND FRY IN A CAST IRON OR HEAVY SKILLET UNTIL BROWN ON BOTH SIDED(I USE A LITTLE OLIVE OIL FOR THIS)
SERVE WITH FRIED POTATOES,GREEN SALAD AND A BIG CHUNK OF HOMEMADE CORNBREAD!!!!!YUM YUM BACK IN THE OLD DAYS THIS WAS COOKED IN BACON GREESE AND SOOOOO GOOOOOOD!!!

Posted by GALE OSBORN on September 26, 2009 4:51 PM

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I do a variation on an Italian dish that my husband grew up with
It's basically just "Beans and Spinach".

1 10 oz pkg Frozen Chopped Spinach (defrosted)
1 15 oz can of beans (any white or light colored work best) I usually use Great Northern White Beans
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 tsp Garlic Powder (can always use minced or fresh)or to taste
1/2 tsp Salt and 1/4 tsp Pepper

In a pot warm the Olive Oil and Garlic together,
but don't let Garlic burn. Add the defrosted
pkg of spinach and saute for a couple of minutes.
Add the can of drained (but not rinsed) beans.
Let pot come to a boil and then quickly reduse
the heat to low and let it cook about 20 minutes
until the beans are soft.

Add the salt, pepper and if desired, sprinkle
Parmesan Cheese on top before serving.

You can certainly use fresh Spinach instead of
the frozen, but I use whatever is on hand, which
is usually the frozen, it's less expensive
for the same nutritional value.
My mother-in-law used Escarole and different greens and her version was a little more detailed, but this works for us and is good.
I serve with hot rolls.

Posted by Trish on September 27, 2009 2:20 PM

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Either take out or home made Cheese Pizza with any veggies that you saute and add to the top is a great meatless dish.
The possibilities are endless...mushrooms, onions, peppers (any and all colors)zucchini,
eggplant, spinach, broccoli, and so on.
Chop or slice each veggie and saute in good Olive Oil first, then add to pizza.

Posted by anonymous on September 27, 2009 2:24 PM

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Tuna and Tomatoes
(we practice meatless Fridays due to our beliefs, but fish counts as "meatless")

In a large skillet, saute 1 small onion, finely chopped until translucent in 1 tsp olive or safflower oil
Add
1 can of chunk tuna packed in water, undrained
saute 2 min longer
Add 1 large (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (or a can of stewed tomatoes buzzed in the food processor)
1 tbsp fresh or 1 tsp dried basil
pepper to taste
the juice and zest of one lemon

Simmer gently for 10-15 minutes to let the flavours mingle. Serve over rice or noodles.

Posted by PrairieMom on September 27, 2009 10:13 PM

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Spanish Tortilla.

You take a potato and slice it into small cubes.
Steam them until they are soft.
Place them in a skillet over medium heat.
Scramble up about 4 to 6 eggs and pour
that over the potatoes.
Cook slowly over low to medium heat.
Don't stir it like scrambled eggs. Instead, lift the edges as it cooks and let the uncooked portion run underneath. Slow cooking on low heat is best.
You can add cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc as your taste allows.

Posted by anonymous on September 28, 2009 1:15 AM

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Just watching a show on Food Network with Sandra Lee as the host. She's making a meatless meal today. "Black Bean Burgers" with "Sweet Potatoe Fries".

Looks really easy and very inexpensive.
If anyone wants to check it out it seems worth taking a look. It caught my interest enough to try it this coming weekend.

Btw..if I'm making something I see on tv, I always read the reviews (from people who've made
the dish) for a heads up on what to expect.

Posted by trish on September 28, 2009 2:18 PM

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Our household is a vegan one so I have a few suggestions. Soups are a great way to cut the meat out and get cost down. This week we're having Miso soup and a rustic tomato lentil soup with home baked bread. (I have found I can save a ton making my own bread). Soups, stews, vegetarian chili are all very filling and offer a lot of possibility.
Polenta is super fast and can be pan fried and served covered with a fresh tomato sauce or pesto sauce.
For a meaty feel you can make your own seitan (wheat meat) one box of wheat gluten makes enough for 2-3 meals for a family of four. There are recipes for seitan all over the net and can be used as meat is.

Well drained tofu can be used in a many things and is not bad once you learn to cook it. (Promise!)

Tofu recipes are on vegetarian sites. We are having sweet and sour tofu balls with rice, tofu based veggie burgers, and BBQ tofu with potato salad this week.

Give black bean enchiladas and nachos a try.

Lentils are cost effective and hearty. They work well in stews and casseroles. Hope this helped.

Posted by Robin on September 28, 2009 9:08 PM

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Just found this site and ran across your question about meatless meals. Lots of variations on "meatless", some say fish is "meatless" others say only "vegan" (no animal products at all) is "meatless".

Look for recipes that use tofu - firm, or soft. Check out the oriental recipes, they often use tofu. Also, a lot of Orthodox Christians eat vegetarian and/or vegan about 1/2 of the year, so that could be a source as well.

I have made tofu stir-fry with a killer sesame soy ginger vinaigrette sauce and lots of veggies. Also, spaghetti sauce with tofu and lots of veggies. I often marinate the tofu and/or brown the tofu before cooking the rest of the dish and add the tofu back in to warm it up.

Go big on flavor so your taste buds are happy, and go for complex carbs so your body is happy.

Posted by Janet Evpraxia on September 29, 2009 1:15 AM

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Wow!!! I am so excited to try all of these great recipes. Thank you all so so much - you have inspired me to get my butt back in the kitchen!

Posted by meredith on September 29, 2009 7:20 PM

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There are a number of tasty frugal and healty recipes here:
http://tinyurl.com/24hp6z

Most of them do not use meat.

Posted by Arthi on October 01, 2009 3:00 PM

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my entire blog is devoted to nutritious, economical meatless meals (they're gluten free, too, for those who need that). i think you'll find many ideas there--hope this helps!

Posted by gfveg on October 01, 2009 6:11 PM

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