Vegetarian meals get their protein power from a mix of beans, legumes, and veggies. All of those, when prepared properly, can provide plenty of protein and valuable nutrition to fill you up. Integrate these and other important vegetarian staples into your diet with these five recipes.
Whether you’re looking to clean up your diet by cutting back on beef, pork, and poultry or simply want to add more plant-based fare to your meals, these meat-free dishes will liven up your menu and keep you feeling satisfied.
1. Beet Bourguignon
A mix of red and brown or French lentils helps thicken the stew without adding flour or arrowroot powder. It’s OK to use all brown or French lentils if you don’t have red, but using all red lentils will yield a mushy mess! Chop all the veggies into roughly 2,5cm pieces.
2. Nut-Crusted Tofu
Pistachios, tarragon, and lemon juice, plus a hint of Dijon mustard, turn a simple dinner into something special. Serve with steamed green beans and quinoa for a Parisian-bistro-inspired meal. There’s no need to press the tofu; simply pat it dry. Any excess moisture will help the crust adhere to the tofu.
The slow cooker uses gentle, moist heat, which is the ideal way to extract the tea’s healing compounds and infuse it into the dish. Find Chinese black vinegar in Asian grocery stores; it has a deep flavor like balsamic.
These soulfully spiced sweet potatoes are satisfying enough to be a main dish, and they pack in two heart-healthy ingredients—vitamin A and fiber. Cinnamon is a healing spice with anti-diabetic properties, even in small amounts (less than 1⁄4 tsp daily).
