Looking for Low and No Meat Recipes.

Updated on June 05, 2008
A.K. asks from South San Francisco, CA
5 answers

In an effort to be more socially conscious we’re trying to reduce the amount of meat we consume. With the UN summit on world food shortages going on it just seems like the right thing to do. After all, why feed grain to animals and eat them when you can feed a lot more people with the grain? Having said that, I love meat. Seriously BBQ anything is an all time favorite of mine so going completely vegetarian isn’t an option but cutting back is. So what I need are recipes for vegetarian or low meat dishes that taste good and are easy. I can’t stress this last part enough. If it takes more than 30 minutes to prepare it better cook in a crockpot while we’re at work or it just isn’t going to happen at our home. The only real dietary restrictions we have are that Kevin hates chickpeas and I hate split pea soup and am allergic to shrimp.

I’m looking forward to seeing what kinds of great recipes you ladies have for me

Thank you in advance,

A.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thank you mommies. I should have mentioned that we tent to eat a lot of stir-fry already and I’m getting kind of tired of it. We did pasta with veggies and pesto the other night (a big hit!) and I got some great recipes off food net work for some fun salads. Kevin will eat hummus (as long as he can’t see the chickpea we’re ok) so we’re going to start keeping that and veggie sticks around for snacking. We’re also really looking forward to trying out the nutburger recipe (I don’t have a juicer but my parents do and they said I can borrow it.)
Thank you again,
Alli

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Try Amy's Kitchen foods. They are all vegetarian. Some are frozen, but they also have soups, chili, etc. They have vegetarian recipes on their website as well: www.amys.com. I won't lie, the food isn't cheap, but their message certainly matches your desire to be more socially conscious. They will give you coupons if you call their customer service line generally. You can find the food at Safeway, Whole Foods, Raley's to name a few.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from Sacramento on

I love the fantastic foods Vegetarian Chili mix. you can get it in bulk from the co-op too. I make it with a can of black beans, a can of kidney and a can of pinquitos. I also add frozen sweet corn. Topped with sour cream and cilantro, yum!

Nutburgers are pretty easy to make, and fast, if you have a carrot juicer. and if you get a flat iron griddle style grill, you can still "bbq". I also like mandolin sliced veggies, like zucchini, red onions, etc. when they are grilled (there are all sorts of containment systems for over the fire cookery, so you really don't have to give up bbq AND you can keep veggie or ultra low meat.) If you brush them with salt and olive oil, they come out simply amazing. Even eggplant, and I normally hate eggplant.

Does he really hate chickpeas? Because hummus, falafel, tahini, rice, yogurt and toasted pitas with a side of cucumbers always sounds yummy to me too. Most kids will dip, so this stuff works well for them, as long as the falafel is not too spicy. You can also make a type of hummus with white cannelini beans. There are really high protein pastas with chickpea flour in them, very good, high fiber but better mouth feel than whole wheat noodles. Barilla makes the best in my opinion.

I prefer veggie lasagna to meat versions, so making and freezing those might be something to think about.

Nutburger recipe:
toasting nuts: heat oven to 300, spread nuts on a cookie sheet, bake for 7-10 minutes until they are warm and smell amazing.
1/2 cup lightly toasted pecans
1/2 cup lightly toasted walnuts
1/2 cup lightly toasted almonds
1 cup carrot pulp from juicer. take out any chunklettes bigger than your thumbnail.
2 tsp lemon juice
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
You can sub jerk seasonings for the cumin and cayenne if you want jerk burgers (ground thyme, scotch bonnet pepper and allspice.)

Blend nuts in a processor with the dried ingredients and garlic, somewhere between even sized small chunks and powder; add the carrot pulp by hand and add a tsp at a time of lemon and carrot juice to get it to stick better until it forms a not-too sticky (but orange) mass of "dough" that leaves a light orange film on your fingers, but smells amazing. Form into patties, separate with wax paper or parchment. Turn them only once whent cooking, they should be browned well on each side. Doesn't matter if the middle is cooked, just warmed. Best if cooked on hot griddle heated for something like pancakes, but they can be broken up into taco style crumbles too. You won't need any extra oil because of all the nuts.

I think you can freeze it, but it doesn't normally last long enough.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I have two ideas for you:

Veggie Pasta
In a pan with olive oil:
1 red bell pepper
1 small onion
2 zucchini
(These should be cut in similar size pieces.)
Cook these to your desired "softness" level. For really soft, add the sauce and simmer for a while with the lid on.

Add one jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce and one can of corn, drained. Serve with cooked noodles. I vary the shapes.

Second suggestion: we make enchiladas and burritos often. Instead of using meat, we use refried beans and rice.

Both of these meals are hearty. My husband doesn't miss the meat at all.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Sacramento on

terreaky stake and rice its just that easy you will still get your fill of meat its cheap and its easy and you can still use the bbq all you do is make about 2 cups of rice and 1 stake i would marinade the stake over night in terriaky souce and soy souce just to make sure you are getting the full flavor in it when stake is done cut into small bits place rice in bowl with stake ontop and then some terreaky over it all and serve shouldnt take to long to fix and will serve about 3/4 people you can also ad veg in this fresh green beans i think go the best this is also something that is great the next day to reheat for lunch at work

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Stir Fries are always good... quick and easy. Also, check out Rachael Ray's website. She has some good veggie recipes. Most of the time you can use tofu to replace the meat, but make sure you buy the refrigerated kind and drain well. I suggest absorbing as much of the liquid as possible by wrapping it in a paper towel for a few minutes before slicing it up. Tofu acts like a sponge and will take on the flavoring of any and all sauces you put with it.
So you make sure you getting enough protein in your diet and not carbo-loading... google the idea of Complimentary proteins. You don't necessarily have to have them in the same meal together, but i would highly recommend trying.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches