Favorite vegan dinner recipes?

[essnce629]

I've decided to go vegan for 30 days. Anyone have any awesome vegan dinner recipes? I want to have 12-16 dinner meals planned out in advance. Any good blogs too?

[justlearning]

I'm making vegan lentil soup for dinner tonight -- it's this recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/lentil-soup-recipe/index.html

I've made it before and my boys really love it (more than DH does but he'll eat it too). My boys are spinach fans, so sometimes I put in cut-up fresh spinach at the end too.

There are lots of great vegan blogs but I don't follow any one in particular. I just google whatever I'm interested in making.

You can also likely get some good vegan cookbooks from the library -- I especially liked Vegan Planet.

I also have a cookbook from Marilu Henner (who advocates a mostly vegan diet) and my boys really like her recipe for Lentil Tacos (as does DH). Here's that recipe:

Lentil Tacos

1 tsp olive oil
1 cup onions, minced
1/2 cup celery, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup red lentils
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup salsa
8 whole wheat tacos (or use lettuce leaves as wraps)

toppings: shredded greens, chopped tomatoes

Heat olive oil in large frying pan over medium.
Saute onions, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes.
Stir in lentils, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute.
Add vegetable stock. Cook for 20 minutes or until lentils are tender.
Remove the lid and cook, stirring often, until mixture is thickened, about 10 minutes.
Stir in salsa.
Wrap tortillas in damp paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute.
Fill tortillas with lentil mixture and toppings.

[tylersmama]

This is really delicious, easy to make, and makes a ton (leftovers for a week, LOL!). I usually serve it over rice.

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew (http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/fasteasyfresh/2009/05/curried_cauliflower_and_chickpea_stew)

[justlearning]

This is really delicious, easy to make, and makes a ton (leftovers for a week, LOL!). I usually serve it over rice.

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew (http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/fasteasyfresh/2009/05/curried_cauliflower_and_chickpea_stew)

Thanks for this recipe--it sounds delicious! I'm going to make it this week now.

ETA here's a link to a website with very simple vegan recipes:

http://www.pcrm.org/health/recipes/

[essnce629]

You can also likely get some good vegan cookbooks from the library -- I especially liked Vegan Planet.

I also have a cookbook from Marilu Henner (who advocates a mostly vegan diet) and my boys really like her recipe for Lentil Tacos (as does DH).

I went to the library today and got 9 cookbooks! Several vegan ones, a vegetarian one, a bean one, and a roasted vegetable one! Can't wait to find some recipes to try out!

Those lentil tacos sound great! I googled "lentil tacos" and found this highly rated recipe on allrecipes.com as well: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/tasty-lentil-tacos/Detail.aspx#

Lentil tacos will definately be going on my list of dinners! Thanks!



This is really delicious, easy to make, and makes a ton (leftovers for a week, LOL!). I usually serve it over rice.

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew (http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/fasteasyfresh/2009/05/curried_cauliflower_and_chickpea_stew)

Yum, sounds great! I really like curry, cauliflower, and chickpeas so I'm sure I'll like this recipe. Definately adding this one to the dinner list as well!

Thanks everyone and keep them coming!

[wellyes]

I've been thinking about veganism too, at least sometimes. I know I'd be crazy healthy if I followed that diet.

Here's a gluten-free vegan recipe:

Caribbean Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans over Brown Rice

3 med sweet potatoes cut in bite-size pieces
1/4 cup OJ
1/2 cup stock or water
2 teasp corn starch
1 teasp jerk seasoning
1 teasp cinammon
1/4 teasp cumin
1 or 2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
salt and pepper
3 cups hot cooked brown rice

Put potatoes in salted water to cover
Bring to boil over high heat
Put on low, cover, simmer til falling apart - 10/12 min
Drain, set aside

In hot pan whisk together juice, stock, cornstarch, jerk, cinnamon, cumin
Bring to boil over high heat until thickened, whisking constantly (1 min)
Stir in potatoes, beans, salt & pepper (3 min)

Serve over rice or on toast.

[amldaley]

I won't post recipes right now, but wanted to brain dump a list of dinners we like that are easy..

Black Bean Burgers (I have mine without the bun).

Veggie pita's: Make your own hummus (SOOO EASY!) and stuff with all sorts of cut of veg. We gorge ourselves on this and throw some Terra Chips on the side or quinoa.

Romaine Lettuce leaves, slather with hummus, layer on quinoa and then top with either sauteed onions or corn salsa.

We like cold veggies salads like diced cucumber, celery, onion, black beans & corn. Can also add green peppers.

We also make a patty of lentils (a great way to use the leftover lentils the next day). Bind with breadcrumbs.

Spinach Balls with cooked spinach & with cooked rice & chopped onion. Roll in to balls and roll in breadcrumbs. Pan fry or bake to crisp coating.

Soups - yum!

[pinkmomagain]

A-M, do you have a recipe w/measurements for those spinach balls? They sound yummy!

[lchang25000]

This is really delicious, easy to make, and makes a ton (leftovers for a week, LOL!). I usually serve it over rice.

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew (http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/fasteasyfresh/2009/05/curried_cauliflower_and_chickpea_stew)

Yum...making that this week. I love Indian food!!

[momof2girls]

I make this all the time...delicious!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Veggie-Pot-Pie/Detail.aspx

[zoestargrove]

Mark Bittman's Food Matters (he's decided to follow a vegan diet daily until 6pm - then its whatever he wants, so he includes many recipes that are vegan (or can easily be made vegan)

Joel Furhman books Eat to Live and Disease Proof your Kids has lots of vegan recipes. I've learned from there to use cashew milk and cashew butter in place of milk and cream.

[urquie]

I won't post recipes right now, but wanted to brain dump a list of dinners we like that are easy..

Black Bean Burgers (I have mine without the bun).

We also make a patty of lentils (a great way to use the leftover lentils the next day). Bind with breadcrumbs.

Spinach Balls with cooked spinach & with cooked rice & chopped onion. Roll in to balls and roll in breadcrumbs. Pan fry or bake to crisp coating.


i would love these recipes!

[pinkmomagain]

This is really delicious, easy to make, and makes a ton (leftovers for a week, LOL!). I usually serve it over rice.

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew (http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/fasteasyfresh/2009/05/curried_cauliflower_and_chickpea_stew)

I ate this all week for lunch. Thank you, Gaye, for such an easy, easy dish that tastes so good!

[citymama]

Open up an Indian, Middle Eastern or E. Asian cookbook and you'll find a bazillion. I'd say our dinners are vegan about 75% of the time and ovo-lacto-vegetarian the rest of the time (lasagna, enchiladas). One of my fave cookbooks is Madhur Jaffrey's Eastern Vegetarian Cooking (or World Vegetarian) which includes dishes from all these cuisines.

Some favorite meals at our home:

--Middle Eastern: falafel, hummus, baba gannouj, fool madamas (fava beans)
--Tacos (just keep cheese and sour cream off the menu): black beans, Mexican rice, tortillas, guacamole, salsa, lettuce.
--Indian: any kind of daal, gobi-aloo (cauliflower and potatoes), fried okra, roti or rice etc etc
--Thai coconut curries with roasted veggies and tofu
--Stir-fried rice noodles with veggies and tofu
--Japanese Udon noodle soup with veggies and tofu
--Split pea soup with celery, root vegetables and vegan stock
--Sicilian orzo with chick peas, garlic and broccoli rabe - yum! or any combination of pasta, beans (white beans or fava are good) and greens.

[tylersmama]

I ate this all week for lunch. Thank you, Gaye, for such an easy, easy dish that tastes so good!

You're quite welcome! I love this recipe! I'm still eating my batch from last week...whoever decided that it makes four servings was on crack, I think! :D

[fauve01]

a friend who recently "went" vegan loves loves loves this cookbook:

the Supermarket Vegan
http://www.amazon.com/Supermarket-Vegan-Meat-Free-Egg-Free-Dairy-Free/dp/B003YDXD1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284740491&sr=8-1#_

she said she uses it all the time.

Anne

[wellyes]

Oh, talking cookbooks, I'm loving Quick and Easy Vegan Comfort Food (http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Easy-Vegan-Comfort-Food/dp/1615190058/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284742449&sr=8-1). It's simple recipes but that's just my speed. I made Alphabet Soup for lunch today! As a bonus she has a green smoothie section.

[alexmommy]

We have a couple of easy recipes that we like.

Butternut Squash pizza (from Vegetarian Planet)
1/2 butternut squash, sliced very thinly
1 cup onion (I just use one onion), sliced thinly
2T oil--regular or olive
put those on a cookie sheet in a 350F oven with 1t. ish each of salt, rosemary and sage. (I like to use more). Bake for 10-15 min--it should be roasted but not too mushy

Spread on any regular pizza dough and bake again (at whatever temp your dough recipe states--mine is 425) for 10ish minutes. Not much protein in there, but an easy way to eat squash.

Black Bean & Jicama Salad--very easy, from Betty Crocker's Vegetarian Cooking

1 can black beans--drained & rinsed
1 can corn--drained (I've also used frozen)
1 red bell pepper, sliced and cut into 1 inch sections (don't measure!)
1 jicama (a well-stocked grocery store will have this)--peeled and cubed
pine nuts--1/4 c. or so, roasted for 5 min (until they smell but don't brown) is better
Italian dressing--1/2c. or so, to taste
salt to taste
4 white tortillas--make your own 'chips' by quartering them, spreading with oil, and baking in a 350ish oven for 5 min until crunchy.

Mix all but tortillas. Use tortilla chips as scoops.

This is a yummy, different salad and makes up fast. Keeps well the next day if you keep the pine nuts on the side. Sometimes I add chopped cilantro too. Great to take somewhere as it is pretty, different, tastes good, and is fast. (When taking somewhere I don't do the tortillas.)

[essnce629]

Thanks everyone! I made the curried cauliflower and chickpea stew tonight served over brown jasmine rice-- Yum!!! I only added half the diced tomatoes w/ green chilis and ended up having to add about 20oz of regular diced tomatoes since it was too spicy for DS1. It was very good though and I have lots of leftovers. I'm on day 6 of my vegan challenge and so far I've liked everything I've made. Here's what I've made on some of the other days:

Lentil Tacos
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/tasty-lentil-tacos/Detail.aspx#

Massaged Kale Salad
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/massaged-kale-salad-recipe/index.html

Vegetarian Chili
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/The-Best-Vegetarian-Chili-in-the-World/Detail.aspx

BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Barbeque-Tempeh-Sandwiches/Detail.aspx

Penne with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto (w/out the parmesan for me)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/penne-with-sun-dried-tomato-pesto-recipe/index.html

And this one I want to make for lunch this week:

Smashed Chickpea Salad
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/01/smashed-chickpea-salad/

And that veggie pot pie sounds good too! DS1 was egg, dairy, and chicken-free for 3 years and I used to make a really good turkey pot pie using soy milk, vegetable broth, and Earth Balance instead of regular milk, chicken broth, and butter and I couldn't tell the difference. I can always do that again and just replace the meat with extra veggies.