Ideas for meatless dinners?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to cook 2 to 3 night per week without using any meat - any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Is there anything you don't like at all in terms of flavors/seasonings/type of food?

You can substitute veggie burger crumbles for ground beef (Morningstar Farms), veggie italian sausage (I like Lightlife) for the real stuff, non-bacon and breakfast sausage for the mornings.
Beans are also a good filler in dishes and are high in fiber and protein. I make a fabulous veggie tortilla soup with black beans and it is very filling!
I also bake tofu and add it to salads or use it as the main protein for a meal.

[Anonymous]

Tofu stir fry -- mine has shredded carrots, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, onion, water chestnuts and peas. As far as sauce goes, if you can dream it, you can do it, although I like to go light on the soy sauce.

I drain the tofu by sticking it under a heavy cutting board and on top of a waterproof lid for an hour. So much less effort.

I also make a spinach lasagna with fat free ricotta that's pretty good (my MIL's recipe)

[Anonymous]

I don't think you need a meat substitute if it's only 2-3 times a week. We have vegetable stir fry, curry, pasta, salad, baked potatoes, pizza ... all with no meat or tofu most nights.

[Anonymous]

I've posted this before but this is one of my favorite veg dinners - DH loves it too. Black bean and corn quesadillas -

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/black-bean-and-corn-quesadillas/Detail.aspx

Also, we've found a lot of great veg dinners in the Six O'Clock Scramble recipe book. It is not a vegetarian cookbook but there are a lot of really good meatless recipes.

[Anonymous]

Falafel, either prepared as patties or the mix stuffed into peppers and roasted. Lentil and sweet potato curry. Pasta. Polenta. Eggplant sliced thick, marinated and broiled like steaks. Portobello mushroom "burgers." Black bean soup or chili. Taco night with refried beans instead of ground beef. Pizza...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything you don't like at all in terms of flavors/seasonings/type of food?

You can substitute veggie burger crumbles for ground beef (Morningstar Farms), veggie italian sausage (I like Lightlife) for the real stuff, non-bacon and breakfast sausage for the mornings.
Beans are also a good filler in dishes and are high in fiber and protein. I make a fabulous veggie tortilla soup with black beans and it is very filling!
I also bake tofu and add it to salads or use it as the main protein for a meal.

Those veggie crumbles work well in tacos.

[Anonymous]

Veggie Stew with no meat over rice is my favorite (bag of mixed vegetables, add potato, green pepper, onion and spices you like with tomato sauce.)

Any pasta can go meatless (ravioli, lasanga, noodles), Pasta salad

Salad and baked potato

Veggie Chili

[Anonymous]

black bean & cheese enchiladas or "enchilada pie" is a favorite for us.

black bean soup (1 veggie crumble, 1 bag pepper strips, 2 cans black beans--one smashed--1 can veggie broth, 1 jar salsa)

tomato soup and grilled cheese (DD LOVES this dinner)

veggie frittata or omelet or quiche

[Anonymous]

Pizza bagels, if eggs are ok we also do brinner for our DD (egg and cheese sandwhich). I make a white bean spread (mush up white beans and add a touch of salt and add it too toast as part of a meal (this, baked sweet potato, and another fruit or vegetable - or something like that).

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thanks everyone but I think I was misunderstood.... I am not trying to become vegetarian so I am not really interested in meat substitutes such as veggie burgers, sausages and such. I am trying to save money using less meat, but besides pasta dishes, what else can I "offer" as dinner that doesn't require meat? I guess soup would be a good idea, but in this weather? Any other ideas? Maybe some meals where veggetables are the main dishes (such as cauli-flower with white sauce? Or spinach cream?)

[Anonymous]

Omelettes.

[Anonymous]

Anything egg based, like PP suggested. I like this "egg souffle" from allrecipes.com.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Egg-Souffle/Detail.aspx

[Anonymous]

Cold soups are great in the summer!

Gazpacho
vichyssoise
minted pea
cucumber
carrot ginger

For those that use broth, you can still use chicken broth to add some protein in.

Veggie kabobs are also easy and summery. And portobello mushrooms are great marinated and grilled.

I think just doing smaller portions of meat and more focus on the veggies might help with the cost savings, too.

[Anonymous]

Besides, a lot of meat substitutes are made with soy processed with a toxic form of hexane that has created some concern.

Other ideas are eggplant parmesan and stir-fried veggies with tofu or eggs (beaten and then fried in the pan with the veggies).