Recommend the best vegetarian replacements, please!

[Anonymous]

My DS wants to become vegetarian and I am looking for easy , simple vegetarian recipes.
Do you have any experience with the meat replacements, for example vegetarian sausage, and meatless crumbles that are supposed to be used like ground beef?
He will eat beans and rice in burritos for protein, but I am looking for quick and appealing ideas.
Thanks in advance, also if you have any cookbook recommendations that would be great.

[Anonymous]

I use those replacements from time to time but I really wouldn't recommend using processed soy in place of meat on a regular basis. They aren't really healthy. Push lentils, beans, eggs, and tofu.

[Anonymous]

I sometimes use puréed lentils for meatballs or meatloaf. DH is not a huge meat eater and actually prefers it.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I want to echo what 9:22 said. I use the replacements about 1x a month because all that soy and additives are no good. Will he eat eggs? We are a vegetarian household but we do eggs about 3x a week. We also add lentils and beans to EVERYTHING. We just did a white bean pasta soup that was delish. And nuts, lots of nuts. My mother makes an amazing cashew nut pesto sauce that we thrown on pasta, veggies, bread, but I have yet to make something like that.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

I like and agree with all the previous responses, but if you're looking for the easy heat-it-up kind of meat substitute, I think the Morningstar veg sausages are the best. Very tasty.

[Anonymous]

The best way to be a vegetarian and eat well is to not try to replace meat per se. Meat replacements are usually pretty gross and you'll eat better if you just work with the other proteins out there.

That being said, you're in a tough spot because I assume you don't want to cook entirely separate meals for you son. So here's one tip I've noticed about meat replacements:

Almost universally, veggie proteins that specifically claim to be a meat replacement (e.g. "meatless hamburger, vegan chicken nugget") are gross. On the other hand, veggie proteins that don't purport to be meat (e.g. "black bean burger") are comparatively palatable.

I would definitely experiment with TVP (textured vegetable protein) which I think is the base for a lot of fake meat crumbles. It can be added to pretty much any dish as long as the dish is cooked with simmering liquid of some sort. So, for example, a rice pilaf that you're serving as a side dish for the rest of the family could quickly become a main for your son.

Also, Trader Joes has a decent veggie chorizo, though I suspect it is unhealthy. It has to be cut out of the casing, and then easily crumbles.

[Anonymous]

It's only one recipe, but I have a fantastic vegetarian (vegan, even!) chili recipe. My husband and brother, who claims he won't eat anything without parents, love it. Happy to provide if you want it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best way to be a vegetarian and eat well is to not try to replace meat per se. Meat replacements are usually pretty gross and you'll eat better if you just work with the other proteins out there.

That being said, you're in a tough spot because I assume you don't want to cook entirely separate meals for you son. So here's one tip I've noticed about meat replacements:

Almost universally, veggie proteins that specifically claim to be a meat replacement (e.g. "meatless hamburger, vegan chicken nugget") are gross. On the other hand, veggie proteins that don't purport to be meat (e.g. "black bean burger") are comparatively palatable.

I would definitely experiment with TVP (textured vegetable protein) which I think is the base for a lot of fake meat crumbles. It can be added to pretty much any dish as long as the dish is cooked with simmering liquid of some sort. So, for example, a rice pilaf that you're serving as a side dish for the rest of the family could quickly become a main for your son.

Also, Trader Joes has a decent veggie chorizo, though I suspect it is unhealthy. It has to be cut out of the casing, and then easily crumbles.

This veggie chorizo is delish. I don't shop at Trader Joe's anymore but used to cook with this all the time. It's pretty spicy though.

[Anonymous]

My teenage DS has been vegetarian for about two years. He depends too much on cheese for protein. We do a lot of pizza and pasta with cheese when I don't have time to cook. When getting his own meals he will often do frozen veggie burgers, a grilled cheese sandwich, mozzarella sticks, or "chicken" fingers made from tofu or mandarin "chicken" tofu from Trader Joe's. It's not ideal, but that's what we do.

[Anonymous]

You'll just have to experiment - different people have different tastes. These are my feelings on some common fake meat products:

Chicken nuggets - whole foods brand
Breaded chicken strips - gardein or trader joes
Beef crumbles - morningstar or boca, are interchangeable
Veggie burger - I prefer boca griller prime
Cold cuts - Tofurky brand
Kielbasa or italian sausage - Tofurkey
Chicken strip meal starters - Wegmans. These are delish in many dishes - enchiladas, quesadillas, chikn and dumplings etc
Chicken - we use the chicken scallopini from garden to make chickn parmesan
Beef tips - Gardein, we eat them in tortillas
Bacon/Sausage - morningstar

Gardein has some good stuff in general
http://gardein.com/products/gluten-free-beefless-ground/

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone!!!!

To the PP with a delicious vegan chili recipe, I would love to see it if you have time!

[Anonymous]

I really like the Lightlife brand Gimme Lean meats. I know gluten is out of favor these days, but if he has no gluten sensitivity you could try seitan meatballs-that gets you away from soy meat replacements.

[Anonymous]

OP here and feeling inspired. Once I am able to go grocery shopping again, I plan to try the following recipe:

http://www.diynewlyweds.com/2012/04/shocking-twist-delicious-seitan-recipe.html

(no I'm not a newlywed, but I still need easy recipes!)

[Anonymous]

I don't usually like meat substitutes. Except for Morningstar Farms black bean or veggie patty burgers, I don't buy anything that resembles meat. The only exception is this seitan product I found at Whole Foods - chorizo flavor. I have never had actual chorizo, but I love this stuff. I put it in quesadillas, you could use it for things like stuffed peppers, or in my case, eat it by itself