Saturday, January 25, 2014

Cooking Ideas For Vegetarians: Garden Veggie Patties And Beyond

By Marissa Velazquez


If you and your family have recently made the switch to vegetarian eating, you may be having trouble coming up with a variety of recipes. Despite the health benefits of a meat-free diet, it can get boring eating the same old garden veggie patties every day. Here are a few ideas for recipes that will break up the monotony and help you get in needed protein.

Beans and Rice With Cheese is fast and easy to cook. The ingredients are cheap, and you can stretch them so they will feed multiple people or last for multiple meals.

Boil rice as directed on package. You can use either white or brown rice. White rice will absorb the flavor of the beans better, but brown rice has a higher fiber content. Start your rice first, because it will take about 20 minutes to cook. In a separate pot, sautee 1 small onion, a few minced cloves of garlic, and one or two carrots, diced. Add a can of black or small red beans, or blackeyed peas, and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and cook until carrots have reached the tenderness you prefer. Serve over rice, and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Tofu With Ginger Marinade can be prepared in a few simple steps. Also, you won't be left with a sink full of dishes when you're finished cooking.

Many people think that tofu is bland, but it does not have to be. Marinating tofu can make a huge difference in the flavor. To make a ginger marinade, combing water, soy sauce, fresh minced garlic, fresh minced ginger, and sesame oil. Place sliced tofu (firm or extra firm) in this liquid and let it marinate for at least thirty minutes. Meanwhile, grease a cookie sheet and set the oven to 425 degrees. When the tofu has finished marinating, place it on the cookie sheet with sesame seeds sprinkled on top, and bake for 30 minutes. Turn the cookie sheet, and bake another fifteen minutes, adding more marinade if necessary.

Dressing Up Your Garden Veggie Patties is one way to get kids excited about them. Another idea is to add a fun side dish, like veggies and dip or baked potatoes.

Veggie burgers don't have to be boring. They can become monotonous when only garnished with same old lettuce and tomato, but there are many other ways to dress them up and make them more interesting. First of all, you can try different types of patties. There are many flavors to choose from, like spicy black bean, mushroom, or masala. Also, you can experiment with different toppings. Try making a fake bacon cheeseburger with veggie bacon. This can work even if you are vegan; you can use soy cheese. Sauteed onions and mushrooms are a good idea too.

Cooking for a vegetarian diet can be tricky, but it does not have to be tedious. Have fun experimenting with new recipes and branching out beyond the usual garden veggie patties and plain tofu stir fry. Trying different seasonings and different forms of protein can take your vegetarian cooking to the next level. You will appreciate it, as will all of the people you cook for. Buy some cookbooks and create your own collection of your favorite recipes. Have fun experimenting with new things.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment