Cooking Vegetarian – Simple Ways To Cook Vegetarian Food

In all forms of cooking there are some principles to bear in mind that can make it easier. Vegetarian dishes are no exception. Even the simplest recipe can look really complicated unless we understand the basics.

The simplest of all dishes is a one pot stew or casserole. There are vegetarian versions that taste just as good as meat based ones. If you have the essential ingredients to hand you can make a very simple vegetarian casserole.

All you need to do is add a tin of beans such as kidney beans, pinto beans, butter beans of flageolet beans to a root vegetable casserole. You can develop some variations on this theme by adding a topping of breadcrumbs with or without grated cheese and putting it in the oven for a few minutes. You could even add a pastry crust or a cobbler topping and bake it. Dumplings are an excellent addition and make a hearty vegetarian meal.

Vegetarian soups are just as simple. If you cook some lentils, carrots and onions for about 15 minutes you can whizz the whole thing in a food processor to make soup. Season to taste and stir a spoonful of yoghurt or creme fraiche into each dish as you serve it. A sprinkling of chopped coriander or parsley adds a special touch.

A pea soup is even easier. Cook some frozen peas in boiling water with a sprig of mint. When they are cooked put them in the food processor. Season to taste and serve. A slice of wholemeal bread makes a satisfying vegetarian lunch.

Another one pot stand by is risotto. A mushroom risotto makes a quick and easy vegetarian supper. Arborio rice cooks in about 10 minutes and it will take about the same to chop up some onions, garlic and mushrooms.

Stir fry is a great vegetarian stand by. The great advantage of this kind of cooking is that you can adapt it to whatever vegetables you have available. If you have some tofu in the store cupboard it is easy to make a vegetarian stir fry. Mushrooms also make a good vegetarian stir fry.

A stir fry is not quite a one pot dish because you will need to cook some rice or noodles to go with it. But noodles are very easy and only take about 10 minutes or less.

Cooking brown rice can be a slow business which puts many people off using it. But the best way to make this essential vegetarian food easy is to invest in an electric rice. cooker. Your rice will be done perfectly every time and become the basis of many easy vegetarian meals.

Victorian Superfoods – healthy and simple vegetarian recipes

They may not have known what a superfood was, but the victorians were as concerned with healthy eating as we are now.  Taken from the book ‘Early Vegetarian Recipes’, these dishes offer tasty ideas for using ingredients with extra nutritional oomph!

Beetroot and Onion Salad – by Mary Pope 1893

Beetroot can be a much abused vegetable, but really is deserving of the superfood tag.  Full of folate, betacarotene and potassium as well as some iron and vitamin C, it has historically been regarded as increasing resistance to disease and good for convalescents.  Onions are also an excellent food, used in traditional medicine to treat colds and asthma amongst other things.  You could try this salad with the beetroot grated raw with the celery for extra crunch, which really brings out the earthy sweet flavour.. 

Recipe: Boil a beetroot and when it is cold peel and slice it.  Peel a large Spanish onion and cut it carefully in thick slices in a wire vegetable basket.  Place alternate layers of beet, shredded celery and onion in a dish and pour over a salad sauce or mayonnaise.

Tortilla Dulce – by Charles Walter Forward 1891

We all know that eating our greens is good for us, not only did our mothers say so, but the evidence just keeps getting stronger.  You really do need dark green leafy vegetables for good health and should eat a portion every day. 

This unusual recipe is a wonderfully surprising mix of flavours and makes for a great brunch or light supper.  You could use any greens that are in season, and watercress makes an especially good addition.  The cinnamon could be swapped for nutmeg for a slightly citrus tang.

Recipe: 1 large handful of sorrel, endive, or spinach, 2 eggs, 1 large cupful of peas, 2ozs butter (or sunflower oil), 1 dessertspoonful of castor sugar, a pinch of powdered cinnamon.

Drain and slice the vegetables, and put with the butter, the cinnamon, sugar, salt and pepper into a pan with a drop of water to wilt.  Beat and stir in the eggs.  Cover with a lid.  To brown on top, place the pan under a hot grill (broiler).  Shake the pan occasionally, and when brown on both sides turn carefully out.

Millet Pudding – by Thirza Tarrant 1881

Millet is gluten free and easy to digest.  It’s also high in protein and a range of other nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium and zinc.  No wonder it is loved by healthy eaters everywhere!  This recipe also works well as a vegan dish – use soya or rice milk and as suggested at the end, leave out the egg and stir in some fruit

Ingredients: – ½ lb of millet, nearly 3 pints of milk, 1 egg, and 3ozs of sugar.

How made: – Pick and wash the millet – throwing away any seeds which rise to the top of water, as they are not good, and soak over night.  Drain and heat with the milk in a pan.  When boiling add the sugar; boil again for twenty minutes, then set aside to cool, when the beaten egg should be stirred in.  Set over the fire again and boil till ready, stirring occasionally to prevent burning to the saucepan.  If desired, it may be turned into a buttered dish and baked the last half hour.

Note. – To millet boiled in water may be added, when about half done, rhubarb cut in short lengths, stoned raisins, or any other fruit, with sugar to taste omit egg in this case.

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Product Description
The Square Collection gives you a fresh look with timeless style, whether the occasion is laid back or more formal. The bake and serve collection coordinates beautifully with your Corelle dinnerware or all by itself.Amazon.com Review
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Corelle Coordinates 5-Piece Casserole Set, Simple Lines

What’s a nice simple vegetarian recipe for someone who’s picky?

I’m a vegetarian, but I’m pretty picky when it comes to food. I want to make something for a friend of mine this Saturday, so I’m curious if someone knows any recipes that don’t have tons of weird stuff in it.

Thanks.

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How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food

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How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food

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