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Food/Recipes

Vegetarian warming family dinners

18 replies

GalaxyDisaster · 06/12/2012 12:43

I am trying to eat more vegetarian meals with my family. In the summer I do pretty well, but as we get into the cold weather I am rather failing.

I have a couple of nice 'long winded' recipes I do - shepherdess pie made with lentils, a couple of vegetarian lasagnes. But what I really need is some meals which are either quick overall, or don't need much faffing then can have a slow simmer (the vegetarian equivalent of a meat stew or something IYSWIM). I can't always invest the time in all the stages of something like lasagne.

Does anyone have any ideas for warming veggie meals in this category? We eat most things, but DH can't stand Quorn or other 'meat substitute' products. Oh, and nothing super spicy because of the kids, but mild spice is fine.

Thanks in advance!

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Drladybird · 06/12/2012 13:54

Hello, yes plenty of ideas here!
What about:
jambalaya basically a rice and bean stew. Very warming, tasty and easy to make. I've posted it here before because it is a great recipe!
moroccan carrot and chickpea stew is also a warming treat and easy to make.
Also vegetable and bean stews are a brilliant one pot wonder and a staple in our household during winter.

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GalaxyDisaster · 06/12/2012 14:01

Oooh, yes, that's just the kind of thing. Thank you. Is that your blog - it looks brilliant. Going to have a dig about! I've tried searching things like BBC Good Food before, but you seem to get lots of complicated recipes, not easy family stuff.

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Drladybird · 06/12/2012 14:53

Great. Glad you like them. Yes, I started a blog to stash our vegetarian family favourites and put up any info on children's nutritional requirements that I found useful.

There are lots of brilliant veggie blogs that you might also find useful. Check out The vegetarian society page which has a good list of them.
Happy cooking and eating!

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/12/2012 20:49

I do a veggie chilli which I start off on the hob and then stick in the oven. You'd need to tone the spices down by the sound of it. If you do a search with my name, you'll find the recipe.

I also do a spiced lentil soup, which would prob be fine in the slow cooker. Again, I've posted it on here before so it should come up in a search.

Baked risotto? Roast some butternut squash and some halved shallots. Meanwhile, in an oven-proof pan fry some onion and garlic and sliced leeks until soft but not coloured. Add risotto rice, a splosh of white wine, stock and some fresh thyme and sage chopped small. Stick it in the oven - keep an eye on the liquid levels as it cooks. When the rice is nearly done, stir in the roasted vege plus some parmesan and some cream and stick it back in the oven to warm through. More sage to serve. You can stir some fresh spinach in at the end too.

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GalaxyDisaster · 06/12/2012 21:13

Oooh, thanks, I will have a search. It's the bane of my life being out-voted on spice by two pre-schoolers and a reluctant DH. I love it hot. Maybe I'll do my own freezer batch for nights I eat on my own for some reason.

Baked risotto sounds good too. I like risotto, and actually do quite a few veggie ones, but all the standing stirring isn't necessarily that compatible with a three year old and a one year old. It's more a 'when we eat supper alone' type of thing. Baked is a really good idea.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/12/2012 22:05

I do a baked paella-ish sort of thing too. I may have put that on here somewhere too but if I haven't and you fancy it, give me a shout and I'll post it.

Tagine is warmly spiced rather than spicy, so that might work. I layer up lots of veggies with a mixture of cumin, paprika, honey, coriander and lemon juice, fresh coriander and parsley, pour over a bit of stock and leave it in a low oven to cook until soft. Can put chick peas in too.

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AnnIonicIsoTronic · 06/12/2012 22:12

Remus - nice blog re: the veggie good - but I don't follow: what's the logic with all the sugar - substitutes? Isn't apple juice/agave syrup / date syrup just an unnecessarily expensive and complicated way to get a sugar hit?

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FlojoHoHoHo · 06/12/2012 22:16

I do lots of various bung in the slow cooker veggies at this time of year. Always have a bag of pearl barley in and lentils. Just bung a load of veggies in, some barley and some veg stock, if u have time bung some dumplings is or get a nice crusty loaf in or better still dust off the bread maker. Nothing more warming than freshly baked bread and veg stew.

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MarianForrester · 06/12/2012 22:17

Veggie chilli:

Tins mixed beans (I like the ones in water better than vinegar)
Tomato based pasta sauce (bought or made)
Chilli
Lots of fresh chopped coriander

Heat up the above. Serve with tortillas, sour cream, guacamole. Surprisingly tasty.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/12/2012 22:18

Not my blog, Ann.

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ivykaty44 · 06/12/2012 22:21

drlady - those recipes look good, will get prunes in the morning Grin

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ArbitraryUsername · 06/12/2012 22:22

this black bean chilli is awesome and really easy.

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MrsCurly · 06/12/2012 22:31

This www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/baked-pasta-with-tomatoes-mozzarella is easy and completely delicious. I just use bog standard pasta - despite what he says!

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MarianForrester · 07/12/2012 22:50

Sweet potato, spinach and lentil Dahl on the bbc food website is delicious. I use a tin of tomatoes instead of fresh ones.

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GalaxyDisaster · 07/12/2012 22:57

Prunes and black beans purchased today to try out a couple of the recipes next week (have the other things in generally). Thanks for all the other ideas. Will work my way through them.

Doing this thread also reminded me of a mild veggie curry I make, which I did tonight. Yum.

All further suggestions very welcome!

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lolalotta · 08/12/2012 06:41

This stew and mash from BBC Good Food is AMAZING, quick to make, freezes too and simply YUM!!!! I don't add the cider though and don't substitute it either, the recipe seems just the right consistency with just the stock!!! My DD 3 loves this stirred into rice too! Please try it, it has become a family favourite here and that mash is divine! Grin

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ivykaty44 · 08/12/2012 21:09

Sweet potato, spinach and lentil Dahl

I make this - it is yummy, and a decent recipe as it works - I do make with green paper sometimes rather than spinach

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Drladybird · 08/12/2012 21:22

AnnIonic- good question, re. sugar substitutes. Yes, it's good to keep added sugar and sweeteners to a minimum but when we want something sweet then I prefer to use something that has some nutritional benefit. Refined sugar doesn't bring anything to a recipe whereas, for example, date syrup or blackstrap molasses contains iron. Moreover, these ingredients are no more expensive than sugar.

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