So, in a bid to try and drop my blood pressure as much as possible over the next few weeks before my follow-up with the doctor to decide whether I need to be on medication for it, I'm going to be going all-out to try and avoid having to deal with more meds and get my BP back down to a more healthy level. One of the biggest changes is going to be trying to eat as close to vegetarian/vegan as possible (and obviously taking in as little sodium as possible too).
But, this is something that neither I nor the Dancer have a large amount of experience at, so we really don't have a lot in the way of recipes to pull from to make- especially when it comes to dinners.
So- if you've got a good recipe or better yet lots of them for vegetarian/vegan dinners (primarily- breakfast & lunches are easier in general) please either post or link them here, and if you have recommendations for cook-books or sites, those would help as well. Thanks!
Ian F
MegaDork
12/12/18 9:53 a.m.
So far, I've bought this cookbook: https://www.eamonandbec.com/ but I haven't been home long enough to really try any of them.
NOHOME
UltimaDork
12/12/18 9:55 a.m.
French Fries and Beer fall under "Vegan" right?
So, yeah, that is my answer.
Probably not helpful.
Pete
The Moosewood Cookbook was first published long before the ascendancy of vegetarianism. I've made several of their recipes, and they have not disappointed.
https://moosewoodcooks.com/all-recipes/
Try this variation on the humble Mac-n-cheese. Available on their website!
https://moosewoodcooks.com/2017/02/baked-pasta-with-cauliflower-and-cheese/
No affiliation, but I've had one of their cookbooks for decades, and while I do not claim to be a vegetarian, I do lean that way from time to time.
wae
SuperDork
12/12/18 10:06 a.m.
We try to do some different things for Lent each year (other than fish or grilled cheese) and I've had the most luck with looking to ethnic things. I've never been happy with a recipe that tries to mimic a real meal by substituting something for the meat, but things that were designed to be meatless are much more satisfying in my opinion. I've not tried to make any vegetarian Indian dishes because they kind of look like a lot of work, but a friend tells me that she does chicken saag in her Instant Pot all the time and it's pretty easy, so that might be something to investigate. Falafel is absolutely amazing and can be made fried or baked. You can make or buy hummus to go with and eat them as nuggets or wrap them up in a pita or even a burrito shell with some feta, onions, lettuce, tahini, cucumbers, and olives. Very filling and very satisfying to eat.
Another treat that I discovered at a Venezuelan joint are arepas. Super simple to make -- go to your local hispanic market and get some masarepa (it's a pre-cooked corn flour) and you mix that with some water and a splash of veggie oil and then fry them up like pancakes. I like to take a couple cans of black beans and heat them up on the stove and mix in some of that Mexican mozzarella-like cheese (it has, like, Xs and Qs and other strange letters in its name and is utterly unpronounceable to me, but it's awesome stuff) until it's all melty. Put the arepa on the plate and then cover in the beans and devour. Amazing and way more filling that you'd expect. I suppose you could do it without the cheese, but if we're being honest, life without cheese really isn't worth living.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille
This can be made with or without meat. I put in butter and olive oil for mine.
If you like meat add sausage or shrimp or whatever. A slice of bacon sliced up in bits and added really makes it taste good. I'm not much on putting beef or chicken into it though.
I'm from South Louisiana so I add Cajun spice to my Ratatouille. I usually am heavier on the eggplant because I like it more.
We make a vegetarian chili in the winter a few times. Pretty close to a standard chili that we do with onions, garlic, bell peppers, different types of beans, and we use chickpeas instead of beef. There are many recipes out there for it.
Give it a shot.
I've been lacto-vegetarian (we eat cheese/milk) for about 30 years now. Just leave the meat out. Pizza, no meat. Taco Hell, no meat (lots of choices.) Mexican restaurant, no meat (confirm that they don't use lard. Most don't today.) Indian food restaurants always cater to lacto-vegetarians. For $2, you can get pre-made meal entrees for two of excellent lacto-vegetarian food from an Indian grocery store. Dr.Linda makes a spaghetti with raisons, carrots and celery. Even meat eaters like it.
Thanks for the ideas everyone, keep them coming!
Given trying to keep the sodium low is pretty high on the list for now we're probably not going to be eating out much, but the ethnic food ideas are good to keep in mind.
Re: Tofu, I don't mind it but honestly don't know what the Dancer's thoughts on it are. When we got food out last night from Chipotle I tried their Sofritas in the burrito bowl I had and it wasn't bad.
A bigger issue may be that for the most part she doesn't like beans, or at least the more common ones... it will be a process figuring out what between our respective tastes will work out.
^If you're watching salt, stay away from Chipotle. I can't even eat their food it's so over the top salty. And if you don't find it super salty, that could be part of the sodium intake issue.
Have you eaten quinoa? If so, do you like the taste?
If so, you can look at things like this: https://veganhuggs.com/stuffed-acorn-squash/
My boss is vegan. He's big on quinoa. I'm not so much on it. We have quinoa salad things at company outings sometimes. There are some quinoa burgers that aren't bad.
Note that Indian food tends to be a bit high on salt.
In reply to z31maniac :
Yeah, I know it's quite salty- last night was kind of a 'last hurrah' before we start on this today (and there was supposed to be a fundraiser for the studio the Dancer teaches at but the location it was at had a power outage- but she was already craving Chipotle...). I'm aware that in general most all restaurants have entirely too much salt in their foods, it's why I expect we won't be eating out as much...
In reply to Katya4me :
Quinoa (I can't type that without snickering since there's a CAH card about pronouncing it properly...) is something both of us are fine with, so recipes with it are fine.
Shawnb
Reader
12/12/18 12:23 p.m.
Former vegan here...
if you end up on a vegan diet long term, make sure you understand what you’re body needs. Do the research, and get periodic blood tests.
Not sure where you live, but if there’s a high concentration of vegan/veg head restaurants around. It might be best to sample different meals that way, find out what tastes well and start forming an at home meal plan around everything you like.
Stay away away from the majority of plant based fake meat. Some, like the beyond burger actually taste really well but are far from healthy.
mtn
MegaDork
12/12/18 12:37 p.m.
Shawnb said:
Former vegan here...
if you end up on a vegan diet long term, make sure you understand what you’re body needs. Do the research, and get periodic blood tests.
Out of curiosity, what would you be missing from a balanced vegan diet other than B12? I haven't found anything, assuming that you aren't eating only 1 thing.
Mndsm
MegaDork
12/12/18 12:48 p.m.
Dr. Hess said:
I've been lacto-vegetarian (we eat cheese/milk) for about 30 years now. Just leave the meat out. Pizza, no meat. Taco Hell, no meat (lots of choices.) Mexican restaurant, no meat (confirm that they don't use lard. Most don't today.) Indian food restaurants always cater to lacto-vegetarians. For $2, you can get pre-made meal entrees for two of excellent lacto-vegetarian food from an Indian grocery store. Dr.Linda makes a spaghetti with raisons, carrots and celery. Even meat eaters like it.
Spaghetti? With.....raisins?
mtn
MegaDork
12/12/18 1:19 p.m.
Dr. Hess said:
In reply to Mndsm :
Yeah. It's very good.
That was what they told me about the cookies.
You should try some authentic Dutch licorice. The Double Salt is even vegan. You want to talk good stuff.... I do think it is lethal to those not genetically Dutch, though.
I haven't had anything but hunted game (and it's rare that I get that) for a hair over 13 years now. I find that Italian is pretty easy to make vegetarian. Lots of sauces can be made without meat: pesto, many red sauces, alfredo, etc. I'll pile on with everyone else in saying to avoid fake meat products and stick to meals that aren't designed for meat. Also, that Moosewood cookbook is KILLER. Seriously. It's so good.
See below for some of our favorite recipies outside of Moosewood:
Dal: http://steamykitchen.com/10989-indian-dal-nirvana.html
Chilaquiles: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/m/recipes/chilaquiles/
Nut Loaf (unappetizing name, legit tasty meal): http://www.thekitchn.com/winter-recipe-classic-vegetarian-nut-loaf-102222
Mushroom Gravy for the aforementioned nut loaf: http://www.marthastewart.com/337681/vegetarian-mushroom-gravy
Green Shakshuka: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-green-shakshuka-recipes-from-the-kitchn-203633
Andean Potato and Cheese Soup: https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-andean-potato-cheese-soup-locro-recipes-from-the-kitchn-176064
Dr. Hess said:
You should try some authentic Dutch licorice. The Double Salt is even vegan. You want to talk good stuff.... I do think it is lethal to those not genetically Dutch, though.
That seems to be the "go to" gift for any Dutch guy who visits a Dutchman living in the USA
