If you’re a vegetarian or just a veggies lover learn how to easily make these 5 awesome veggie dishes! Lots of people don’t even acknowledge a dish if it doesn’t have meat in it. But don’t be quick to judge these 5 dishes based on the fact they’re simply based exclusively on vegetables.
Try one or some of these and see how a healthier option for a lunch or dinner meal can taste just as amazing as your regular meat packed meal.
1. Vegetable Chowder
Ingredients (for 7 servings):
- 1/2 cup of chopped red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup of chopped onion
- 1/4 cup of margarine
- 1 cup of chopped celery
- 1 cup of cauliflower, chopped
- 1 cup of diced carrots
- 1 cup of fresh chopped broccoli
- 3 cups of water
- 3 cubes of chicken bouillon
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups of milk
Directions:
- In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, sauté the pepper and onions in butter or margarine until tender.
- Add remaining vegetables, water, bouillon, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer covered for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Combine flour and milk until smooth; stir into pan. Bring the soup to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Mix in the parsley.
- Just before serving, stir in the cheese until melted.
*Hot Tip:
Make this a vegetarian dish by using vegetable bouillon cubes instead of the chicken ones.
2. Vegetable Slaw
Ingredients (for 6 servings):
- 3 cups of shredded cabbage
- 5 plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped
- 1 cup of fresh broccoli florets, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup of cauliflower, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup of chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup of fat-free sour cream
- 1/4 cup of reduced-fat mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
Directions:
- In a bowl, combine the cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and onion.
- In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over the cabbage mixture; toss to coat evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
*Hot Tip:
Use the vegetables you like and don’t follow the list blindly to make it more to your liking.
3. Vegetable Focaccia
Ingredients (for 12 servings):
- 2 cups of bread flour
- 1 package of quick-rise yeast
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of warm water (120 to 130 degrees F)
- 1 tablespoon of olive or canola oil
Topping ingredients:
- 3 plum tomatoes, chopped
- 5 medium fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 cup of chopped green pepper
- 1/2 cup of sliced ripe olives
- 1/4 cup of chopped onion
- 3 tablespoons of olive or canola oil
- 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
- 2 teaspoons if cornmeal
Directions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast and salt. Add water and oil; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the tomatoes, mushrooms, green pepper, olives, onion, oil, vinegar and seasonings.
- Coat a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; sprinkle with cornmeal. Press dough into pan. Prick dough generously with a fork. Bake at 475 degrees F for 5 minutes or until it is lightly browned.
- Cover with vegetable mixture.
- Bake 8-10 minutes longer or until edges of crust are golden.
*Hot Tip:
Add a bit of pizza sauce and cheese in the topping to make it more pizza-like.