new to the vegetarian diet

[Guest guest]

Hi!! I'm very new at this vegetarian diet and would like to know if anyone has

any simple recipe ideas to get me started - I'm having trouble with my main

course at supper time mainly. I've been looking at all of the wonderful cooking

sites on the web, but some of the recipes are leaving me wanting, anyone have

any ideas.

[Guest guest]

> Hi!! I'm very new at this vegetarian diet and would like to know if anyone

has any simple recipe ideas to get me started . . .

 

Getting started is the hardest thing, eh? ;=) Well, you've made a good start by

deciding to be vegetarian, and how you're wondering how to fill that hole in

your plate where the animal flesh used to be?

 

Well, for people just starting, it is sometimes a good idea to try some of the

meat substitutes available in most supermarkets these days (although I know that

not everyone likes those or wants to use them). There are veggie burgers,

sausages, hotdogs, and even fake chicken strips (good for stir fries) and

seasoned fake chicken cutlets, for example. You might think of using some of

these in dishes that would normally take animal flesh: the fake ground beef

crumbles up nicely to make spaghetti bolognese, lasagna or chilli; the sausages

slices and can be added to various rice dishes (think paella, jambalaya, etc.)

with or without some of that fake chicken; and the fake chicken itself makes

good chicken stew, chicken cacciatore, various curried dishes, etc. etc. Just

remember to use veg stock (you can buy it in cubes, powder or those aseptic

containers) rather than beef or chicken stock if and when it is called for in a

recipe. Just remember to add plenty of real vegetables to make the whole thing

extra good to the taste - and of course lots of spices!!!! heh heh heh.

 

Don't forget tofu, tempeh and seitan (marinated for flavour) can substitute very

nicely in many 'regular' non-veg recipes.

 

But if you want to really go the whole way and start cooking vegetarian, just

decide what kind of thing you're wanting to eat (a stuffed dish? casserole?

something with dried beans/legumes?) and go and browse our Files (access from

our Homepage) for some wonderful recipes that have been sent here over the

years!

 

You don't say if you have food restrictions, but I'm sure you'll find some

wonderful ideas. If you don't understand some of the ingredients or techniques,

just ask and we'll set you on the right track.

 

Meanwhile, I think pasta or chilli are the simplest and most popular dishes for

vegetarians to start with. Give it a go!

 

And btw Welcome to the group and Thanks for posting! Best of luck!

 

Pat (Co-owner with Piers)