I need to make a vegetarian meal that will *WOW* my non veggie parents - Any Ideas>?

Question

I'm a vegetarian, as of just recently. My family is willing to be more than supportive & want me to make them a *YUMMY* vegetarian dinner. I have made TONS of dinners for me, but I want this one to be really yummy & special.

I'd rather not cook with tofu, but if its really good I'll try it. Also I do use Smart Ground , the stuff like ground meat but its soy, so anything with that will work as well. I don't mind using soy chicken strips or anything else, as long as the recipe is GREAT! Also - no seafood!

Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated =)

So who has an idea?

Answer 1

If you want something difficult, something Asian, I have lots of easy recipes with pictures (over 500) at http://www.crystalbyblog.blogspot.com/

Have a look, maybe, you can find something you can use.

Have fun :)

Answer 2

wow, thats awsome that they are so supportive! you are lucky. my family doesnt support it at all. i ussually just make myself easy stuff like boca burgers and salads. lol. but here are some things you could try:

~ baked potatos

~ spaggeti with "meat" sauce (i think it would be cool to show them that fake meats are actually really good!"

~ vegetarian chili

~ bean tacos/burritos

~ pasta salad

~ pot pies

~ lazana

~mini cheese pizza's (so everyone can have their own. you can also ask everyone if they would like a vegtible or fake meat on theirs.)

hope this helps! good luck cooking! : )

Answer 3

I love the vegetarian lasagna!

Answer 4

Taco Casserole

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1/2 package of Boca Burger meat substitute

1 package taco seasoning (check ingredients)

water

1 can corn

1 small can tomato sauce

totilla chips

can of beans (refried or black)

1/2 onion diced

non-stick cooking spray

2 cups soy cheese

Directions:

Spray pan with non stick spray. Warm the meat substitute a few minutes. Put in onion and taco seasoning, using the amount of water called for on the taco seasoning package. Cook for a few minutes, add tomato sauce and corn. Cook a few more minutes.

Put chips on bottom of a deep 9 inch casserole dish (crunched a little bit, not too small). Pour mixture over chips, then cheese, then more chips, mixture, cheese. The mixture should be the last layer on the casserole. Then put a layer of beans and more cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until hot. Very yummy!

Spinach and Garlic Pizza

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 loaf of Italian bread

6 ounces fresh spinach, chopped

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

small handful sun dried tomatoes (little less than 1/4 cup)

sea salt to taste

*optional: chiken strips (vegan)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

-Cut loaf of Italian bread into 4 sections. Cut each section open so you have 8 pieces of pizza.

-Mince garlic and chop spinach. Combine garlic, spinach, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, and a dash of sea salt.

-Top each piece of bread with spinach mixture.

*-If using the vegan chiken strips, add a few strips on top of the spinach mixture.

-Bake 10 minutes.

Answer 5

Make a simple and yummy pasta! I make the best, please try it cos it's so easy to make!!

Get two pans. Boil a kettle of water, put it in the larger pan, heat it up and chuck in some long spaghetti and some shells when it starts to boil and get bubbles. Fill the smaller pan with some Quorn mince/veggie mince (it expands so don't put in that much), heat it up, stir till it browns (will take about 3 mins to brown), add a carton of passata, stir, add a pinch of oregano, stir, pinch of salt of pepper, some chopped mushrooms if you want, keep stirring, after about 6 or 7 minutes turn the heat down. Grate some cheese ready, get your sieve ready by the sink, check your pasta shells are done by putting a fork in one to see if it's soft. If so drain them through the sieve add them to your sauce, take the sauce off the heat, mix it up and there you have it! Lemme know what you think!

Answer 6

that sounds like a great idea!

here are a couple that wil go over really well!

Ginger Veggie Stir-Fry

serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 1/2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 teaspoons chopped fresh

ginger root, divided

1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided

1 small head broccoli, cut into

florets 1/2 cup snow peas

3/4 cup julienned carrots

1/2 cup halved green beans

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 1/2 tablespoons water

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 tablespoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, blend cornstarch, garlic, 1 teaspoon ginger, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil until cornstarch is dissolved. Mix in broccoli, snow peas, carrots, and green beans, tossing to lightly coat.

2. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Cook vegetables in oil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Stir in soy sauce and water. Mix in onion, salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon ginger. Cook until vegetables are tender but still crisp.

Vegetarian Meatloaf with Vegetables

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 (14 ounce) package

vegetarian ground beef (e.g.,

Gimme Lean TM)

1 (12 ounce) package

vegetarian burger crumbles

1 onion, chopped

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons vegetarian

Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons prepared mustard

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

3 1/2 slices bread, cubed

1/3 cup milk

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

4 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces

4 potatoes, cubed

1 cooking spray

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl combine vegetarian ground beef, vegetarian ground beef crumbles, onion, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, sage, garlic powder, mustard, oil, bread cubes and milk. Transfer to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and form into a loaf. Pour tomato sauce on top.

3. Place carrots and potatoes around loaf and spray vegetables with cooking spray.

4. Bake 30 to 45 minutes; turn vegetables. Bake another 30 to 45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

Sweet Potato Burritos

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

6 cups canned kidney beans,

drained

2 cups water

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

4 teaspoons prepared mustard 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to

taste

3 tablespoons soy sauce

4 cups cooked and mashed

sweet potatoes

12 (10 inch) flour tortillas,

warmed

8 ounces shredded Cheddar

cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Heat oil in a medium skillet, and saute onion and garlic until soft. Stir in beans, and mash. Gradually stir in water, and heat until warm. Remove from heat, and stir in the chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper and soy sauce.

3. Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly between the warm flour tortillas. Top with cheese. Fold up tortillas burrito style, and place on a baking sheet.

4. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, and serve.

Answer 7

One of my favorite  vegetarian meals is Vegetable Lasagna. I dont have a recipe, but find one on the net that has lots of veggies your family likes. Lots of cheese, soft noodles, this will surely win them over. Add a salad and garlic bread. Voila!

I also like Tortilla Soup, with veg sour cream. But this isnt as hearty as the lasagna, and if you're trying to win over non vegs, I think the lasagna would be a good bet!

Answer 8

Cheesy Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

    1/2c flour

    1/2c nutritional yeast

    1 teaspoon salt

    1 teaspoon garlic powder

    2 cup water

    1 teaspoon mustard

    4 tablespoon margarine

    10 tortillas

    2 small cans enchilada sauce

    3 cans beans (white kidney, pinto, black), drained

    2 medium onions, chopped

    1 can olives, chopped

    1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1/2 cup salsa (optional)

Directions:

In medium-large saucepan, combine flour, nutritional yeast, salt and garlic powder.  Add water and mix thoroughly.  Heat on medium heat until bubbling and thick.  Remove from heat and add mustard and margarine.  Set aside 1/2 cup of cheese sauce in separate container.  Add onion, beans, olives, cilantro and salsa to sauce. Mix it up.

Pour a 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Place a tortilla in pan and cover in enchilada sauce.  Spoon in filling.  Roll and push to one end of pan.  Continue until all tortillas filled.  Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce on top and then spread reserved cheese sauce on as last step.  Bake at 350 until brown, 30-45 minutes.

Serves: 6, Preparation time: 45 min

Barbecued Seitan Ribz

1 cup vital wheat gluten

2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons tahini or other nut butter

1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke

1 tablespoon soy sauce

about 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 and lightly spray an 8x8 baking dish with canola oil. Mix the first 5 ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the water with the nut butter, Liquid Smoke, and soy sauce and add it to the dry ingredients. Stir to mix well and then knead lightly in the bowl for a couple of minutes.

Put the dough into the baking dish and flatten it so that it evenly fills the pan. Take a sharp knife and cut it into 8 strips; then turn the pan and cut those strips in half to form 16 pieces.

Put it in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. While it's cooking prepare your grill.

Remove it from the oven and carefully re-cut each strip, going over each cut to make sure that the ribz will pull apart easily later. Generously brush the top with barbecue sauce. Take it to the grill and invert the whole baking dish onto the grill (or use a large spatula to lift the seitan out, placing it sauce-side down on the grill). Brush the top of the seitan with more sauce.

Watch it closely to make sure that it doesn't burn. When sufficiently brown on one side, turn over and cook the other side, adding more sauce, if necessary. When done, remove to a platter and cut or pull apart the individual ribs to serve.

More recipes:

http://veganpeace.blogspot.com/2007/08/v...

Answer 9

I'm no vegetarian, and I hope you don't mind using dairy but tried baked ziti with red and green peppers and goat cheese. I'm sure you can find a recipe online here somewhere.....

Answer 10

Go ethnic, and make perogies and meatless cabbage rolls, serve with baked fish. All vegetarian, and yummers!

Answer 11

If they are meat lovers, you may want to fix them some Boca sausages. They have Italian sausage and bratwurst flavors, and can be found in the frozen food section.

I make them smothered in sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms - served in generous deli bun - and covered in soy cheese (mozzarella, provolone), and mustard.

Follow the directions on the package. Warm them in a pan of water. Dump the water out, add some olive oil, and brown the sausage well on all sides - the crispier the better!

This is easy, and they taste great.

And I serve them with oven roasted garlic plank fries.

Answer 12

I love making vegan tacos! They are so good. You need the ground "beef", salsa,cilantro,tortillas. Also make some rice for the side, it tastes so good.

Answer 13

Here's something that works well for me in reverse.

I make three pots:

1. Rigatoni

2. Broccoli, green peppers, and onions

3. Sliced, braised Italian sausage

When they are done, I mix all together and mix in some pesto sauce (which you can get frozen in the supermarket - Armanino is good.) I add a finely chopped anchovy/

For my veggie guests, I simply leave out the sausage and the anchovy. So it's no extra work, and everyone is happy.

Answer 14

I'm sure they'd enjoy it if it was something meat like (although still vegetarian); you know, vegetarian lasagna and what not. Something I find delicious, as well as my family, is vegetarian tacos, just substitute veggie meat or refried beans for meat, and it's always fun if they get to add their own things, such as lettuce and tomatoes. Pasta is always a very good dinner, there are like a billion sauces out there which are amazing. Here's one:

http://www.recipezaar.com/90414 (no chicken broth though)

One I enjoy making is one where you cover the bottom of a sauce pan with olive oil, heat it up and throw in hacked up onions and garlic, let it fry for five minutes then add some basil and a few drops of red wine (red vinegar works as well), mm fancy and easy.

Another delicious recipe is made using chicken strips, take about 8 (should be enough for a family of 3-4, otherwise add more) of them, and put them in a pan that has been layered with a bit of olive oil and crushed garlic (optional), then pour a bit more of olive oil and maybe vinegar on it, as well as olives and sundried tomatoes and oregano or other goodies such as cheese. Put in oven, maybe at about 250 degrees until cooked throughout, shouldn't take long since it's not actual meat.

Or you can check out a Vegetarian cookbook from the library.

I hope I helped :D

Answer 15

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes.php?s_...

go nuts.