Erase that vision of a bland block of tofu! Whether you’re trying to reduce the amount of meat in your diet or just want to shake up your nightly dinner routine, vegetarian dishes can be a delicious option. Eliminating meat isn’t as difficult as you might think—some of your favorite dishes already have layers upon layers of flavor even before you add the chicken or beef.

 

We’ve got 10 vegetarian recipes designed to make the whole family happy. No fussy techniques or “rabbit food” here—just homey, satisfying meals.

 

Entertaining? Consider baking up our impressive mile-high meatless lasagna pie (pictured at left), loaded with carrots, spinach, mushrooms, and zucchini. Weeknight dinner? How about a bubbling pot of super bean vegetarian chili? Feeling like something with foreign flair? Try the udon noodles with tofu or vegetarian fried rice. South of the border? Whip up Tex-Mex risotto cakes, or vegetable tostadas with mole. Because that’s really the point—when you’re eating vegetarian, your choices are limitless.

 

Vegetarian Fried Rice: Brown rice gives this Asian stir-fried rice extra fiber and a pleasing nutty flavor. There’s a cornucopia of vegetables here: broccoli florets, red peppers, carrots, celery, snow peas, and yellow squash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super Bean Vegetarian Chili: Meatless chili can still be satisfying as long as you add plenty of flavorful beans. Black-eyed peas and black beans combine with tomatoes, onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and cheese for this chili with dinnertime superpowers. And it only takes 30 minutes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onion and Mushroom Soup: Sweet caramelized onions team up with wild rice in this lovely soup. Serve it with a hunk of crusty bread. While the recipe calls for chicken broth, you can substitute vegetable broth for a completely vegetarian soup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tex Mex Risotto Cakes with Yogurt-Cilantro Sauce: These hearty risotto cakes are a far cry from Italian fare—served up with a refreshing yogurt cilantro sauce, they’re decidedly Tex-Mex, with black beans and scallions, and spiced with cumin and cayenne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Udon Noodles with Tofu: Tofu gets a bad rap, but in the right dish, like this bowl of vegetables packed with Japanese udon noodles, it’s truly delicious. And don’t worry if you can’t find udon in your local supermarket; whole-wheat linguine is an easy substitute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie: You might be surprised how little you miss the meat in this savory, cheesy shepherd’s pie. The secret? Meaty kidney beans, plus corn, carrots, and onions, all topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetarian Osso Buco with Asparagus-Mushroom Orzotto: A soy-based meat substitute stands in for veal in this osso buco, which also features earthy mushrooms and fresh asparagus. And instead of serving the main dish with rice, orzo pasta offers a refreshing, tasty change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetable Tostadas with Quick Mole Sauce: These colorful vegetable tostadas get an extra dose of Mexican flavor from a deeply rich and fragrant mole. This version calls for dark chocolate, toasted pumpkin and sesame seeds, and plenty of sweet and savory spices, along with the surprise ingredient—barbecue sauce!.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetable Stew with Dumplings: Turns out, chicken and dumplings is just as tasty without the chicken! Adding extra vegetables amps up the flavor. Shredded carrots and parsley are added to biscuit mix for an easy, veggie-fresh way with dumplings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get More Sensational Vegetarian Recipe Ideas!

 

 

 

Categories: Dinner Tonight | Tags: Asian Cuisine, Chili, Lasagna, Mexican Tortilla Dishes, Vegetarian
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