There has been much talk about new vegetarians and critics about finding an easy vegetarian recipe. In some cases, the need to find an easy vegetarian recipe is motivated not just by the need to really find one but to satisfy curiosity as well. Is there really such a thing as an easy vegetarian recipe?

The Value of Cooking at Home

Some new vegetarians may be tempted to easily buy take outs at vegetarian restaurants. Most of us know however that there are great advantages to cooking meals at home. Home cooked meals are almost always cheaper to prepare and have the additional benefit of binding members of a family in a comfortable atmosphere. One other major plus factor for you as a vegetarian is that you are 100% sure of the cleanliness of your vegetables and what exactly goes into a dish.

Knowing What Type You Belong To

The first step to finding the right easy vegetarian recipe to cook and serve is to find out what type of vegetarian you are and the people you are going to cook for. The most common type of vegetarian is the lacto-ovo-vegetarians who eat vegetables, fruits, eggs and dairy products. A lacto vegetarian eats the same kinds of food except for the eggs.

If you are a vegan type of vegetarian, then you would probably want to do away with any animal meat and animal-based food in your easy vegetarian recipe. There are other kinds of vegetarians but these are the most common. Once you know where you, your family and your friends belong to, finding an easy vegetarian recipe will be easier.

The Recipe Myth

A common misconception with vegetarian recipes is that they are complicated to prepare. Since most vegetarians also lead busy lives, this may seem discouraging. There is however no truth to this common belief. In fact, some vegetarian recipes are the easiest to prepare.

Some vegans for example simply puree or blend fruits and vegetables for truly fresh and satisfying fibrous meals. Less strict vegetarians however also have a variety of choices. For lacto-ovo-vegetarians for example the only thing that needs to be omitted are meat products and meat based products. This means that you can basically sauté or steam anything you like as long as there isn’t any meat in it. For a truly substantial, tasty and healthy easy vegetarian recipe, you can substitute meat with tofu, beans, legumes and nuts.

Stocking

It is advisable for vegetarians to stock variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products at home. Aside from the usual fruits and vegetables, you can also stock up on spices, seeds, olive oil, pasta, rice, cereal and noodles. Just imagine what you can cook up even with just these basic ingredients. An easy vegetarian recipe can be as convenient as sautéing some vegetables, spices, beans, tomato sauce and topping it on rice.

Washing

One thing you have to remember about any easy vegetarian recipe is that you have to properly wash and clean all of your fruits and vegetables even those with inedible peelings. Most of these food items have changed hands so often before reaching you that they’re bound to carry some dirt or bacteria. Wash your food with running water and use a brush for fruits and vegetables with dimpled, corrugated or hard skins.

If you and your family are tired of the same old vegetables on your table day in and day out, give these recipes a try for a new twist on veggies. Most of us need to increase the vegetables in our diet and here are some delicious ways to do it. From this Baked Mashed Sweet Potato recipe to our Roasted Red Peppers with Balsamic Vinegar to Broccoli with Thyme you can put healthy, tasty veggies with a new twist on your dining room table.

BAKED MASHED SWEET POTATOES

1 can (29 oz) sweet potatoes

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup Splenda

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

TOPPING:

1 cup cornflakes, crushed

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar blend

1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Drain juice from sweet potatoes. Pour potatoes into a medium mixing bowl and mash. Add remaining ingredients (except topping) and mix well. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with vegetable oil spray. Pour potato mixture into pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine all the topping ingredients and mix well. Spoon over potatoes and bake an additional 10 minutes.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR

4 red peppers, seeded and halved

2 med onions, sliced

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp minced garlic

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1/4 tsp thyme

1 cup croutons

To roast peppers: Preheat broiler. Place peppers on a broiler pan, skin side up. Broil close to heat until charred, about 10 minutes. Cover and cool slightly; peel off skin. Cut into strips.

Spread onions out on the broiler pan. Broil, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred, about 5 minutes.

In a medium mixing bowl combine oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme. Add peppers and onions; toss well. Just before serving, sprinkle with croutons.

BROCCOLI WITH THYME

1/2 lb fresh broccoli florets

1 tbsp olive oil

3/4 tsp lemon juice

dash of salt

1/8 tsp dried thyme

Steam broccoli until crisp tender. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Toss steamed broccoli with the oil mixture until all broccoli is coated.

Yield: 4 servings. 3/4 cup = 45 calories, 3 g carbs, 2 g protein

Enjoy!