Today is Earth Day!! Here’s a pop quiz, did you know that one of the best things you can do to protect Earth and prevent climate change is to cut back on your meat consumption? You can look up all the facts about the amount of water and land it takes to produce beef on your own time, I’m sure you’ll see plenty of articles about it out there. I’m not here to preach to you about that, I’m here to give you some real and delicious recipes that will help you make that meatless Monday goal a reality.
The thing is that you don’t need to full adopt the vegetarian lifestyle or go full vegan to make a difference for the planet. If everyone out there just started swapping out a few meals a week from meat to vegetables, we as a society would cut back drastically on meat consumption. And the thing is, the more you do this, the more you’ll realize that it’s not really necessary to add meat to every single thing you cook.
I have put together a collection of my favorite 10 recipes off the site where I specifically substitute veggie products for meat. Some of these are closer to the real thing than others but the important thing is that they are all delicious and satisfying meals that have a much smaller impact on the earth than grilled cheeseburgers. I’m not here to prove that tofu tastes like chicken, I’m here to prove that you can make yourself an amazing dinner without meat.
Here we go:
This soup is the perfect recipe to show how easy it is take meat out of something. I add the cauliflower in here for extra texture and add some special ingredients (miso and a ton of seasoning) to mimic a rich and flavorful chicken broth. YUM!
2. Vegetarian “Seafood” Cioppino
This recipe is one of my favorites of all time! I used nori to give the broth a complex flavor, and use a variety of vegetables including eggplant, oyster mushrooms and hearts of palm for a mix of textures all very similar to seafood. This one will really introduce you to the joy of plant based cooking!
3. Easy Vegan Pot Roast with Cream of Mushroom Gravy
You have to eat this recipe to truly believe it! The pot roast is made of whole, slow cooked celery root which pulls apart perfectly after hours in the crockpot and the mushroom gravy is so thick and creamy it will make you question why you’ve ever put heavy cream into recipes.
4. Tofu “Chicken” and Waffles with Sriracha Maple Syrup
These waffles are EVERYTHING! Savory herb waffles, with spicy maple syrup and topped with crispy fried tofu! It might not be as greasy as fried chicken with waffles, but it is extremely tasty and an amazing indulgent at home brunch.
5. Spiced Tempeh “Lamb” Burgers
Come to MAMA!! Tempeh is one of the best substitutes for meat I have encountered since cooking, it has that meaty texture and absorbs flavor so well with minimal marinading. This recipe is a doozy of flavor, the tempeh is spiced to perfection and pairs perfectly with the homemade tzadziki.
6. Meatless “Lobster” Rolls with Oyster Mushrooms
I’ll tell you what, if this recipe doesn’t turn you on to the magic that is oyster mushrooms, I don’t know what will. When baked, these mushrooms have a magic umami flavor and their texture if perfect for mimicking seafood. I have made these sandwiches for multiples parties and they are always a hit!
This is another one of my favorites. Slow cooked mushrooms with all the citrus and sweet flavors of carnitas, shredded and put into a taco. You can start it in the morning and my dinner and a delicious meal ready for everyone!
8. Spicy Fried Cauliflower Sandwiches
Probably one of the most ridiculous recipes I’ll ever make, this deep fried cauliflower sandwich is my answer to fast food spicy chicken and in my opinion, it’s even better! The spicy batter here will knock your socks off!
We’re at it again with Tempeh on this one. The tempeh sausage has become a true staple in our home because it’s has even more flavor (I think) than regular crumbled sausage and, if you add enough butter (or oil if you’re vegan), even has the grease factor!
10. Chicken Fried Tofu with Mom’s Best Ever Mashed Potatoes
This was one of the first recipes I ever made after going vegetarian and it’s a favorite in our home to this day. It’s literally the ideal comfort food with fried and battered tofu, a rich creamy gravy and my personal favorite mashed potato recipe of all time!
Happy Earth Day!
Jackie & Andrew
