• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Simple Vegetarian Recipes for Dinner

December 10, 2010 by ds_15457 Leave a Comment

Whether you are a full-time vegetarian or simply want to cut down on meat consumption, vegetarian dinners are a healthy option for the whole family. The options extend beyond a plate of lettuce to include a variety of delicious foods. Keeping the vegetarian meals simple means less time in the kitchen and more time with your family after a busy day.

Taco Bar

A taco bar gives all family members a chance to customize the meal based on personal vegetarian preferences. Black or kidney beans work well as the protein base for the tacos. Mix green chilies or salsa in with the beans as you heat them for more flavor. Veggie burgers or meat alternative crumbles are also an option to stick with the vegetarian theme. Chop up various vegetables that you have on hand, such as onions, peppers, tomatoes and lettuce to fill the tacos. Taco sauce, salsa and sour cream round out the taco toppings.

Stir Fry

A homemade stir fry is simple to prepare with the option to customize the ingredients based on personal preference. Options that work well for a vegetarian stir fry include pea pods, asparagus, peppers, red potatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli and celery. For a faster meal, use frozen vegetables that are already cut for you. Stir fry all the chopped vegetables in a wok or large saucepan. Tofu also works well in a stir fry for added protein and substance. Add your choice of stir fry sauces, which are available in the Asian food section of most grocery stores. A bed of brown rice works well with the vegetarian stir fry.

Pizza

Pizza is a classic dish that is easy to make vegetarian. Make your own crust or buy a premade crust at the store for the pizza base. Tomato, pesto or white sauce all work well on a vegetarian pizza. Top with your favorite chopped vegetables and cheeses. For a more gourmet pizza, use chunks of fresh mozzarella instead of shredded cheese.

Portobello Burgers

Large portobello mushrooms make a vegetarian alternative for burgers. The mushrooms work well on the grill to get the flavor of a grilled burger without the meat. Brush both sides of the mushrooms with oil and grill until soft. Watch for grill marks as an indicator. Approximately 10 minutes on each side should be enough to cook the portobellos. Place the grilled mushrooms on buns along with other grilled and fresh vegetables.

Pasta

Pasta is another vegetarian dish that is easy to customize, based on the ingredients in your refrigerator. The main components are the pasta itself, the sauce and the extra ingredients. Pasta comes in many sizes and shapes, along with the option of cheese-filled ravioli or tortellini for more variety. Common sauces include marinara, white cause or pesto. Top the pasta with fresh or sauteed vegetables, such as tomatoes, mushrooms, onion and garlic. A side of garlic bread rounds out the vegetarian dinner.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Food & Drink

About ds_15457

Shelley Frost has been a freelance writer since 2007, specializing in parenting and education. Her work can be found on websites such as ModernMom.com and PreschoolRock.com. Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a minor in reading from the University of Northern Iowa.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Do you ever just have one of those I suck days? I do - a … [Read More...] about It’s One of Those “I Suck” Days…

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

back pain during first trimester pregnancy

Back Pain During First Trimester Pregnancy

Can You Get Pregnant Without Menstruating?

Children Overcome a Fear of Water

How Do Children Overcome a Fear of Water?

what causes baby hiccups

What Causes Baby Hiccups?

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

10 foods to improve sperm count and quality

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

safe to color Your hair while breastfeeding

Is it Safe to Color Your Hair While Breastfeeding?

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.