Any good recipes?!
Any good recipes?
I just became a vegetarian, and I'm loving the variety! There's just one problem... I'm on a budget. Any good, flavorful, and affordable recipes? I'm open to eggs and dairy, maybe tofu. I just don't know how to work with tofu yet. The only foods I don't like are: sour kraut, creamed corn, mayo or cool whip, and mangoes.
Hope you guys can help and remember, I'm on a budget!
Answers: heres one
Zucchini Tomato Casserole
Serves 3-4; easily doubled (use a larger pan)
Ingredients:
2 large zucchini (approx. 8” each, or 3 medium), diced or cut into half-moons
1 small onion, chopped or sliced into thin rings
1 (384 ml / 12 ounce) can tomato sauce (low sodium if desired)
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed (optional)
Olive oil and a non-stick skillet
? cup shredded cheese or 2 Tbsp. Parmesan or Asiago cheese (optional)
2 Tbsp. dry breadcrumbs
1 tsp. Italian seasoning or a combination of the following:
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/8 tsp. finely ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. parsley
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350oF (180 oC). Spray a deep 8 x 8 baking dish (2 quarts) with cooking spray or lightly brush with oil.
In a medium bowl, stir together bread crumbs, cheese, Italian seasoning, and optional salt ad pepper.
Layer the zucchini in the bottom of the oiled dish. Top with onions.
In a small bowl, mix together tomato sauce and garlic; pour over onions and zucchini layers.
Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the breadcrumb mixture, trying to distribute the crumbs evenly over the top. Drizzle with olive oil.
Cover and bake until zucchini is tender; about 45 minutes If you like Eggplant you might like this one, I just love this one.
Eggplant & Tomato Lasagne
Tomato and Eggplant Lasagne
Chef: Lloyd Felsman - Kuranda Rainforest View Restaurant
You need:
Napolatana sauce ingredients:
750 gram crushed, peeled tomatoes
1 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon chopped parsley
Main dish ingredients:
2 medium eggplants - sliced lengthways
1 cup grated cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil (for frying)
Method:
1. First make Napolatana sauce
2. Slice eggplants lengthways and fry
3. Lay sauce followed by egglplant lengthways topped with sauce and another layer of eggplant
4. Top with cheese
5. Bake in moderate oven until brown approx 15 minutes tofu is seriously cheap where i live - los angeles. like enough for 4 servings for $1. i think learning how to work with it is easy and important: i like to wrap mine in a clean towel and put something on top like a heavy pan to press out some of the water. usually takes 10-15 minutes. while it's pressing, i mix up a marinade (i'll include an easy recipe for one below) and then cut the tofu in little squares and let it sit overnight in the marinade. (usually 1/2 of the container of a standard size extra firm tofu - NOT silken tofu).
for dinner, i put together stir frys by using some of the marinade to cook the tofu in a pan and then i add veggies . . . broccoli, peas, beans, peppers, whatever you like. it takes 10 minutes and if you serve it on brown rice it's healthy and delicious! there are always enough leftovers to take to work for lunch the next day!
easy marinade for tofu:
2 tbs sesame oil
3 tbs soy sauce
3 tbs rice wine vinegar
3 tbs honey
1 crushed clove of garlic
some ginger (fresh if you have it)
some chili paste, to taste
(to buy all of these ingredients might seem like a lot of $ to spend but it's an upfront cost and you'll have them for months). to save money, i hit farmers' markets and try to buy what's in season at grocery stores because it's cheaper. chickpeas are great. i love them
you can make a falafel, which is ground up chickpeas with other ingredients and fry them.
one recipe i found..
4 scallions, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
vegetable cooking spray
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 pita pockets, warmed
shredded lettuce
chopped tomatoes
sliced onions Try some hummous (chickpea spread) for sandwiches. Mudjudara (a mediterranean cold lentil salad) is good too.
Silk soy milk is good in vanilla or chocolate.
Lentils are quick to cook and taste kinda sweet.