THE BEST VEGETARIAN RECIPES

Do you want to become vegetarian but don't want to give up those tasty meat products?

If you’re worried about giving up meat, don't be! There are many vegetarian non-meat options available like tempeh, tofu, and vegan meat that taste just as good as the real thing!

Going vegetarian, or following a plant-based meatless diet, can have many health benefits, like lowering the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. However, nutrient deficiencies are more likely to occur in vegetarians due to the lack of the nutrients and vitamins found in meat.

When going vegan or vegetarian, make sure to properly plan out your meals so that they are filled with the necessary nutrients and vitamins.

There has always been a concern about the supposed lack of protein for vegetarians, however what most people don’t know is that these foods all contain high amounts of protein! Protein powders and bars can also help increase a vegetarian's protein intake.

To have a healthy diet of any kind, you need important nutrients. Because many of these vital nutrients can be found in meat, chicken, pork, and other non-vegan foods, some substitutions will have to be made in order to keep up the flow of nutrients. Fortunately, it's very easy to cook and construct these substitutes!

There are many different ways you can cook these foods, which ends up leading to a number of different meal combinations and recipes.

Vegetarian cooking can be fun, easy, and delicious. Here are three vegetarian friendly meals you can make in less than 20 minutes.

Instructions:

1. Put all the items into a large bowl and blend them.

2. Spray or drizzle oil in a non-stick pan, and spread around. Heat on low-medium.

3. Pour in a small amount of batter. The pancakes should be small and thick.

4. Put a lid on and let the pancake cook gently. When the side facing up starts to bubble, the other side is done. Now it's time to flip. Using a spatula is the easiest.

5. Once flipped, let the other side cook too. Look at the underside using the spatula after a minute or so to check if it's done. When it’s a nice golden brown, it's done!

6. Repeat. Serve straight away and stack the pancakes. Feel free to put on your toppings now.

Coconut Chickpea Curry:

This savory meal has a variety of vegetables and makes chickpeas taste astronomical. This meal serves 4 people, and pairs well with your favorite rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons avocado oil or coconut oil

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 1 cup diced bell pepper

• 1 medium zucchini, halved and sliced

• 1 (15 ounce) can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed

• 1 ½ cups coconut curry simmer sauce

• ½ cup vegetable broth

• 4 cups baby spinach

• 2 cups precooked rice of choice

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, pepper and zucchini. While it cooks, make sure to stir often until the vegetables begin to brown, which should take about five to six minutes.

2. Cook rice according to package directions in a different pan.

3. Add your chickpeas, coconut sauce, and broth to the large skillet.

4. Bring to a simmer, stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are tender for about four to six minutes.

5. Stir in spinach before serving and add rice.

Vegetarian Caprese Pasta Salad

Caprese pasta salad is the best way to make a nutritious meal with pasta! It includes carbs, dairy, and vegetables, which will leave you full and satisfied. With this dish yielding four servings, this is a great meal that everyone in the family can enjoy.

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta until it's fully cooked, according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

2. While the pasta is cooking, combine the olive oil, tomatoes and salt in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cover the skillet.

3. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the tomatoes have started to burst out of their layer and the olive oil has a light red hue (about six to 12 minutes).

4. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cooked pasta. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes while you chop the basil.

5. Stir the mozzarella balls and basil into the pasta. Add the vinegar. Add additional vinegar and/or salt, if it doesn’t taste to your liking yet.

6. (For the best flavor, let the pasta rest for a couple minutes so the pasta can absorb some of the sauce. Or refrigerate it for future use. This pasta will last up to four days.)

With these three vegetarian meals, you’ll never want to eat non-vegetarian again!

Becoming vegetarian doesn't mean that you’ll only be eating vegetables and other greens. By creating your own path and being realistic about your goals, you'll be more satisfied when making the change.