Cheap and easy vegetarian recipes please.

[crazymuma]

Have a couple of super strict vegetarians coming to stay next week and need some ideas on some CHEAP meals to make them. They have kids that are all meat eaters though :confused: so I need things I can either half and add meat to one side of it or put a peice of meat on the side of the vegetarian dish.

Any ideas would be great.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

I make this fairly often:

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/3747/lentil+cauliflower+pilaf+low+fat

but I just use curry powder and ground cinnamon, and long grain rice. It is really quick, you just have to chop the cauliflower basically, then leave it all in the pan to cook through.

[MummaBear03]

Right now I've got a cheap one going. 2 tins of crushed tomatoes, 1/2 green capsicum, diced, diced onion, sliced mushrooms, 2 tins of cheap lentils. That's our pasta sauce! Can add herbs and garlic to it or things as needed. Costs next to nothing and there's enough so I can freeze a heap of it too. The pasta can be cooked straight before serving. Cheap, easy, yummy!

[cath]

Thanks for the link Mrs N. - I've just printed that one - it looks great. I will try that with a steak one night soon I think.

[Lucy in the Sky]

Shepperd's Pie.
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/vegetable-shepherds-pie/Detail.aspx
Just use any veggies in season, and you don't need to add the sugar. I also semi-mash the beans and add a little flour to thicken up the sauce.
I've never had a meat-eater over that doesn't love it!

[MummyNanny]

I had some girlfriends over for lunch the other day and did Roast Pumpkin Risotto, so yummy :yes:

[Pregnor]

I make a rice bake that normally goes well, and is pretty cheap

Cook up a few cups of rice. Chuck in a casserole with about 6 eggs, enough to coat the rice. Defrost a pack of frozen spinach drain well stir through. Sometimes i chuck cooked pumkin through too. Grab a jar of spag sauce (or even just tinned tomatoes) put a layer across the top. Top with cheese. Bake til eggs cooked/cheese brown

For non veg option chuck in some bacon or ham. Or some times I cook up a chicky boob with some garlic and mix through.

MMMMMMM

I havent had it in ages, might have to make it tonight

[MummaBear03]

How strict are they? Do they have milk and eggs? If they eat cheese and you are going to use it, just be careful which type you use as some types of cheese have animal rennet.

[BornToBe]

Assuming they eat other animal products (just avoid meat):

Baked potatoes, various toppings (kids can have savoury mince?)
Fritatta with lots of vegies, we often serve with roasted veg (pumpkin, potato just bunged in the oven)
Salad wraps/burger buns with chickpea patties (so easy - here's a link http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/8861/spicy+chickpea+patties )
Vegetarian lasagne, just omit mince, layer steamed pumpkin with tomato sauce and pasta sheets
Macaroni cheese with steamed veg
Chunky vego & tomato sauces with spaghetti
Soups? Cheap and yummy with home made garlic bread
Vegetarian curries, either asian or indian


HTH, good luck

[*babygirl*]

Turmuric lentils serve with natural yoghurt, wedge of lime and naan bread.
Measure out 1 cup split lentils. In a saucepan fry some garlic, Ginger cummin and turmuric (about a teaspoon of each, two of turmuric) and some salt. Pour in lentils and cover with water. Stir occasionally for 10/15 minutes until cooked so so yummy and so easy :)

[earthfairy]

I make a REALLY YUMMY & EASY Mushroom Pasta!

In a pan, fry some chopped onion, add some sliced mushrooms & tomato paste.....turn heat down low, add some cream & warm through.

Add to cooked pasta & just before serving add some sour cream!
It is SO easy & SO delicious! You could easily add some chicken pieces too for you & your kids!

Also...

PUMPKIN PASTA

Roast some pumpkin pieces or just cook in microwave....once cooked, mash & add a tub of cream, all purpose seasoning & chives.

Add to cooked pasta & then just before serving crumble half a block of feta cheese through.

Serve! Its also a fave of mine. Really nice with prawns or chicken added too :D

HTH :chef:

[Annabella]

To add some more-

*felafels (sp?) with salad and roast vege cous cous (meat eaters can have steak or s/thing instead of felafels (which you can buy at supermarket as a powder and add water and fry

*stir fry veges with rice (cook meat separately and after serving theirs, add the meat to it

*tomato based pasta sauce with pasta

* Roast vegies with haloumi (roast for meat eaters)

*Google vegetarian soups, there are heaps

* Tacos, make the meat part just with red kidney beans

* stuff capsicum (usually stuffed with rice or cous cous, google to find a recipe you like)

* most vegetarians I know are pretty happy with a good salad (lots of things in it) and a nice bread with butter

*lentil dahl with rice