Dinner was pretty much always meat and two veg for both of us growing up. Anything less, or different, wasn’t really considered a proper meal and if you wanted a meat-free option, the choice was very limited. A pepper stuffed with rice (with grilled cheese on top if you were lucky!), a basic nut roast or the two veg minus the meat.
How things have changed. Meat-free options are now available in the plural, are easy-to-find and don’t have to involve the entire stock of nuts from your local health food shop!
I doubt that either of us will ever be completely vegetarian or vegan but we’ve long since realised that vegan and vegetarian food can be delicious, isn’t limited to stuffed peppers and nut roasts and doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
This isn’t a post on the benefits of a meat-free diet, nor is it intended to promote one, but if, like us, you’re making a conscious effort to reduce the amount of meat you eat and are looking for some plant-based alternatives, here are a few suggestions for some easy meat-free dinners.
Meat-free Options (in the plural!)
You can never really go wrong with roasted veg. Try a simple tray of roasted mixed veg (add bouquet garni or crushed garlic cloves and balsamic vinegar for added flavour) served with couscous or a roasted veg curry. For versatility and value, squash is always our go-to vegetable. Roast it, with or without chilli flakes, and use it to make risotto, salad, soup or a delicious jalfrezi.
We’re big fans of tofu too. Just don’t do what we initially did and forget to check which type you’re buying. Silken tofu is great for scrambling and baking but it’s no use in a stir-fry!
It’s firm or extra firm tofu you need for that and the Bosh Crispy Sweet and Sour Tofu Recipe is an absolute must to try. Tempeh also makes a great main ingredient for a stir-fry but it’s often harder to find in the shops than tofu.
There’s jackfruit as a good mince substitute for a chilli and seitan for a stir-fry or sliced on top of a pizza. We’ve even tried making our own seitan. It’s time consuming and not very photogenic but offers a world of possibilities for using a favourite spice or chilli to add your own flavour.
Of all the meat-free dinners we’ve cooked though, Quorn and Paneer remain our two favourites. Here’s why.
Quorn
We’re rather embarrassed to admit that we didn’t know until recently that Quorn isn’t always vegan. We’d foolishly assumed it was until a vegan friend put us right! Whichever version you use though, the chunks are great in a curry and the mince makes a great chilli. It’s not expensive to buy, it’s easy to find and unlike some other alternatives, it happily absorbs the flavour of whatever you’re cooking it in. I’m being a 100% honest when I say that I never thought I’d see the two of us tucking into a Quorn dinner, enjoying it immensely and not even asking where the meat was!
Try replacing the chicken in our Vindaloo-style hot curry with Quorn chunks or use Quorn pieces with our Veg & Black Bean Chilli spice kit.
Paneer
Our other go-to favourite for a richly delicious meat-free dinner is paneer. We’re always surprised how many people haven’t discovered this treasure yet. Google it and you’ll get the following description: “a type of milk curd cheese used in Indian, Iranian, and Afghan cooking”. Paneer doesn’t melt so it keeps its great texture when cooked, making it a really good meat substitute. It’s not hugely expensive, is easy enough to find in the supermarket and we promise it’s a huge improvement on a stuffed pepper. Try using it with our Butter Chicken, Turmeric & Coriander and Panch Phoran Spice Kits – or just coat it in a spice rub, grill and serve in a wrap or on a bed of salad. Simple and absolutely delicious.
We know there are plenty of other options for meat-free dinners out there and we’ll happily keep cooking and eating with them but hand on heart, we can say that any of the above will be 200% tastier than the bland stuffed peppers and nut roasts of old 😊