Meatless Mondays is an international campaign to encourage people to reduce meat consumption and increase vegetable and fruit intake. Here are ten delicious vegetarian recipes that are perfect for Meatless Mondays. Recipes include roasted cauliflower salad, butternut squash risotto, mushroom and lentil shepherd’s pie, and spinach and ricotta stuffed shells. These dishes are easy to make and provide a healthy and balanced diet. Meatless Mondays provide a fantastic opportunity for people to experiment with new vegetarian dishes and reduce their environmental impact.

10 Delicious Vegetarian Dishes That Are Perfect For Meatless Mondays

Introduction

Meatless Mondays is an international campaign that aims to encourage people to cut back on meat consumption and increase their intake of nutritious vegetables and fruits. These delicious vegetarian dishes provide an excellent way to enjoy Meatless Mondays while maintaining a balanced and healthy diet.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making 10 Delicious Vegetarian Dishes

1. Roasted Cauliflower Salad

Roasting cauliflower brings out its natural sweetness and adds a crispy texture to this flavorful salad. Here’s how to make it:

• Cut a head of cauliflower into florets and place them on a baking sheet.
• Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden and tender.
• Mix with your favorite greens, cherry tomatoes, olives, and a lemon dressing.

2. Chickpea and Spinach Curry

This hearty and spicy curry requires only a few ingredients and can be made in under 30 minutes. Here’s how to make it:

• In a large pot or pan, heat some olive oil and sauté diced onions and garlic until soft.
• Add curry powder, cumin, ground coriander, and chili flakes and cook for a minute.
• Add canned chickpeas, diced tomatoes, coconut milk, and a handful of spinach.
• Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens and the spinach wilts.
• Serve with rice or naan bread.

3. Butternut Squash Risotto

This creamy and comforting risotto is perfect for a cozy Meatless Monday dinner. Here’s how to make it:

• Roast cubed butternut squash in the oven until golden and tender.
• In a large pot, sauté diced onions and garlic in some butter until soft.
• Add Arborio rice and cook for a minute until coated with butter.
• Pour in some white wine and stir until evaporated.
• Add hot vegetable broth, one ladleful at a time, and stir constantly until the rice is cooked through.
• Stir in the roasted butternut squash and some grated Parmesan cheese.

4. Mushroom and Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

This hearty vegetarian version of the classic shepherd’s pie is made with mushrooms and lentils instead of meat. Here’s how to make it:

• Saute diced onions and garlic in some oil until soft.
• Add diced mushrooms and cook until brown and fragrant.
• Add canned lentils, chopped tomatoes, and your favorite herbs and spices.
• Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Spoon the mixture into a baking dish and top with mashed sweet potatoes or regular potatoes.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the topping is golden and crispy.

5. Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad

This colorful and satisfying salad is packed with healthy ingredients and flavors. Here’s how to make it:

• Peel and dice sweet potatoes and roast them in the oven until tender.
• Cook quinoa according to package instructions and let cool.
• Mix the sweet potatoes and quinoa with chopped parsley, mint, and red onion.
• Add crumbled feta cheese, pomegranate seeds, and a lemon dressing.

6. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

These giant mushrooms are perfect for stuffing with all kinds of ingredients. Here’s a vegetarian version:

• Remove the stems from some portobello mushrooms and brush with olive oil.
• Roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until tender.
• Mix some cooked quinoa, diced tomatoes, chopped spinach, and grated Parmesan cheese.
• Spoon the mixture into the mushrooms and top with more cheese.
• Bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7. Lentil and Vegetable Soup

This warming soup is perfect for chilly Meatless Mondays. Here’s how to make it:

• In a large pot, sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery until soft.
• Add canned lentils, chopped tomatoes, and hot vegetable broth.
• Add your favorite vegetables, such as zucchini, peppers, and potatoes.
• Simmer for 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together.
• Serve with crusty bread or crackers.

8. Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

These colorful and flavorful stuffed bell peppers are perfect for dinner or lunch. Here’s how to make them:

• Cook quinoa according to package instructions and let cool.
• Cut the tops off of some bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes.
• Mix the cooked quinoa with some canned black beans, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and grated cheese.
• Stuff the mixture into the bell peppers and top with more cheese.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted.

9. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

These cheesy and comforting stuffed shells are perfect for a Meatless Monday dinner. Here’s how to make them:

• Cook some large pasta shells according to package instructions and let cool.
• In a bowl, mix some ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, grated Parmesan cheese, and a beaten egg.
• Stuff the mixture into the pasta shells and place them in a baking dish.
• Pour over some tomato sauce and top with grated mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

10. Ratatouille with Polenta

This classic French dish is packed with vegetables and flavors and is perfect with creamy polenta. Here’s how to make it:

• Saute diced onions and garlic in some oil until soft.
• Add diced zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and red pepper and cook until tender.
• Season with herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper.
• Serve over creamy polenta, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Conclusion

Meatless Mondays are a great opportunity to try out new and delicious vegetarian dishes. These 10 recipes are perfect for a balanced and healthy diet and will satisfy even the most carnivorous of eaters. Enjoy!