Cooking vegetarian meals can be intimidating at first if you’re new to eating meatless, which is why it’s so important to find a good vegetarian cookbook that works for not only vegetarians but those who are trying to occasionally swap out meat for meat-free meals . I usually start out on our recipe section on Lightlife.com, but sometimes I yearn for something different – and I reach for one of my books. When selecting a cookbook, you want to find one that has recipes that will come close to the meals you are used to enjoying, that way you can ease into the lifestyle with dishes that won’t disappoint! If you’re on the hunt for tips on easing into a vegetarian diet, Jazzy Vegetarian is the perfect cookbook to get you well on your way to making easy recipes that won’t overwhelm a novice and are both satisfying and delicious.
Laura Theodore, the author of Jazzy Vegetarian, was kind enough to send me two copies of her cookbook: one to review and keep for myself (yay), and one to giveaway to my readers! Here is sneak peak of one her vegetarian recipes. Enjoy! And don’t forget to find out how to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post!
Mushroom- Tempeh Stroganoff:
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Bermuda onion, chopped
- 8 oz cremini or white button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp reduced –sodium tamari
- Pinch cayenne
- 2-3 cups vegetable broth, plus more as needed
- 8 oz tempeh, cut into quarters and thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp whole wheat flour or oat flour
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 8 oz whole-grain noodles, cooked and drained (I used egg noodles because I couldn’t resist!)
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, basil, ½ teaspoon of the tamari, and the cayenne and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender, about 8 minutes, adding a bit of broth as needed to prevent sticking. Add the tempeh and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 8 minutes (see my previous blog post featuring tempeh cooking tips!). Stir in 1 cup of the broth. Decrease the heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes, adding more broth as needed to keep the mixture very moist.
Put the flour in a small cup or bowl, whisk in ½ cup of the broth, and stir into the mushroom mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid has thickened to form a gravy. Season with the remaining ½ teaspoon of tamari and salt and pepper to taste. If the gravy is too thick, thin with additional broth to achieve the desired consistency. Serve immediately over the noodles, garnished with parsley if desired.
I also made her carrot muffins because I still have so many carrots from my winter farm share…so good!
To enter for a chance to win* your own copy of Jazzy Vegetarian, leave me a comment about the first vegetarian recipe you ever made. Or, if you’re new to eating meatless, tell me what vegetarian recipe you can’t wait to make!
Good luck!
**Giveaway Closed**
Thanks for all your entries! The winner is Joanna Hadley! I’ll be emailing you shortly 🙂
Rachael
Your Lightlife Blogitarian
*Winner will be chosen using a random number generator
Blog-itarian 
The first vegetarian recipe I made was vegetarian chili. This looks like a great book!
Posted by Dalores Lounds | March 29, 2012, 7:51 pmI’ve been vegetarian for so long, it’s hard to remember. One I’m making this weekend is mac n cheese. I’m using barilla whole grain pasta, and a blend of cheddar and feta cheeses. I lowfat buttermilk, 1 egg and the cheese. top with a combo of panko and cheese seasoned with a bit of nutmeg. Since I’m single I make them in individual ramekins and add to each one a little twist. One will be grape tomatoes, another chopped kale and another sauteed creamini mushrooms.
Posted by MNS (@MilaXX) | March 31, 2012, 5:34 pmIt was 35 years ago: I made soyburgers from a recipe in “The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook”. I was into making everything from scratch at that time, so I made the whole wheat buns, too! They were so good!
Posted by Martha Williams | April 1, 2012, 2:35 pmThe first vegetarian recipe I made was “No Peek Stew”, I substituted mushrooms for the stew meat and it was so delicious.
Posted by Sheree Silverwood | April 2, 2012, 4:33 pmI have been vegetarian on and off for almost 20years, but am fully committed to it this time! The first recipe I made upon becoming vegetarian this time was Buffalo Tofu Nuggets and Fries. It took a couple of tries to get the breading of the tofu right, but it is a yummy treat when we feel like eating something naughty!
Posted by Charlene Dickson | April 2, 2012, 4:34 pmI remember making sodden brown rice and mushroom slab-dinners when I was about 18. I ate the slabs for lunch and dinner and was the worst, saddest vegetarian ever. FAST FORWARD 40+ years and I have a book called “The Inspired Vegetarian,” which is as gorgeous as the recipes are good. Favorite: roasted beets with feta cheese. WOW!
Posted by Turner | April 2, 2012, 5:21 pmI’ve been a vegetarian for almost 10 years now…so, it’s hard to put my finger on what my first EVER meal was. However, I’m a master at stir fry! I always add as many fresh, seasonal veggies as possible, some fresh tofu or soy meat substitute, and of course my fav whole wheat udon noodles! Yum! I think I know what I’m having for dinner tonight!
Posted by Rachel | April 5, 2012, 9:59 amThe first vegetarian meal I made was some Curry Chickpeas. I served them over Basmati Rice. At first I didn’t think I liked them, but then realized I had eaten a quarter of the pot trying to decide if I liked it or not. LOL! I don’t know if I want to become a full Vegetarian, but do like the thought of learning more meatless meals and using meat/poultry/fish less often. I love vegetables, grains, legumes, and want to eat healthier the second half of my life than I have the first. I have many, many cookbooks but none that are all vegetarian. Pick me! Pick me! 😀
Posted by Marsha Bock | March 29, 2012, 7:54 pmI’ve made a tempeh stroganoff but yours looks delish!!
Posted by Kim wilson | March 29, 2012, 7:58 pmhello, i just started eating vegetrian this year. its been awesome. i have a rice cooker/steamer, and i love the jasmin rice add peas and steam the asparagus along with morning star chic patties or nuggets. thats my fav meal so far, looking for more cooking ideas.
Posted by kimberly list | March 29, 2012, 7:58 pmThe first vegetarian recipe I made was in college — it was a Mexican style pizza from a 5-Ingredient Vegetarian cookbook by Nava Atlas. I messed up and tried to use fat free cheese on it, which melted like plastic. 😛 Now I’m vegan and a much better cook.
Posted by karichelle | March 29, 2012, 7:59 pmmy 1st recipe was tofu stir fry:)
Posted by robyn f | March 29, 2012, 8:03 pmEggplant croquettes with panko bread crumbs. Vegetarian is delicious and you feel great after eating vegetarian
Posted by Tracy brasfield | March 29, 2012, 8:05 pmNew vegan here, so many lovely recipes to try. Would loooove a great cookbook! ; )
Posted by Freeda Carroll Moore | March 29, 2012, 8:13 pmOh man! I am newly vegetarian (well since last July) and became vegetarian for health purposes. I have been having the hardest time trying to cook foods that are edible to both my husband and myself. Most days, I end up making Stewed Hot Mess or I just go with beans and brown rice. My poor husband has been eating delivery pizza at least twice a week. I would LOVE to make some sort of vegetarian meatloaf or a stir fry made with vegetarian sauces. I truly hope I can win this cookbook so I can make my husband eat at home.
Posted by Melanie Reid | March 29, 2012, 8:18 pmIve been a vegetarian for 22 years, since I was 12. I honestly can’t remember the first vegetarian recipe I made. But I’m now raising my family as semi-veggies (their grandparents sneak them meat), and our current favorite recipe is a basil pesto pasta with veggies and (fake) chic’n strips. Very yummy!
Posted by Salina | March 29, 2012, 8:21 pmVery nice blog.
Posted by Sandra Abel | March 29, 2012, 8:33 pmThe first vegetarian dish I ever prepared was meatless lentil soup. I was used to adding beef shanks. I now have a good collection of books, but one more is always appreciated.
Posted by Sandra Abel | March 29, 2012, 8:36 pmI am new to the vegetarian life. My husband, bless him, thinks the perfect snack is a slab of shiny sausage and a wedge of cheddar sitting on top of a ritz cracker. He seems to be personally offended by my new way of eating! My first vegetarian recipe, that I snuck in on him, was sweet potato and black bean enchiladas. They were yummy and he ate 3 of them, but denied it when I told our friends about him eating them.
Posted by Kellie Dixon | March 29, 2012, 8:57 pmThe first vegetarian recipe I made was tofu Chili I think. Very easy and very yummy!
Posted by Amanda Cabral | March 29, 2012, 9:09 pmWe just found a recipe for portabello stroganoff that we can’t wait to try!!
Posted by Sharon Wisch | March 29, 2012, 10:03 pmMy first vegan meal was simply divine. I had read about making the portobello caps the crust for a personal pizza and since I had never cooked a mushroom outside of spaghetti sauce…I was hugely intimidated. I followed the recipe even crushed cashews for my faux cheese. And I haven’t looked back. I am a newbie, so I am always looking for inspiration.
Posted by Jillian Campbell | March 29, 2012, 10:09 pmThe first recipe was a vegetarian chili which I still make today.
Posted by Devorah Merwitz | March 29, 2012, 10:16 pmMy first recipe was from a box of meat substitute called LoveBurger. It was a sprial made barbeque loaf.
Posted by Holly Morton | March 29, 2012, 11:31 pmThe first vegetarian recipe I made was vegetable lasagna. Thanks great giveaway!
Posted by bpal | March 30, 2012, 4:38 amThose muffins look yummy. Can we enter to win a dozen them?
Posted by Becky | March 30, 2012, 7:39 amI remember in college I had a great idea to go vegetarian but had no idea what I was doing! I didn’t think about things like….protein! So I failed, but when I had my kids a few years ago I really focused on healthy eating and eat a lot more vegi than ever! I do need a great cookbook to help! Not my first vegi recipe but my most recent favorite….it was a lentil, squash and kale soup! I had it at a local restaurant and had to go home and replicate it for my family! They loved it!! Hope I win! 🙂
Posted by jules | March 30, 2012, 9:17 amvegan chili was my first ever go at it!
Posted by rebecca @outinthemsticks | March 30, 2012, 9:58 amgoodness, it’s been a long time, I dont’ remember my first, my favorite is pasta primavera…with crusty bread!
Posted by ange mallery | March 30, 2012, 10:50 amIt was so long ago… Probably tofu stir fry with all kinds of veggies including broccoli, onions, mushrooms, whatever else I had in the frig, over wild brown rice. The first veggie meal I made my husband, who loves it to this day was falafels. Even my elderly Dad likes that one as well as seitan kabobs.
Posted by Myra PInkham | March 30, 2012, 12:04 pmWhile I’m sure I made vegetarian meals unintentionally in the past (pasta with veggies, pizza, etc) the first “invovled” vegetarian meal that I made was Falafel with homemade Tzatziki and potato wedges.
Posted by Jonathan | March 30, 2012, 12:31 pmI’m a very recent vegan–as are my daughter and her husband. My first intentionally vegan recipe was a sesame/ginger/date/cashew sauce for steamed asparagus. I can’t get enough of it! I’m currently auditioning vegan cookbooks, so winning this one would be terrific! (And, since I’m a quilter, I love your gravatars!)
Posted by Karen Burney | March 30, 2012, 3:13 pmI made vanilla vegan cupcakes, by using bananas instead of eggs!
Posted by Karla | March 31, 2012, 12:30 pmThe first vegetarian recipe I ever made was bean pies from Frances Moore Lappe’s DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET, back in 1972. I remember it being very good, and family/friends saying it tasted close to my pumpkin or sweet potato pies.
I still make it from time to time, only now it is vegan!
Posted by MizzB | March 31, 2012, 12:34 pmAlthough I didn’t call myself vegetarian back then, when I was very young I enjoyed taking the the crispy shell of a baked potato and stuffing it with buttered corn, black beans, and diced peppers.
Now that I’ve grown up I still make these, but have added edamame and diced onion to the mix, and flavor it with a cilantro garlic lime butter.
Posted by Treena | March 31, 2012, 12:35 pmI was a vegetarian for eight years about 17 years ago. Have been trying to get back into it again at least for some of our meals. My kids are picky eaters, but i noticed my 5-year-old has a lot more interest in eating healthy lately. I see this as a chance to add more veggies to her diet, and more interesting foods. All I have to say is, it is very healthy. She prefers fruits over veggies so I would like to show her just how yummy veggies can be. I used to be a great cook, but I noticed my cooking skills went down the farther away from vegetarian cooking I went. My original vegetarian cookbook, which I loved, is falling apart and missing pieces. It has traveled to Alaska and Wyoming and back with me. It taught me how to bake bread. I worked 5 years in a Chinese restaurant as a teen, so I would say the first vegetarian meal I ever cooked was veggie stir fry with tempeh over steamed jasmine rice.
Posted by Joanna Hadley | March 31, 2012, 12:45 pmCongrats, Joanna! You’ve won 🙂 Please respond to my email and I can get your prize out to you right away!
Posted by Blogitarian | April 6, 2012, 3:36 pmI hope you recieved my info. I am so excited. Can’t wait to receive this cookbook. Thank you!
Posted by Joanna Hadley | April 12, 2012, 11:55 amI didn’t receive your info yet – I’m so glad you posted here! Did you email Rachael@Lightlife.com?
Posted by Blogitarian | April 13, 2012, 10:50 amI started with a personal 10-day vegetarian challenge and am now almost 3 weeks beyond! Searching for and can’t wait to make tofu recipes! I found one for spicy baked tofu and loved it.
Anyone want to share a favorite?
[Fitness, Health and Happiness]
Posted by Jill Fickling-Conyers | March 31, 2012, 12:46 pmI’ve been a pescatarian for a year now, and just started vegetarianism about a month ago. The first purposefully vegetarian meal I made was carmalized onions sautéed with fresh murshrooms. I put this over steamed asparagus and it was a big hit! Very simple, but I was still proud of myself 🙂
Posted by Liz | March 31, 2012, 1:04 pmAm more of a vegetarian, than not. My daughter, 10 years a vegetarian, is now a vegan. Don’t think I will be that far behind her. Would love to add the book to my collection. Also, a quilter!
Posted by Suzanne | March 31, 2012, 1:15 pmThe first dish I ever made was marinated tofu in chili and lime, needless to say it was completely awful! But god bless my boyfriend for eating every bit of it! However I’d say I’m quite an expert with tofu now, practice makes perfect! My favorite being the sweet soy sauce marination with teriyaki sauce! =D
Posted by Luz Angeles | March 31, 2012, 1:19 pmmy first veggie planned out meal was a delicious roasted butternut squash fries, with a side of delicious setian ribs in on a soft fresh roll homemade
and a delicious honey sweet bbq sauce on them, with side green peas for a bit of color mixture loved it 🙂 could eat it every day 🙂
Posted by natosha120 | March 31, 2012, 1:26 pmMy first vegetarian recipe was chili. I made it with lots of beans and TVP. My roommate and I had to find our way to the natural food co-op to buy the TVP, as mainstream grocery stores did not carry any specialty vegetarian items back then! It was quite an adventure. 🙂
Posted by Megan Merrill | March 31, 2012, 1:26 pmMy first vegetarian recipe was vegetarian chilli with bulgur wheat. Delicious! And Linda McCartney’s cookbooks have always been great! Hope I get to add a new cookbook to my library! And thanks for the new stroganoff recipe… it’s my favorite dish (before and after becoming vegetarian) and love to find new ways to prepare.
Posted by Robin Lentz | March 31, 2012, 1:35 pmI think I have perfected the art of vegetarian stews! I make a crockpot every week and share with family and friends. I use only fresh organic vegetables simmered in their own juice and vary the kind of beans each week. I add odd spices and things you wouldn’t expect to find in a soup: a few blueberries, pomegranate ariels, cashews, or edamame. Everything works!
Posted by Anne D'Arcy | March 31, 2012, 1:39 pmHummus. I made it for a party. I was soo nervous that it would taste like dog poo (but everyone loved it!)
Posted by James Latham | March 31, 2012, 4:04 pmI made vegetarian lasagna with smashed up kidney beans as a layer. My husband thought
I was nuts, but he liked it and we still have it sometimes, 20 years later.
Posted by Linda Vining | March 31, 2012, 4:09 pmMy first meal to make is tofu scrambler which is so easy now but a great starter for cooking…
Posted by lynda | March 31, 2012, 5:18 pmI don’t know the first vegetarian meal I ever made, but I have been terrorizing the city with my garlic breath from black bean hummus, of late.
Posted by drhiphop | March 31, 2012, 6:46 pmDon’t remember what I first made. Too long ago. Remember the first vegetarianized version I ever ate though – a veggie burger at a Hard Rock Cafe. Veg burgers were nowhere to be found in my small midwest hometown, so the NYC Hard Rock veg burger was a big event for me, way back in ’93 or so. Veg burgers and veg popularity have come a long way since then – thank goodness!
Posted by Janna | March 31, 2012, 11:54 pmA vegetarian sloppy joe from a Linda McCartney recipe was my first. Twenty+ years later, I’m making it for my 4 kids and husband. Its one of our favorites. 🙂
Posted by Jen Willems | April 1, 2012, 12:51 amI’m a flexitarian, but have been eating meatless meals for decades. If I remember correctly, one of the first vegetarian meals I made was a veggie chili. My recipe has evolved over the years but it’s still a tasty and filling meal.
Posted by Lori | April 1, 2012, 12:40 pmI would love to win the cookbook. I am not sure what the very first vegetarian recipe I made was, but it was probably vegetarian chili.
Posted by Lori | April 2, 2012, 4:03 pmSweet potato chili!
Posted by Libby M | April 2, 2012, 4:03 pmI make a mean vegetarian chili. I don’t know if that was my FIRST vegetarian meal (though my last “meat” meal was Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago) but I found an amazing looking vegetarian tamale recipe recently that I’m DYING to make.
Posted by Justine H. | April 2, 2012, 4:05 pmMy first vegetarian food I made was bean burgers. They were soo yummy and better then a lot of the meatless patties you can buy and heat up.
Posted by Sarah F | April 2, 2012, 4:06 pmnew vegetarian…can’t wait to try a vegetable lasagna with zucchini strips instead of/with noodles!
Posted by Pati | April 2, 2012, 4:06 pmI think one of the first vegetarian recipes I ever made was chickpea cutlets from Veganomicon. I was vegetarian for a while before I made it, but I never cooked. I’m vegan now and still don’t cook as much as I’d like to.
Posted by Amanda | April 2, 2012, 4:11 pmThe first thing i ever made was an all veggie sandwich XD
Posted by Rebecca | April 2, 2012, 4:12 pmMy daughter became a vegetarian when she was 16 because she had trouble chewing meat with her new braces. For awhile, she was a french fry and toast vegetarian but together we began our quest for good, healthy food to prepare. She’s 24 in a month and still at home, eating vegetarian and very happy- I eat meatless at least four days a week (her dad is uncomvinced, alas). Our first recipe together was spaghetti with vegetable sauce, big chunks of summer fare. It’s still a favorite.
Posted by Shann Palmer | April 2, 2012, 4:13 pmThe first vegetarian recipe I ever made was Sloppy Joes! My best friend has been a vegetarian for 11 years and he was directing me through the whole recipe (which I was CONVINCED would be disgusting)! I couldn’t believe how delicious it ended up being! Everyone loved it!! And four years later, I’m still eating meatless! He and I have prepared meatless meals for so many ‘meat eaters’ over the last few years, I simply love turning people to meat substitutes!
My favorite recipe now is a ‘tamale pie’ made with Boca brand ‘crumbles’!! I’m making that for dinner with my parents tonight!
❤
Posted by Kerri | April 2, 2012, 4:13 pmMy first vegetarian recipe was fresh soup veggie soup made with roasted garlic. It was then that i realized that FLAVOR comes from the plant kingdom!
Posted by Carrie | April 2, 2012, 4:15 pmI am coming up on my 1-year anniversary of becoming a vegetarian. I cook dinner every night so I have made 100’s of meals so far and I cannot remember the first meal I made but my most favorite meal, and one I cook often, is Sweet Potato Tacos. They are so yummy and flavorful! I hope I win!
Posted by Erin | April 2, 2012, 4:18 pmmy first vegetarian food was just vegetable i love just veg
Posted by gene | April 2, 2012, 4:23 pmMy first endeavor was a Vegetarian Shepherds Pie. Probably one of the toughest I have tried too, but well worth it!
Posted by bojangles1234 | April 2, 2012, 4:26 pmMy first endeavor was a Vegetarian Shepherds Pie. Also the toughest one I’ve made, but well worth it!
Posted by bojangles1234 | April 2, 2012, 4:27 pmI’ve done the veggie burgers and hot dogs for years, but just got into the cooking actual meals this year when I went vegan. I think the first thing I made was a lentil and barley soup.
Posted by Heather | April 2, 2012, 4:33 pmOh goodness. I have no idea what my first recipe was. I do remember early on making cheezy bean enchiladas.
Posted by jamie lea | April 2, 2012, 4:39 pmIt’s been so long, I don’t remember most likely a soup or something out of Crescent Dragonwagon’s Commune Cookbook.
Posted by chambleechick | April 2, 2012, 4:41 pmI believe the first vegetarian meal I made was some sort of eggplant soup/stew I concocted. I froze what I didn’t eat the first night. Just finished the last of it off a few weeks ago. It wasn’t the tastiest thing in the world lol!!
Posted by Amber | April 2, 2012, 5:14 pmSo hard to remember my first veg recipe! It was probably nothing epic. I would guess it was something like vegan nachos, which I still make about once a week. 🙂
Posted by whitenebula | April 2, 2012, 5:20 pmI think the first vegetarian recipe I made was Indian. I had just begun to learn Indian cooking before I became a vegetarian. I believe one for the first dishes I made was Chicken Korma without the Chicken. It was a little thin without anything replacing the Chicken but it worked for me.
Posted by Jeff Lint | April 2, 2012, 5:21 pmTofu salad is the first vegetarian dish that I made. It was a bit of an experiment, since I didn’t have any recipes yet.
Posted by Rhonda | April 2, 2012, 5:27 pmMy first “vegetarian meal” was a Veggie burger (garden burger) and French fries. I know, healthy right? LOL. I’ve come a long way since then and love cooking creative vegetarian meals.
Posted by Cat Slate | April 2, 2012, 5:56 pmDon’t know what the first was…but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Indian Spiced Tofu and Homemade Chocolate peanut butter tofu ice cream =)
Posted by Gerry | April 2, 2012, 6:00 pmI’m new to vegetarian eating and I love it! I don’t miss meat at all! My first attempt at cooking vegetarian for my family (without them knowing) was a chili recipe! I used the crumples for the meat substitution along with red kidney beans, onions, potatoes, assorted spices (I just used whatever I felt like using that day) and let it cook in the slow cooker for an hour or two. Then I served it with vegetarian shredded cheddar cheese and vegetarian sour cream. They loved it! I’m so much more happier since switching to this way of eating! I wish everyone would!
Posted by Peggy | April 2, 2012, 6:22 pmThe first vegetarian dish I made was a vegetarian lasagna with tofu.
Posted by AJ Stevens | April 2, 2012, 7:44 pmThe first vegetarian meal I made was lasagna with toufe…lets just say I need a lot of help in the use of toufe. I’m positive its a learning curve because I’ve had delious foods made by others that contain toufe.
Posted by Stacey Milot | April 2, 2012, 8:34 pmMy first Veggie recipe was from Fit for Life, the New York Goodwiches. I still love them and they give you so much energy the next day.
Posted by Cindy Walck | April 2, 2012, 8:40 pmI have been vegetarian for so many years I don’t remember the first thing I made, but once I started watching THe Jazzy Vegetarian on PBS, I made artichokes for the first time. Laura’s Italian stuffed artichokes are delicious!!
Posted by Nicole | April 2, 2012, 9:22 pmI’ve been veggie forever, but the recipe I can always win over an omnivore with is my vegan chili… oh my gosh, so good!!
Posted by Kate | April 2, 2012, 10:01 pmLentil soup!
Posted by snoozinchat | April 4, 2012, 4:02 amI made vegetarian lentil soup!
Posted by Cat | April 4, 2012, 4:12 amI’m new to meatless, but I just found a recipe for pesto pizza with smartsausage and artichokes that I want to make for me and my roommates!
Posted by megtuck213 | April 4, 2012, 3:52 pmI’ve been wanting to go meat-less for a while, and I just found the recipe for pesto pizza with smart sausage and artichokes that I want to try and make for me and my roommates!
Posted by megtuck213 | April 4, 2012, 3:53 pmI’m not sure I can remember my first vegetarian recipe but one of the earliest I shared was a vegetarian gumbo. I made it for competition. We also have made vegetarian lasagna for over 30 years. It’s the staple main entree for Thanksgiving and other family gatherings. So good that even the carnivores want it instead of the meat dish.
Posted by Jeanette Larson | April 4, 2012, 11:57 pmI have been an off again, on again vegetarian. My first attempt was a tofu stir fry-which turned out excellent.
Posted by midwestcouponmom | April 5, 2012, 9:29 amMy first attempt was tofu stir fry….I didn’t use the correct tofu (firm)-so it was kind of a mess, but it was good !
Posted by midwestcouponmom | April 5, 2012, 9:30 amI’ve been vegetarian so long it is hard to remember. I do think that it may have been a vegetarian meatless “meatloaf”.
Posted by Stacy Miller | April 5, 2012, 9:30 amWhen I first moved out of my parent’s house and was vegetarian, I didn’t know how to cook, so made a skillet dish with olive oil, potatoes, onion, green peppers and Boca crumbles pretty much every day! It took me a while to figure out I shouldn’t put the peppers in at the same time as the potatoes! The only book I had at the time with some recipes in it was a Teens Guide to Going Vegetarian. 11 years later, I have lots more cookbooks and a lot more skill in the kitchen!
Posted by Jessi V | April 5, 2012, 9:30 amIn addition to meat-free, I need to eat soy-free….so it’s always fun to find new recipes that meet both of those. My standby is macaroni and cheese. The kid LOVE that!
Posted by momoffour | April 5, 2012, 9:35 amI believe my first vegetarian meals were made at a macrobiotic school. So there was no sense of ‘replacing meat’, but simply the making of a meal using many grains, veggies, and sea veggies! Yum!
Posted by Barbara L Hecker | April 5, 2012, 9:36 amMy first true foray into vegetarian fare was an amazing dish of kale, quinoa, apples, walnuts, and balsamic vinegar…..I still get shivers thinking about it….and it was more than enough to inspire me to stop dipping my toes into being vegetarian, and simply jump in wholeheartedly!!!!
Posted by Becky Buder | April 5, 2012, 9:37 amEven before I went veg I have cooked vegetarian meals so I really don’t remember the first vegetarian recipe I made. Going back in my head the first thing that I can remember making that was vegetarian (vegan even) was a grape pie (you never said it had to be an entree.) That must have been about 20 years ago now.
Posted by cuculain42 | April 5, 2012, 9:39 amI have been cooking vegetarian recipes for as long as I have been cooking, even when I was an omni. Seems that the earliest recipe that I can remember doing was for grape pie (vegan even, and you never said it had to be an entree recipe.) that must have been 20 years ago while I was still in school.
Posted by cuculain42 | April 5, 2012, 9:42 amI have only been cooking vegetarian for several weeks now and my first home cooked meal was rice and beans with diced vegetables. It was awesome and nourishing and gave me some confidence that I could be full without meat!
Posted by Joel Hughes | April 5, 2012, 9:43 amI remember having this crazy craving for beef stew. I never really liked beef stew when I ate meat, so I don’t know where it came from. I looked everywhere for a recipe for vegetarian beef stew and finally settled on an amazing Hearty Lentil Stew that used sweet potatoes as the thickener, instead of flour or roux. I have lots of folks look at me strangely when I tell them that, but let me tell you that the stew is still in my arsenal and I make it at least once each winter!!
Posted by beth anne | April 5, 2012, 9:47 amThe first vegetarian recipe I made was from Vegetarian Times (I believe). It was a pasta recipe which include black beans, pasta, salsa, cilantro, and a few other things that I can’t remember off the top of my head.
Posted by Tonia Susko | April 5, 2012, 9:54 amI remember my first veg recipe. It was lentil stew from the Country Life cookbook. I still make it today although I now add my own personal touch to the recipe!
Posted by Sheri Morris | April 5, 2012, 10:21 amThe first vegetarian meal I made was a chili. Since then, I’m always looking for new and interesting recipes . Ths wouldbe perfect!
Posted by Karen jensen | April 5, 2012, 10:26 amThe first vegetarian meal I ever made was veggie lasagne in high school. It was so good that my meat & potatoes dad sIill makes it to this day!
Posted by Kristie | April 5, 2012, 12:30 pmMy 12 year old daughter persuaded our family to become vegetarian about 3 years ago. One of the first vegetarian meals that I made was vegetarian nachos. I used jalapeno mexican melting cheese, a bag of tortilla chips and a bunch of veggies. I sauted onion, green peppers, mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes in olive oil. Once they were tender and carmelized I set them aside. Warm up the chips and put them on a plate. Top with the veggie mixture and then the melted cheese. Top with guacamole, salsa and sour cream if you like. I add diced or sliced jalepenos to whoever in my family wants it more spicy.
Posted by Deborah Tisdale | April 5, 2012, 12:32 pmI am trying to remember the first vegetarian recipe I made… I think it was a quinoa stir fry with tofu… absolutely delicious! And one of my favorites!
Posted by obrienkristen | April 5, 2012, 12:42 pmI am trying to remember the first vegetarian recipe I tried cooking… I believe it was a quinoa stir fry with tofu! Absolutely delicious and one of my favs!
Posted by obrienkristen | April 5, 2012, 12:44 pm