Shoestring vegetarian meals? (cider, food, tomatoes, vegetable)

[krmb]

I'm not a vegetarian, but I could stand to lose a little weight. Vegetables are wonderful for that as they contain so few calories. Plus, I like the flavor and health benefits of eating vegetarian food. Please share your favorite (easy and affordable) recipes. My food budget is still in cup-of-noodle territory.

[weezycom]

Use half a small head of cauliflower, chopped up, a medium sized potato peeled & chopped, a big clove of garlic, salt and pepper (white pepper if you have it). Stick it in a saucepot with enough water ( or veg stock, even better if you have it) to reach the top of the cauliflower. Bring it to a gentle boil and cook for about 12 minutes more. Stick a stick blender in it and puree until smooth and creamy. Add about 1-2 teaspoons of garam masala (McCormick makes a decent one). Makes about 5-6 big bowls of soup and reheats very well.

[biscuitmom]

Lentil soup. There are a gadzillion online recipes, it's hard to mess up.
I usually sauté onions and perhaps some diced peppers, celery, or carrots in a little olive oil, then add the lentils and vegetable broth (instead of water) and cook according to the directions on the lentil package. About 15 minutes into the cooking, I might add either fresh or canned diced tomatoes and/or some greens like spinach, cabbage, or kale. But if I'm missing a few of these ingredients, it turns out tasty enough. I season with cumin (added to the initial sauté mix) and a tsp or so of apple cider vinegar (added with the tomatoes or greens).

If I'm in a time crunch, Progresso Vegetable Lentil Soup will do, especially with a can of low-sodium diced tomatoes dumped in (the soup is plenty high in sodium, no need to add more). The tomatoes add vitamin C and potassium, which along with the nutrients already in the soup makes a nutritionally complete meal. I eat it with stone-ground crackers.

[krmb]

Originally Posted by weezycom

Use half a small head of cauliflower, chopped up, a medium sized potato peeled & chopped, a big clove of garlic, salt and pepper (white pepper if you have it). Stick it in a saucepot with enough water ( or veg stock, even better if you have it) to reach the top of the cauliflower. Bring it to a gentle boil and cook for about 12 minutes more. Stick a stick blender in it and puree until smooth and creamy. Add about 1-2 teaspoons of garam masala (McCormick makes a decent one). Makes about 5-6 big bowls of soup and reheats very well.

Yummy, that sounds delicious. I should try that.

[krmb]

Originally Posted by biscuitmom

Lentil soup. There are a gadzillion online recipes, it's hard to mess up.
I usually sauté onions and perhaps some diced peppers, celery, or carrots in a little olive oil, then add the lentils and vegetable broth (instead of water) and cook according to the directions on the lentil package. About 15 minutes into the cooking, I might add either fresh or canned diced tomatoes and/or some greens like spinach, cabbage, or kale. But if I'm missing a few of these ingredients, it turns out tasty enough. I season with cumin (added to the initial sauté mix) and a tsp or so of apple cider vinegar (added with the tomatoes or greens).

If I'm in a time crunch, Progresso Vegetable Lentil Soup will do, especially with a can of low-sodium diced tomatoes dumped in (the soup is plenty high in sodium, no need to add more). The tomatoes add vitamin C and potassium, which along with the nutrients already in the soup makes a nutritionally complete meal. I eat it with stone-ground crackers.

I like to make the dry lentils instead. I can put them in a slow cooker overnight and have them waiting for me the next morning.

[krmb]

Originally Posted by weezycom

Use half a small head of cauliflower, chopped up, a medium sized potato peeled & chopped, a big clove of garlic, salt and pepper (white pepper if you have it). Stick it in a saucepot with enough water ( or veg stock, even better if you have it) to reach the top of the cauliflower. Bring it to a gentle boil and cook for about 12 minutes more. Stick a stick blender in it and puree until smooth and creamy. Add about 1-2 teaspoons of garam masala (McCormick makes a decent one). Makes about 5-6 big bowls of soup and reheats very well.

I think I want to try that. Would it hurt if I added carrots or did it with broccoli instead of cauliflower?

[JustJulia]

Rice and black beans.

[weezycom]

Originally Posted by kmb501

I think I want to try that. Would it hurt if I added carrots or did it with broccoli instead of cauliflower?

Carrots would probably be fine. Broccoli isn't a good match for this soup; it doesn't get creamy enough without being so overcooked that it goes gray.

[sheena12]

I second Lentil Soup. I'll add split pea soup, baked stuffed potatoes and veggie chili.

While I prefer fresh foods, you can make a reasonably good vegetarian/vegan chili using canned beans, Rotel Mexican tomatoes, canned or frozen corn, peppers, onions, carrots and celery. Use fresh for the last three.

Make some rice and cornbread and you can feed a crowd on very little.

[pacific2]

You might enjoy some of these cheap and quick vegan recipes:

Cheap, Healthy, Easy Vegan Meals: Less Than $2 and 15 minutes Each!


Cheap, Healthy, Easy Vegan Meals: Less Than $2 and 15 minutes Each! - YouTube