One of the questions I get asked the most is “how do I get my significant other to eat less meat?”. This is usually for male partners, who think a meal isn’t a meal without some kind of meat in it. And who think salad is for rabbits, duh.
I have worked on a big answer for this for my upcoming FAQ page, but for now, here are the top five dishes I recommend to anyone to try on their meat-loving family. Meatless Monday is NOT the time to bring out a wobbly pile of tasteless tofu and steamed greens – hell, I wouldn’t even get excited about that. I have found that by easing people into it gently and with familiar food, they are more likely to be receptive to cutting out meat for one day a week. At least. To start!
bad photo, excellent meal! I have had numerous success with this one, as has everyone I know that has tried it with their family. I don’t even bother with the mock mince these days, but it is excellent for newbies just starting out and are usually sticking to their meaty guns. These days I even add capsicum and corn and onion to the bean mix and really bulk it up. It’s so good the next day for lunches too.
Sometimes this doesn’t work, as some dudes are all “soup ain’t food”, but this is no regular soup! It’s chunky and filling and full of corn and potato and goodness. I make it at least once a week in winter, hands down my favourite soup ever.
Lentil and Balsamic Tomato Pappardelle
I LOATHE spaghetti bolognese, always have, so rarely ever try to make it vegetarian. Although my husband does a pretty mean version and I will eat it if he makes it. This option is very similar, but with canned green lentils (which sounds horrific but is actually pretty awesome), and by all means you can change it up to suit what your family will enjoy. You could use red lentils which cook down to mush in the sauce and they won’t be so freaky-looking. Or use mock mince, or just amp it up with lots of veg.
These are FUN! So fun. You can have them with a good big salad, and I defy anyone to tell me they’re still hungry after dinner. You can also get the kids involved, whack a bunch in the oven and you’re good to go. I like to fry them, they gotta be CRISP, but if that’s not cool for you, then that’s cool.
These are super-easy and aren’t meaty in the slightest – which might frighten some poor folk. But once you slap them on a bun with sweet chilli and sour cream, nobody will be complaining. I understand the reluctance to get out of the burger rut, I remember never going near a chicken burger because it just wasn’t the same. But veggie burgers are different all over the place and my palate has expanded to enjoy most of them! Except the tofu burger I had in NYC… I wanted to like it SO BAD. but I couldn’t and instead focussed on the phenomenal sweet potato fries and the weird chocolate soda. These quinoa ones are exceptionally good with homemade fries, and I’m dying to try them with Chantelle’s burger bun recipe.
So hit me up – what has worked for you guys? sneak in a Quorn patty instead of chicken every now and then? (they’re so good!) Neglected to mention the soup is meatless until after dinner? So many options! I want to know them allllllllllll!
Meatless Monday link stuff:
♥ The linky will be up every Monday morning, and will stay up until the following Sunday. It doesn’t matter if you eat your meal on a day other than Monday – it’s just an easy day to create the link.
♥ Visit at least one other blogger and leave some love. This is so much more cool if we’re in it together!
Robyn B says
March 25, 2013 at 11:13 amWow – all I have seen this morning is absolutely delicious looking recipes and now I can’t wait for dinner to hurry up!
I am lucky in that my hubby isn’t really a steak kind of man, but what I find does make a difference, is adding a tiny bit of bacon, and then because it has a morsel of meat, they’re in!
Tomato pasta, haloumi and avocado salad, veggie burger, pizza – if I think Mr is going to have a spaz, I just add a little bit of bacon to his portion.
Not entirely meat free, but that works for me.
Then, the rest of the nights, I’ll make sure I have the good old staples on hand such as cheese – anything with cheese as a major component works for him – arancini balls, puff pastry squares with feta, zucchini and chilli, deep-fried camembert.
Or potatoes. God how men love potatoes!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 4:00 pmYep, cheese was our standby for about two years!
Amy says
March 25, 2013 at 11:21 amI used red lentils to convert my hubby’s ideas of meat = meal thinking.
He still has meat a few times a week, but no longer complains when it’s not on the menu. He actually commented about how he couldn’t believe the amount of meat people eat in the new town that we live in. Not eating meat for dinner every night is now the norm for him and it has made my life so much easier.
I’m not vegetarian, but I do prefer meat free dishes. Especially after watching forks over knives last year!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:59 pmI love when people evolve and adapt and change and then realise they didn’t even know what they were doing before!
Kirrily Whatman says
March 25, 2013 at 11:37 amThank you thank you thank you! Going to give those quinoa burgers a go. I’ve been vego for past 14 years, husband had to follow (because, er, I went cold turkey on our honeymoon! Bazinga!) but have had to reintroduce white meat – darn anaemia flare-ups are nasty. So we are generally meatless all week here save for occasional fish. He gave up complaining long ago and now can’t quite stomach the big old red meat steak when we go out! So interesting how the body adapts.
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:59 pmOh yes, as does the taste. I’m lucky with anaemia, if I’m low in iron I manage to get it elsewhere. The quinoa burgers are rad!
Lisa @ Greek Vegetarian says
March 25, 2013 at 11:39 amThese recipes are fantastic Stacey! My meat-eating partner has just made it through Meat Free Week but he really enjoyed some of the meals we ate last week. As a result, he’s decided to go at least one day a week without meat from now on. I’m thrilled to bits about this decision, for many reasons, but it also means we can finally start cooking some meals together!!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:58 pmWOOHOO!!!! One day won’t kill ’em. Well done to him for getting out of his comfort zone for a whole week – that’s a decent effort 🙂
Lizzie B says
March 25, 2013 at 11:54 amI’m super lucky that my boyfriend is also vegetarian (in fact, he was brought up vegetarian so has never eaten meat!) so our food related disagreements are more around cuisine rather than source of protein!
These all look delicious though, and I’ll definitely be given the corn chowder a try to use up all the corn I appear to be stockpiling! Thanks Stacey!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:57 pmMine is veg too, which cuts out a lot of the hassle! In fact, I wouldn’t even know what it would be like to have to try and convince someone x
Christie Connelly says
March 25, 2013 at 12:13 pmI work my lentil bolognese magic on unsuspecting guests too! Love the sound of the corn chowder, need to get that bubbling in my kitchen!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:56 pmOh that thing is divine x
Erica says
March 25, 2013 at 12:39 pmThose quinoa burgers sound great. I’m living with a burger lover, so will have to try them out! 🙂
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:56 pmburgers are always awesome!
Nicole says
March 25, 2013 at 1:08 pmUnfortunately my husband would want to have a steak on the side with any of these meals. I have cut out a lot of meat from my diet and substitute with lentils, chickpeas and tofu when I can. I haven’t tried quinoa yet so will have to try your burgers. All these recipes sound great!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:56 pmSome nuts won’t ever crack x
Shari Wakefield says
March 25, 2013 at 3:24 pmI go for the ‘don’t tell the husband what it is until after he has eaten it’ theory – I once made a beautiful tofu green curry and upon announcing what it was he go up from the table, picked up his car keys and announced that he was going to pick up some take away for dinner. He wouldn’t even try it!
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:56 pmyeah, that kind of closed-mindedness really bothers me! I would be a bit upset if my husband was being that silly!
rhema says
March 25, 2013 at 3:41 pmLasagne worked for my husband but I need to try out quinoa. Dont know how it tastes.
Veggie Mama says
March 25, 2013 at 3:55 pmmmmm, kind of like nothing, really! It’s what you put with it, like cous cous.
MotherDownUnder says
March 25, 2013 at 7:49 pmThank goodness Daddy R is smart enough to eat whatever it is I put in front of him, to say thank you and to then tell me it is delicious!
He is a good egg.
Also I think your black bean burritos sound get a mention…those things are so good!
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:50 pmI think they’d turn just about anyone!
Polly says
March 25, 2013 at 8:17 pmHaha to be honest I think I’m worse than my hubby, but we are trying…does that count?
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:50 pmOnly if it’s a proper try and not half-hearted! <3
meetoprahwheatfree says
March 25, 2013 at 8:31 pmQuinoa burgers look amazing… Meat be damned! (on Mondays…..) x
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:50 pmhaha I like your style!
Nat @ The Apple Diaries says
March 25, 2013 at 9:35 pmLove the roast veggie quinoa burgers, they look sooo good! Luckily my partner is vego too so we never have an issue at meal time, but his friends are definitely the ‘a meal isn’t a meal without meat’ types. I should serve some of these recipes up the next time they’re around 😉
http://www.theapplediaries.com
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:49 pmOur friends are totally used to us now! Although we still get a ribbing from time to time. Veggie Dad is a veggie and proud of it 🙂
Diane says
March 25, 2013 at 9:45 pmI think the hearty vegetarian meals are the best way to transition. When my husband started losing weight was when he got turned on to eating less meat. I shared today an Easter Italian Rice Pie and info on an important event: Food Bloggers Against Hunger. Spread the word. Thanks.
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:49 pmThanks so much for sharing Diane – love that Food Bloggers Against Hunger campaign. Great idea x
Lipstick & Cake says
March 25, 2013 at 9:55 pmMy trick is to distract him with sauce! Serve chargrilled veggies with aioli and meat isn’t even mentioned. Mmmmm that corn chowder looks delicious, I do love a chowder!
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:48 pmAIOLI! That. is. Genius.
Reannon Hope says
March 25, 2013 at 11:10 pmI want to know your secret to keeping quinoa patties together?! Mine always fall apart…
If i want to do meat free without complaints it usually means pasta with some sauce, lots of bread on the side. Not overly exciting but it does the trick!
I’ll def be trying some of your recipes- except corn chowder, not because my men think soup is not food ( they’ll even have soup for breakfast!) but because I can’t even stomach the sight of it! I think they’d love it but no. Just no.
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:48 pmhaha it’s not watery, if that helps? It’s more like a stew, to be honest. So effing delicious I could die. We do pasta here too and I make cheesy garlic bread. I use egg to keep my quinoa burgers together, and cook them a fairly long time on the first side to give it time to cook through and bind. And flip it very carefully 😉
Anna says
March 26, 2013 at 8:11 pmI had to try the corn chowder tonight, it was amazing! We all loved it, especially my 2 year old fussy pants!
Veggie Mama says
March 27, 2013 at 7:46 pmOh that’s fabulous! As soon as I posted it I thought I should make it again soon. VERY SOOOOOON!