Wanted: Good vegetarian recipes

[CDNSushi]

Summer is kicking our butts this year! Japan is in a serious energy crisis after March 11, and the current power grid is at just over 90% capacity... Which means everyone is being told to cut back power usage. Here in Yamanashi it's a matter of policy, but nearer to Tokyo, it's mandated that businesses, public offices, and schools that don't reduce their power consumption by 15% will face massive fines. But I digress.

Since we are saving power, we're not running the aircon at home much, and I've found that on HOT, HOT days like this, meaning 36C / 97F (that are near 100% humidity), I've completely lost my appetite for meat. So for the past two weeks we've been eating lots of vegetarian dishes.

Now, I've never been a vegetarian, and I've made it through 30-something years of my life, pretty much eating meat at EVERY meal without exception, so now when I want to try something different, I'm at a bit of a loss. All of my cookbooks and recipes involve meat in some way, and though I've done alright for the past two weeks, I'm starting to run low on good ideas.

I would really appreciate being able to expand my meatless dish horizons with any contributions from the rabble. Links to websites are cool, and if you happen to have any pictures of the dish (in addition to the recipe), that's even better! The only guideline that I would kindly ask, is to not include recipes involving commercially sold meat substitutes (like tofurkey, veggie burgers (that you buy pre-made), TVP/TSP, Quorn, etc...) mainly because I can't buy that stuff around here very commonly.

For the record though, last week I made a fantastic gaspacho, and I found an awesome recipe for "creamy taco mac." http://www.crumblycookie.net/2011/06...eamy-taco-mac/. <-- That's my contribution, right there... ;-)

[azwildcat96]

Sorry CDN, I can't help with the vege recipies, but when you return to the dark side, try this...

[kiltedwolfman]

Start with 4 slices of bacon.....whoops, start with a diced onion and then 4 slices of bacon, oh yeah vegetarisomethingorother...okay munch on an apple while dicing an onion and fishing 4 slices of bacon out of the chill chest.

Dang I just can't do vegetariwhatchamacallit! But best of luck getting some good recipes anyhow ;)

[CDNSushi]

Har, har! Very funny, you two. I'm not abandoning meat -- I'm expanding my horizons.

Tell you what. I'll make you a deal: you try a couple of vegetarian dishes, and I'll invite you over when I make Turducken!

[azwildcat96]

Har, har! Very funny, you two. I'm not abandoning meat -- I'm expanding my horizons.

Tell you what. I'll make you a deal: you try a couple of vegetarian dishes, and I'll invite you over when I make Turducken!

Turducken...You've got a deal!

[Duke of Delrio]

I fear I cannot help you here. I eat very few vegetables. I have a horse that does that for me.

[Redhawk]

My wife loves tomato sandwiches with mayo on a hot day.. Fruit salad is always good on a hot day. I'll slice some cold chicken breast up in a salad on a hot day myself

[Kilted Rogue]

CDN i have been a pesky-veggie head for the past 3 yrs, some of our fav summer time items are Grilled FLatbread pizzas/grilled pizzas if your using store bought flatbread just top and bake. if your using fresh dough than oil up your grill and cook the raw dough on your grill flip over and then top with tom, fresh mozz and drizzle with EVO.

Black beans with corn cakes. Think of pancakes but with cornmeal and whole corn. top them with guac, sour cream and fresh tomatoes

edamame, corn tomato salad- this tossed with a light lime juice vinaigrette and avacados
and one of my Favs is chick pea and sweet pot curry.

let me know if you give any of them a try!!!

[Cynthia]

Here is one of our favorites, especially when it's hot. Unfortunately, I no longer have a recipe since we're used to guestimating and changing the amount we make -- once you get used to it, you can quickly tell how much of what to add.

Garbanzo salad

canned garbanzos (drained and rinsed)
green onions (sliced)
celery (sliced)
dill pickles (sliced -- spears or rounds, pickle relish might work if you have one you really like)
mustard
paprika (can skip if you want)

I usually make at least two cans of garbanzos, and I like flavor, so I'm not shy about using a whole bunch of green onions (I also use most of them, not just the green part). This recipe really is about altering it to your tastes, so you can always go on the careful side and add a little more if it needs it.

Take your drained and rinsed garbanzos and put them in a food processor. Pulse briefly to get them chopped up a bit to spread out the texture -- but you're not making a paste (although a few chunks can be nice, so don't worry about perfectly pulverizing them).

For two cans, I tend to use the whole bunch of green onions, but if you're not fond of the flavor, maybe only use 4-5 or so to start. Slice them and add them to the garbanzos.

Dice the pickles and slice the celery -- again, adjust for taste... you want to add a nice, cool crunch to the salad with the celery (I tend to use about 4 celery per two cans of garbanzos, depending on the size). I love pickles, too, so we use a couple pickle spears or a handful of the dill ovals/rounds. Add these to the pile.

Next is the mustard... for two cans of garbanzos, I think we use about 1/4 cup of mustard to start, but definitely start slowly if you're not sure and then taste and add more as you go. You want it mixed completely -- it's to add that final bit of flavor and it adds a little more moisture and binding to the mix.

Put the mix into your storable bowl (if you weren't using it to mix already), spread it out without packing it down, and sprinkle a bit of paprika over the top if you'd like.

Eat it like a dip with veggies or crackers, or spread on a nice rye bread with big slices of tomatoes. Nom! If I can think of anymore quick and simple recipes, I'll try to post them here.

[Drac]

I can never get enough inarizushi and you can play around big time with the fillings.

Jim