Healthy Vegetable Substitutes for Meat Dishes
A vegetarian meal doesn’t have to seem like a no-meat, no-frills dish. Hearty substitutes can add flavor and texture without leaving meat lovers dissatisfied.
Create a vegetable dish that even the biggest fans of steak-and-potatoes fare can’t refuse. Substituting the right vegetables in traditional meat dishes can add rich and hearty flavors.
Mushroom Lasagna
Thick slices of sauteed mushrooms add texture and savory goodness to lasagna sauce in place of ground beef or Italian sausage. Flavor them with a little olive oil and garlic, brown, then stir into a rich marinara before topping with cheese.
Egg Plant Stir Fry
Beef and chicken give way to soft slices of purple eggplant. Brown with other vegetables in a skillet with soy sauce and a little ginger, then serve over Asian noodles or rice.
Onion Pepper Fajitas
A sweet saute of red and green peppers and onion slices can fill a tortilla with powerful flavor in place of shredded steak or seasoned chicken. Add sour cream, cheese, guacamole, and other favorite toppings for an explosion of flavor.
Spinach Spaghetti
Break from the meatball marinara or brown sausage with sauteed spinach instead. Add a little olive oil and garlic while heating, cook until dark, rich, and soft — then add seasoned spaghetti sauce and simmer. A little Parmesan cheese makes this thick sauce a perfect pasta topper.
Other great vegetables which add texture and flavor are cabbage, carrots, and corn. Try vegetable substitutes for chowders, breakfast omelettes, even tuna casserole recipes.
