The Phyllo Creation

Thanks to everyone who recommended different dishes that incorporate phyllo dough and curry. I ended up creating a samosa-like dish with onion, ground turkey and a grated potato flavored with curry and ginger inside phyllo triangles. I paired it with some watermelon, sauteed zucchini and onion and a salad (basic greens with garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, tomato, celery and green peppers). Oh, and milk. :)

My next recipe challenge is finding a tasty vegetarian meal that won't break the bank or leave me hungry in two hours. Any suggestions? Find mine after the jump.

I tested this recipe for Yellow Velvet Lentil Soup with Cumin and Dried Plums by chef Padma Lakshmi a few months ago. It's delicious, but I think I didn't cook the lentils quite long enough because the texture was nothing like velvet and bit more like crunchy peanut butter. Despite that, it was really quite good. The prunes add a bit of unexpected sweetness. If you aren't cooking for a brood, I'd recommend halving the recipe or freezing a bit for later.

Comments

[Julia]

A super easy recipe vegetarian recipe that I just recently found:

http://www.recipezaar.com/195593

It's chickpeas and rice. I left out the sun-dried tomatoes and used dried parsley instead of fresh. The second time I made it I added lemon juice as well. (Not sure how much...)

Really good with some hot sauce on top, and I served it with tostadas, because I can't eat gluten and couldn't serve it with bread. But it was super good with the tostadas.

[Jim Hu]

Long, rambling, bloggy answer here, with a suggestion at the end.

Actually, there are lots of possibilities for either lacto-ovo or vegan options. I would think that it's hard to break the bank with veggies unless you're buying exotic stuff.

I assume you're looking for an occasional vegetarian meal, and not going vegan full time like Megan McArdle. If you are considering going vegan, just be sure to make sure that Loyette gets the necessary nutrition. Plenty of vegans do fine, but there are others who stunt their kids' growth.

[Leanna Loomer]

This is taken from Recipes for a Small Planet by Ellen Buchman Ewald, c1973. I used to fix it a lot when Brendan was growing up and he might remember it. It was one of the few vegetarian meals I made that didn't have Joe looking for the meat.

Luscious Potato Soup
about 2 1/2 quarts

1 C. = approximately 5 grams of usable protein
12% to 15% of average daily protein need

This soup is extremely hearty. It precludes the need for much beside toast or crackers to make a complete meal. Serve some beer for a true peasant feast!

1/4 C. oil
2 C. chopped onions
1 C. diced carrots
1 C. chopped celery
6 potatoes, diced
1 quart stock
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. marjoram
1 tsp dill seeds
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. caraway seeds
1 1/2 C. milk powder (2 C. instant)

Heat the oil in a pressure cooker or large soup pot; saute the onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes until the onions are transparent.

Pour in the stock, salt and spices (not the milk powder), bring to a boil, cover and pressure cook 20 minutes, OR simmer about 1 hour until the potatoes are very tender, but won't fall appart.

Dissolve the milk powder in 1 1/2 to 2 C. of the soup liquid. You might do this in the blender to avoid lumps. Return the mixture to the pot and simmer about 1 minute. Serve hot with toast.

[Becky]

Believe it or not, fresh vegetables are often the most expensive part of my meals. I can get chicken for as low as $.49/lb but if I want a red pepper, it's $1.25 each. I buy a lot frozen and now that it's nicer weather, I'm probably going to hit up some of the local farmer's markets in search of better prices.

[Jen]

I'm a big fan of the chef Deborah Madison and her book, Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, is like a great vegetarian bible. I use it constantly and am always finding new and really interesting surprises in there. Tonight we're have a cashew curry!

Vegetables are getting expensive and red peppers in particular are insane (or, like me, if you're a fan of the mysterious orange pepper, that can be ridiculous). Eating seasonally and locally are good ways to combat this. Bean-based vegetarian foods - a good bean chili, for example - can be very cheap, tasty and filling. A good vegetarian lasagna is also awesome although, with a little baby at home, that might be the practical equivalent of whipping up a baked alaska in your spare time. :) For some unusual recipes, the Post Punk Kitchen at theppk.com has a pretty good array of vegan recipes that use some fun and interesting ingredients.

Also, not exactly low-fat but incredible and vegetarian: fettucini alfredo with a fresh spinach linguini. Yummy!

[Jim Hu]

I was at the store today and you're right about red bell peppers.

I'm impressed that you are now finding chicken at $0.49/lb. Last time we heard about the price of chicken from you it was $3.99 per pound on sale.

I couldn't find anything close to $0.49/lb here at the College Station HEB. Even the gizzards were $0.99/lb. Sounds like a good time to fill the freezer with chicken in Tennessee!

[anonamom]

Since you are in the south, enjoy our standard quick meal--beans and rice. Hot sauce and chopped raw onions go a long way.Corn bread makes it a classic.

Another favorite vegan meal here is Broccoli Sauce on whole wheat (or regular) Pasta

Saute six to eight garlic cloves and some cracked red pepper in four to six tablespoons olive oil. Add at least a bunch of chopped broccoli, or the equivalent frozen, about a cup of water, and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook until until it's mushy and you can smash it up. Add salt to taste. Serve with Pamigianno Regianno over linguine.