I'm an omnivore interested in eating less meat. Any good everyday cooking veggie cookbook recommendations?

Question

I enjoy all foods, from the ethnic to the experimental. However, I want a book that has some good everyday type recipes that taste great without cheating with excessive butter and so forth. Also, being a student, I can't afford to shop at the local Whole Foods everyday (once in a while is of course OK), so it would be even nicer if the ingredients aren't too hard to find / expensive.. unless it's worth it (I don't mind shopping at ethnic markets.. I'm in the Austin area if that helps.) I'm just a meat eating bundle of contradiction, aren't I! Maybe I should simply ask the question, "What veggie cookbook would you recommend to friends?"

Thanks!

I can't choose a best answer.. they're all great and cover different perspectives! This is probably my best experience on Yahoo Answers so far.

Answer 1

Try some italian cookbooks. You can eat lots of different kinds of pasta dishes without meat. Mexican food is good too because you can make yummy burritos. Just get tortillas, beans, cheese, and then anything you have in your fridge-veggies, sour cream, salsa, tomatoes, avocado, etc. wrap it up and eat! Or get hoagie rolls, put some cheese and mayo on it, and load it with veggies, pickles, olives, salt/pepper, etc. Anything you like! Pasta with sauces, tomato, alfredo, pesto, with olive oil and sauteed veggies like carrots zucchini, onions, etc. You can make stir fry with bean sprouts, water chestnuts, tofu if you want, and all your favorite veggies. Mix with sauce (i like sweet and sour you can get at the grocery store) and put over rice. Make a big salad with your fave dressing and tons of veggies. Instead of meat on top, slice a boiled egg or two on top with some cheese. Its delish. Get some chicken broth, heat it on the stove, put egg noodles in, carrots, celery, mushrooms, garlic, tomatoes, etc for some yummy soup. Eat it with a grilled cheese sandwich.

You can make so many dishes without meat. Just find a substitute, or omit it all together. You dont need special grocery stores or spend a lot on food if you're just trying to cut out meat.

Bon Apetite!

Answer 2

www.grouprecipes.com is a godsend! It's like myspace for foodies! So you have people with very little cooking experience mingling with professional chefs! There are tons of great vegetarian recipes and even more that you can use as a base and substitute non-meat protein!

You can join groups that are focused on cheap eats, vegetarian, 5-ingredients or less .... all things that seem to be what you're looking for!

There's even a tips group for beginning cooks and each recipe gets commented and rated! You take a pretty lengthy food quiz when you join so that the site can give you recommendations based on what you like! When I joined I just put down that I dislike anything that I feel is unrealistically priced so I don't get those recipes pushed my way!

I find it's alot easier to browse and save recipes that way than shuffling thru dozens of cookbooks!

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well, there's the classic, Laurel's Kitchen. That might be a good place to start. The Moosewood Cookbook is another popular one. There are SO many different books in the vegetarian cooking section of Barnes & Noble you are bound to find something you like there (but plan on spending a solid hour - there are usually a LOT to choose from).

It sounds like you're up for adventure. Maybe try some vegan recipes...
Here's a good book that would be perfect for you:

Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock
http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Vengeance-Delicious-Animal-Free-Recipes/dp/1569243581/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7950794-2943218?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194302195&sr=8-1
Here's another one that sounds like it'd be perfect for you (although I don't have this one):
Student's Go Vegan Cookbook: Over 135 Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegan Recipes
http://www.amazon.com/Students-Go-Vegan-Cookbook-Recipes/dp/0307336530/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-7950794-2943218?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194302195&sr=8-2

Since you are interested in making some changes to your diet for your health, I highly recommend The China Study - it changed my life! It is written by the professor of nutrition at Cornell, Dr. Campbell, and goes over many studies done on animal proteins and what a big difference they make as far as contributing to disease. It also goes over the results (so far) from the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever done. Learning about those studies made it MUCH easier to cut animal products from my diet.

P.S. Oh, look, I found this one, too (again, haven't read it, though):
Student's Vegetarian Cookbook, Revised: Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
http://www.amazon.com/Students-Vegetarian-Cookbook-Revised-Recipes/dp/0761511709/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-7950794-2943218?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194302440&sr=8-3

There are a ton of recipe sites online, too.
Here's my favorite: http://www.vegan-food.net/

Answer 4

well there are plenty of meat substitutes you can throw in with your veggies... try doing a veggie stir fry using peppers, baby corn, water chestnuts, snap peas and some other veggies, use a good teriyaki sauce I like Soy Vay brand ( i believe its vegan but double check the label just in case) ...its really good. Then throw in some morningstar fake steak or chicken strips... instant texture to your veggies. Its a meal i lovvve.

Answer 5

"How it All Vegan!" and "Garden of Vegan" by Sarah Kramer and Tanya Barnard and "La Dolce Vegan" by Sarah Kramer

"The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook" by Robin Robertson is what I recommend to wannabe vegetarian/meat-reducer types who still like hearty meals.

"Conveniently Vegan" by Debra Wasserman is what I recommend to people of limited funds or who don't want anything fancy. It has very simple recipes with easily located recipes.

Also check out www.vegweb.com for great vegetarian resources. And check out www.happycow.net to find restaurants and health food stores in your area, as well as www.vegdining.com and www.vegaustin.com.

Answer 6

I love pinto beans on a soft taco shell with some cheese. or vegetarian chili.

Answer 7

Google "Flexitarian Diets" and check out some of the websites. Great for those of us who moderate the use of meat in our diets.

Answer 8

see my veggie recipes see the fake meat ones ca.360.yahoo.com/ddherbals