National Vegetarian Week: Easy Recipes For The Whole Family

If you’re a lifelong plant-based pioneer, you’ll know that the limits of delicious vegetarian food go beyond your average pack of lentils or tofu.

And, although it’s a very uncertain time at the moment, there’s never been a better time to experiment in the kitchen by trying something new!

These recipes celebrate the very best of National Vegetarian Week, including a light strawberry and feta tart and a creamy lemon and dill ‘tuna’ tagliatelle. Tuck in!

Creamy Peanut Butter and Lentil Curry

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 4 garlic cloves, cut in small pieces
• Approx. 2.5cm (1 inch) piece of ginger, cut in small pieces
• 1 cup red lentils or green lentils (as preferred)
• 2 vegetable stock cubes
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (400g)
• 1 can coconut milk (400ml)
• 2 tbsp of ManiLife Deep Roast Smooth peanut butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp turmeric

Method

1. In a large pan, heat the oil and add the garlic, ginger and all the spices together.
2. Cook for about 4mins, until the garlic scents the room.
3. At this point add in the lentils, the tomatoes and the vegetable stock – mix everything together and let everything simmer for about 20 minutes.
4. Remember to do this at low heat for the lentils to get soft and avoid anything burning.
5. Once the lentils are cooked, add in the coconut milk, ManiLife peanut butter and the pepper and salt to taste.
6. Stir everything together and let simmer for another five to seven minutes.
7. Voilà – you’re done! Serve this soul-warming dish with jasmine rice and Naan bread.

Recipe: ManiLife

Creamy Lemon, ‘Tuna’ and Dill Pasta

Ingredients

• 150g vegan tagliatelle pasta
• Splash of olive oil
• ½ clove garlic
• 150g vegan cream cheese
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Juice of ½ a lemon
• ¼ tsp vegan Dijon mustard
• 1 pack Good Catch Oil & Herbs plant-based tuna
• Small bunch of dill, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Cook the pasta as per the packet instructions, making sure the water is well seasoned with salt. (Tip: the water should be as salty as the sea!) When the pasta is cooked, remember to save a ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
2. Heat a splash of oil in a medium sized frying pan over a low heat and fry the garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and soft. Add in the vegan cream cheese and lemon juice, stirring until it has melted into a sauce. Add the pasta water, Good Catch plant-based tuna and Dijon. Stir again to combine.
3. Remove from the heat and stir though the dill and drained pasta. Season with plenty of freshly milled black pepper and more salt if needed.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe: Good Catch

Strawberry and Feta Tart

Ingredients

• 375g sheet puff pastry, defrosted if frozen, at room temperature
• 200g reduced fat soft cheese
• 1 tbsp chives, snipped
• 2 tsp lemon thyme leaves or 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
• 125g feta cheese, crumbled
• 125g strawberries, hulled and sliced
• Drizzle of balsamic vinegar (optional)
• Rocket leaves to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas mark 6. Unroll the pastry sheet onto a baking tray, keeping it on the paper from the pack. Score a line 2cm from the edge down each side.
2. Combine the soft cheese, chives, the thyme or lemon zest and some pepper (the feta will add salt) and spread it over the pastry. Scatter over the feta and strawberries and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and puffed up.
3. Serve warm drizzled with balsamic or top with rocket leaves and serve with a large salad.

Tip:

You could also make this with goats cheese instead of the feta.

Recipe: Love Fresh Berries

Buddha Bowl

Ingredients

• 1 packet of Gosh! Beetroot Burgers
  For the Quinoa and Kale
• 250g of quinoa
• 1 bunch of kale, ribs removed and chopped into very small bite-sized pieces
• ½ tsp of salt
• 2 tbsps. of olive oil, plus more to drizzle
• Juice of 1 lime
  For the Sweet Potato
• Olive oil
• 2 medium sweet potatoes, washed and cut into 5mm strips
• 2 tsps. of ground cumin
• 1 tsp of smoked paprika
• 1½ tsps. of salt
  For the Dressing
• 1 avocado
• Juice of 2 limes
• Glug of olive oil
• 1 medium chilli, chopped
• A handful of fresh coriander
  Extra Bits
• Hummus (Beetroot hummus used here)
• A handful of sunflower seeds and/or chopped nuts

Method

1. First, cook the quinoa in a saucepan of water for about 15 minutes, or according to the packet instructions
2. Warm the Gosh! Beetroot Burgers at 160°C fan for 15 minutes
3. Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and add the sweet potato. Stir in the cumin, smoked paprika and salt. Once the pan is sizzling, add 50ml water, cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until the sweet potato is cooked then set aside to cool
4. Put the kale in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with oil. Use your hands to massage the kale for 2–3 minutes. Whisk together the 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the lime juice, drizzle over the kale and toss to coat
5. For the avocado dressing, blitz the ingredients in a small blender until smooth (or mash the avocado and mix with the other ingredients for a chunkier dressing)
6. To serve, divide the quinoa and kale between bowls and top with the sweet potato, a Gosh! Beetroot Burger and a good spoonful of the avocado dressing. Sprinkle with nuts and seeds

Veggie Hack:

Add a hard-boiled egg for extra protein!

Recipe: Gemma Ogston of Gem’s Wholesome Kitchen in collaboration with Gosh! Food

Wondering how to get a good source of calcium on a plant-based diet? Here’s how.