This week is Meat Free Week in the UK – a campaign designed to get people thinking about the amount of meat that they eat and the negative impact eating too much has on our health, animals and the environment. Even if you are already vegetarian or vegan, this week is a great time to reflect on our decisions and send out some positive messages, be it cooking veggie food or treats for our friends and family, getting involved in local events or visiting local vegetarian businesses to support them this week.
Find out more about the issues surrounding meat consumption and production.
I think one of the biggest things that we can do to support Meat Free Week is to show those around us that giving up meat does not mean giving up flavour, variety and delicious dinners. Read on for 7 delicious dinner ideas for Meat Free Week:
No one wants to spend ages cooking on a Monday night so this one pot pasta is the perfect thing to whip up. Everything cooks together in one pot and is ready in ten minutes plus prep. The starch from the spaghetti creates a creamy sauce.
2. Carrot, Ginger & Lentil Soup
If you are looking for a lighter dinner, this soup is for you. If you have a slow cooker, then pop this on in the morning and it will be ready to blend when you get home; alternatively, simmer on the hob for 45 minutes to an hour and you will be good to go. The original recipe calls for white lentils but if you can’t find them then red lentils (very widely available) will be just as good.
3. Spiced Spinach & Red Onion Quinoa Medallions
These quinoa medallions are a real treat – serve them as they are or in buns for a tasty veggie burger. They are great served up with baked sweet potato wedges!
4. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Mash
A reminder of why dinners don’t need meat to be filling and tasty, this is a dish for when you want something comforting. If you want to use up the rest of those red lentils you used in the soup, skip the soaking step and swap brown lentils for red.
5. Spicy Tofu Scramble
Maybe by this point in the week you might be tempted to try something a little more typically “vegetarian,” or in other words, tofu! This scramble works a treat wrapped up in a warm tortilla with fresh guacamole.
6. Mushrooms in Cajun Gravy
Thick, spicy gravy. Tender mushrooms. This cajun mushrooms recipe is perfect served with rice or crusty bread. You can cook on the hob or in a slow cooker.
7. Black Garlic Rigatoni
Round off the week with another pasta dish and be sure to make leftovers.
What will you be cooking this #MeatFreeWeek?
