# Meat eaters: Do you have any vegetarian meals in regular rotation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [October 8, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142 "2021-10-08T15:34:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/61 "2021-10-09T12:11:15Z")
My wife’s a vegetarian and I’m a picky eater who, among other things, hates mushrooms (hi @purplehorseshoe!). But we have a lot of meals in our rotation that I love. Cacio e pepe with roasted broccoli Eggplant parmesan Matar paneer Crispy tofu pad thai Broccoli stir fry with black bean sauce (often with tofu) Peanut noodle stir fry Various version of fried rice Black bean tacos Black bean quesadilla Other veggie tacos and quesadilla. Crispy baked cauliflower mainly. Zucchini butter pasta Lots of other pasta variations Lots of pizza variations, though we make several small pizzas, so one of them is always meaty Socca and roast cauliflower Veggie burgers Falafel Saag paneer tarka dal chana masala ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/62 "2021-10-09T14:55:33Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > How come? Because it’s a whole (halved) onion, not chopped. It’s done its job - you don’t need a half-onion in your penne. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/63 "2021-10-09T16:01:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Because it’s a whole (halved) onion, not chopped. It’s done its job - you don’t need a half-onion in your penne. They gots a point though. You don’t have to _throw it away_. It’s still food. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/64 "2021-10-09T16:30:19Z")
Though you’d have to pry the pork chop from my cold, dead hand, I do eat and cook vegan _most_ of the time, because my kids are vegan. Dishes in rotation include bean chili, tofu curry, falafel wraps, fried eggplant, portobello mushroom burgers, and mushroom Étouffée ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/65 "2021-10-09T16:42:52Z")
Definitely a carnivore here, but we often have a delicious panzanella in rotation, particularly during tomato season - it’s kind of a pain in the ass to make, but it is so delicious. We’ve also been having Beyond Meat fake burgers, which are pretty great with the right toppings. As simple as cooking a burger. A nice, big green salad with falafel as the protein is also lovely and super easy. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/66 "2021-10-09T18:06:30Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > We’ve also been having Beyond Meat fake burgers, which are pretty great with the right toppings. As simple as cooking a burger. If you are a carnivore, why are you choosing this? ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/67 "2021-10-09T18:09:16Z")
It doesn’t feel like dinner if there isn’t meat, veggies, a carb (pasta, potato, rice, stuffing), and (usually) a bread. Though, during corn season, if I can get my mitts on some really fresh Silver Queen corn we have been known to sit down with a huge pot of corn and just eat that until we’re stuffed… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/68 "2021-10-09T18:14:57Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > It doesn’t feel like dinner if there isn’t meat, veggies, a carb (pasta, potato, rice, stuffing), and (usually) a bread. I occasionally make my gf mildly upset because I specifically do not follow that pattern. Why can’t dinner be four small meat courses, or many vegetable courses, or a big plate with five petite piles of carbs? (I’ve done all those) ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/69 "2021-10-09T18:19:05Z")
Sometimes my wife doesn’t want to overdo it with red meat 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/70 "2021-10-09T18:26:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Why can’t dinner be four small meat courses, or many vegetable courses, or a big plate with five petite piles of carbs? I imagine for the same reason a friend once responded with when I inquired into why he insisted on having some version of dessert with every dinner. “Because that’s how it’s done!” 😀 He was raised that way as a kid - every dinner with discrete courses, followed by dessert. And despite being very Bohemian/punk as an adult he could never shake that early programming. Every dinner MUST end with something sweet. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/71 "2021-10-09T18:45:51Z")
Sure- we have several pasta dishes that are basically pasta and cheese or pasta and vegetables that we eat fairly often. I don’t think they’re quite “recipes” in the sense of anything written down, but they probably started that way. There’s also a black lentil/urad dal dish that my wife makes occasionally, and she also makes saag paneer on occasion as well, especially when the garden is yielding a lot of greens (“saag” means “greens”, so it can be more than spinach). So we do vegetarian dishes periodically- more often than red meat anyway. Less often than pork or chicken though. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/72 "2021-10-09T19:19:30Z")
Yes, but not with deliberate intent. Just a few things I like that happen to no include meat. Mac & Cheese as a meal, fettuccine Alfredo, penne with a tomato cream sauce, grilled cheese, pancakes, waffles, egg & grits. But I guess breakfast doesn’t really count in much in the entertaining people field. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/73 "2021-10-09T19:35:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Potato and leek soup (just finished off my most recent batch tonight) Weirdly, when I posted about leek and potato soup (about 3 hours before you) we had just finished off _our_ most recent batch that night! Eat seasonal, I guess. j ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/74 "2021-10-09T23:44:06Z")
A few. There are some quick and easy ones I use as sides or an entree, and some elaborate ones that I trot out on holidays. I like meat but have always had vegetarian friends or family and learned to like the Moosewood Cookbook. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/75 "2021-10-10T01:03:39Z")
Generic pastas with canned tomatoes (usually Italian and Mexican flavor). Let’s just say I’m basic. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/76 "2021-10-10T02:59:56Z")
Username does not check out.[quote=“Rick\_Kitchen, post:75, topic:952142, full:true”] Generic pastas with canned tomatoes (usually Italian and Mexican flavor). Let’s just say I’m basic. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/77 "2021-10-10T03:01:33Z")
Well that’s ugly! ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/78 "2021-10-10T08:20:36Z")
I like to buy those vegetarian Trader Joe pouched Indian dishes. Also their aloo chaat. And their veggie samosas. When we eat at Indian restaurants I almost always get something vegetarian. I’m likely to just toss some butter and a bit of garlic on pasta for a quick meal. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/79 "2021-10-10T14:36:19Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > I’m likely to just toss some butter and a bit of garlic on pasta for a quick meal. Hmm, speaking as a carnivore, i find that sort of meal intensely unsatisfying. I have the same issue when my husband makes pancakes (other than for breakfast.) It tastes good. I feel full. But i feel like I’m missing something, and i continue thinking about food. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142/80 "2021-10-10T15:01:48Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > > [@kitap](#): > > > > I’m likely to just toss some butter and a bit of garlic on pasta for a quick meal. > > Hmm, speaking as a carnivore, i find that sort of meal intensely unsatisfying. I have the same issue when my husband makes pancakes (other than for breakfast.) It tastes good. I feel full. But i feel like I’m missing something, and i continue thinking about food I snack a lot, so a quick butter and garlic pasta meal might be followed by microwaved pot stickers a few hours later. Or maybe cereal and milk. If I just want to eat once it has to be something hearty like chili with meat or tater tot hot dish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-eaters-do-you-have-any-vegetarian-meals-in-regular-rotation/952142.md?page=5)