Spoon of beans and rice

Cooking Advice For Brand New Vegetarians

NEWS

BY IAN JACKSON

Basics

Remember basic cooking math when making vegetarian meals. Start with a protein, add a vegetable, and throw in some starch or carbohydrates.
For protein, consider legumes like beans, nuts, lentils, and peas, or meat alternatives. Then add hearty vegetables like diced eggplant, shredded zucchini, or wild mushrooms.

Old Favorites

Many popular dishes ranging from a slice of toast to a tomato soup have always been vegetarian, so remember items you already love instead of making all-new dishes.

Reinvent

Most recipes that traditionally contain meat, fish, and dairy can be easily adapted. Experiment with the food you liked to eat before turning vegetarian.

Spices

The rich umami flavors found in meat sets it apart from other proteins, so to get extra flavor from vegetarian alternatives, experiment with different spices.

Explore

Certain regional cuisines have a focus on meat-free options. Consider trying meatless dishes from Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, and southern Italian cuisine.