Vegetarian Meal Plan: January - Week 3

M O N D A Y

30-MINUTE DISH         GLUTEN-FREE        MEDIUM DIFFICULTY

Pan-Fried Chickpea Salad with Curried Yogurt Dressing

I first saw this curry yogurt chickpea salad a number of years ago on the 101 Cookbooks website, and have made it a bazillion times now. I tweak it every once in a while, but it's seriously good as it is. Serve it with roasted broccoli with a few squeezes of lemon.

Omnivore Tip: Purchase a store-roasted chicken, shred it or chop it up, and toss into the salad for the meat eaters at the table. You'll need to increase the amount of dressing, depending on how much chicken you add.

T U E S D A Y

VEGAN        30-MINUTE DISH        GLUTEN-FREE

Easy Lemony Swiss Chard Sauté with Quinoa, Capers and Olives

This easy vegan Swiss chard recipe is full of goodness from healthy Swiss chard and quinoa. This dinner comes together in roughly 25 minutes if you already have cooked quinoa on hand in the refrigerator. Otherwise you can make it ahead, or make it first and allow it to cook while you make the rest of the sauté.

Omnivore Tip: Serve as a side dish for the meat-eaters. This dish goes well with most any meat entree.

W E D N E S D A Y

EASY        15-MINUTE PREP

Espagueti Verde (Spaghetti in a Creamy Poblano Sauce)

This easy espagueti verde pasta dish is tossed with a sauce made from poblano peppers, Mexican crema, cilantro (or parsley), and bouillon paste. It needs only 15 minutes of prep. The rest of the time to make it is just cooking the pasta and roasting the poblano peppers.

Serve with soft potato rolls and a romaine and avocado salad dressed with a lemon vinaigrette.

Omnivore Tip: Add grilled or sautéed shrimp or salmon.

T H U R S D A Y 

30 MINUTE DISH        EASY        EASILY MADE VEGAN

Beet Salad Over Lentils with Preserved Lemon

This lentil beet salad is loosely modified and simplified from a recipe in The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone cookbook by Deborah Madison. If you have an Instant Pot and Air Fryer, this recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make.

Eliminate the feta cheese to make this dish vegan, or use a plant-based feta cheese.

Serve with roasted carrots.

Omnivore Tip: Add bacon lardons to the lentils.

F R I D A Y

30-MINUTE DISH        VEGAN 

Vegan Romanesco Pasta with Apples and a Creamy Curry Cauliflower Sauce

This vegan romanesco pasta is super easy to make, and you'd never ever guess that there's no cream in the sauce, and no nuts like cashews. The pectin in the cauliflower florets makes the sauce creamy. Seriously, who knew?

Omnivore Tip: Add bacon lardons to the pasta.

W E E K E N D

GLUTEN FREE        VEGAN        PARTS CAN BE MADE AHEAD

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Smoky Paprika and Tahini Sauces

A whole roasted cauliflower, Middle Eastern style, roasted until charred and caramelized at the edges, and then covered in a smoky paprika dressing is one of the most beautiful and delicious vegetarian dishes you'll make. It's served on a tahini sauce. This post also includes tips for making tahini sauce, if you've ever had one separate on you.

Serve with roasted carrots or umbrian lentils and roasted tomatoes.

Omnivore Tip: Add chorizo to the sauce.

W E E K E N D    B R E A K F A S T

GLUTEN FREE        KETO-LOW CARB

Broccoli and Tomato Frittata with Cheddar Cheese

This broccoli tomato frittata is ready in 30 minutes if you have a frittata pan. A frittata pan is actually 2 interlocking pans, which allow you to flip the frittata on the stove, instead of finishing it in the oven. It will take a little longer if you need to finish it in the oven.

W E E K E N D    B A K I N G    P R O J E C T

YEASTED BREAD

Aglio e Olio Pizza Bread

This olio pizza bread is best with an overnight chill in the refrigerator. It can be torn up like garlic bread pieces to use for sopping up sauces or dipping into soups.