Any yummy vegetarian recipes anyone can share with a newbie?!?

[Michelle Jaqulyn]

Thanks for reading! Wondering if anyone might have any flavorful recipes they may want to share! The past few weeks I have had somewhat of a hard time not eating the same old things over and over!

I'm really interested in trying flavorful bean recipes, new soups, any main dishes. Anything really!!
I love anything tomato based, anything with onion and garlic, any veggies, I even want to give tofu a shot this week. Any suggestions or recipes are MUCH appreciated, as I can't quite afford new cookbooks at the moment. Thanks in advance!!
Thanks everyone for the GREAT suggestions so far!! Really appreciate it.

 

[Johnnycat]

Ever had vegetarian lasagna?
broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with bechamel sauce and of course the ricotta cheese and noodles. It doesn't seem like it'd be consistent with a tomato sauce... Actually, bechamel is usually also used in the "regular" lasagna - maybe make a cheesy sauce and incorporate shredded cheese for oomph!

Perhaps a black olive tapenade with pita bread for a snack? Olives, olive oil, parmesan cheese, some herbs, salt, and perhaps some diced tomatoes or sundried tomatoes. Experiment with the amounts, or go look up a recipe - even if you don't like the taste of black olives, the cheese and olive oil typically takes any bitterness out of them and harmonizes the flavor!

Maybe if you don't bake, learn to start baking! There are all kinds of home-made-bread-based dishes that you can make, such as burritos, quesadillas, pizza, calzones, etc. etc. etc.

If you haven't tried making refried beans from canned (or even dried, after you've soaked and boiled/softened them) beans, then you ought to try it - just don't forget the salt!

@ Shoes Too The Next Wish: Tofu can never replace sushi/sashimi

 

[Shoes Too The Next Wish]

Hummus is the sole reason I don't carbo load all day to keep full. It's easy to make, and you can add any flavor you'd like. You make it by throwing some garbanzo beans (they also go by chick peas) into the food processor until they're smooth, and then adding what ever you like to flavor them. I like to add some tahini and sun dried tomatoes, but you can seriously add anything you like. For instance, one time I added honey and pine nuts and it was divine. Or you could stick to the Mediterranean deal and add some olive oil and red pepper. (Aw, dang it, now I want humus. >.<)
As for tofu, I prefer mine fried. The texture of it raw is just so silly, I can't get past it. I usually marinate it for a couple hours in a sauce appropriate to the dish I'm going to make, and fry it up in a pan. A word of caution though, it takes FOREVER to fry to perfection. If you have a deep fryer, use that instead! Tofu can be used in your Asian cooking, or as a substitute to ANY meat in almost any instance, pretty much. I'll marinate mine in buffalo sauce and eat battered tofu with the boys on wing night.
A lot of Indian cooking is vegetarian, so I would look up some Indian recipes online if you're looking to try new things. Asian cooking is often vegetarian as well, if you get authentic. Go ahead and make yourself some Mexican, too! Vegetarian fajitas are yummy, and you can make vegetarian tacos, as well.
Great, now I'm hungry. @_@

 

[Travel Bug]

If you want to try tofu, cut it and marinate it now and leave it for at least a day. I leave tofu marinating in the fridge all week, The longer you leave it, the more flavour it will have.

Here are a list of my favourite dishes.

Lentil soup (Lentils, tomatoes, basil, stock)
Vegetable crudite and houmous
Couscous with vegetable stew (Use seasonal veg)
Pitta bread filled with grilled vegetables
Grilled aubergine slices
Barbeque vegetable and fruit slices (Pineapple rings, aubergine slices, asparagas, tomatoes etc)
Tofu stir fry with vegetable bangs (Long thing sliced veg including red pepper, onion, garlic, courgette stir fried then served on a little bit of lettuce and raisins and cucumber on top)
Crazy salad (Wholewheat pasta, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, raisins, green beans)
Beany burgers (Soak beans and chickpeas, blend some and use water to make into a sticky pattie. Bake dont fry)
Stuffed peppers (Chop the 'lids' off of red, green or yellow peppers, remove seeds and stuff with rice or lentils or soya beans and little or chopped veg. Cook the peppers before so that they are soft. You may want to peel it too)
Vegetable tart (Pastry, mustard, onions, peas, garlic, sweetcorn, diced red pepper and any other veg you like)
Tomato tart (Pastry, mustard, a little bit of onion and layers tomatoes topped with basil and olive (if you like them))

I love experiementing with different ingredients but like you I love tomato, onion and garlic. Try out different herbs as these will add flavour to familiar dishes. Enjoy!