Vegetables. Most of us like them and the rest, well I shall not speak ill of those who have yet to discover the amazing taste and nutritional benefits of vegetables. 🙂
The first thing you need to make any good weeknight dinner is…vegetables. Grab one, two, or three (or more) of your favorite vegetables and you’re halfway to a really delicious vegan dinner.
Halfway, can’t be, right?
Wrong.
When I’m bored or too busy to spend a lot of time on my vegan meals, I chop up some veggies, add beans or seitan or other vegan meat alternatives–maybe a grain–and BAM I have a meal fit for a vegan king!
Just kidding about the king business, but it gets the job done and it’s always tasty.
These vegan dinners aren’t super gorgeous to look at and they don’t come with fun, creative names but they are good, nutritious and satisfying.
Vegetables
Keep it simple when it comes to choosing the right vegetables. Choose affordable veggies, seasonal and locally grow when possible. Often you’ll know if they are seasonal/local by the price tag, which is helpful in this global world of ours where our food travels too many miles/kilometers to get to us.
Staple vegetables for me include: broccoli, onions, carrots, bell peppers & cauliflower.
Depending on where you are and your access, pick whatever looks good to your tummy!
Grains
I don’t eat a ton of grains but I do keep them on hand because they are an excellent way to get the nutrients you need, to fuel you and make your tastebuds twerk.
Choose whatever you like here, white or brown rice, pasta, bulgur, couscous, quinoa or barley…
Vegan Proteins
For some, this is a very controversial topic. For me, not so much. I exercise regularly, a combination of resistance and strength training which means I need protein to help repair my muscles and reduce pain from that process, so I needs my proteins.
And I don’t discriminate. I will gladly add beans and vegan sausage together to up my protein intake, tofu and lentils, tofu and beans, tempeh, nuts and nut butters, edamame and yeah even seeds, all to get what I need to be the best me I can be.
So, pick whatever proteins you want to make a full and satisfying vegan meal…and go for it.
Herbs & Spices
Don’t be shy about adding seasoning to your dishes. Not only can you use herbs and spices from around the world to transform a dish, it really adds a lot of flavor.
How? Simple.
You can:
*Sprinkle dry herbs into the water of your grains. Rosemary, oregano, thyme or marjoram are a great complement to salt.
*Pick a cuisine and turn any dish into an Asian, Indian, Brazilian or Mexican inspired dish even if it isn’t authentically authentic.
*Always add your staple herbs & spices. For me its: salt & pepper, cumin, smoky paprika & garlic.
*Not sure what to add? Read the ingredients on the back of those premade seasoning packets, they’ll tell you what you need to know.
And that’s how you can turn any meal into a delicious vegan recipe.
The Spicy Spatula 
Whatcha think?