Vegetarian and Vegan

Deviled eggs are a popular staple on the Southern dinner table. I have made literally hundreds of dozens over my life. They are delicious. However, can we achieve a great deviled egg using more Med-friendly ingredients, namely olive oil.

Lentils are a quick alternative to dried beans. No soaking required and cook in a very short time.

This recipe is extremely easy to prepare and makes a great side dish. If you like spice, add a Thai green chili or jalapeño.

This pasta is a great way to incorporate a variety of vegetables into one quick and simple meal that your friends and family will love.

This dish is a real crowd pleaser. The nutty couscous pairs well with the sweet dried fruits. It makes a great side dish.

The traditional Mediterranean way of eating includes lots of vegetables. Breakfast is the hardest meal for many to get any vegetables. Adding veggies to an omelet is one way to get at least some at the morning meal.

This is one of the best salads to make when the corn is really fresh. The easiest way to cook the corn is in the microwave. Cut off one end, microwave for 4 minutes, remove with hot pad – shake the corn out of the husk.

This recipe is for cauliflower, however, you can use this for any vegetable. It calls for ground spices; however, if you have a spice grinder, it is extra tasty to grind the spices from whole spices. Either way, you will love this easy recipe. The roasted vegetables are great hot or cold in salads.

This recipe is a great way to use leftover rice. The long-grain brown basmati rice can be substituted with regular brown rice. Garnish with cilantro or scallions for extra flavor.

Everyone should have a go-to stir fry recipe. This is a basic recipe that you can vary based on availability of seasonal vegetables. The fresh grated ginger gives it a wonderful Asian flavor.

This is an interesting main-dish salad that, thanks to canned beets, is really quick. It is a great use for leftover lentils, you could even use other beans. You can use any salad green, however, arugula, gives a nice spice to the salad. The cumin vinaigrette is great with other salads as well or just as a dressing for lentils.

Is peanut butter and jelly a staple at your house? Try this simple twist on an old favorite to ditch the extra sugar, boost the crunch factor, and amp up the nutritional benefits.

This recipe has an Indian name, Kachumber, that means chopped; however, my dear Indian friend says it is not Indian at all. It is, however, delicious.

Make this when you have really ripe mangos. It is a great addition to spicy foods and is terrific on our Mushroom Beef Tacos and Fish Tacos.

This is a versatile side dish. You can use it as a base for grilled fish, and it also goes great with lentils. You can even thin it with water to make a soup. You will be hooked the first time you make it. It keeps for several days in the refrigerator and freezes well.

This is an Indian-style sweet and savory snack that is super easy to prepare. You can vary the fruits to your liking and what’s readily available.

This is a great side dish or can be a main dish if added to a large vegetable salad.

If you are tired of sweet yogurt, this recipe is for you. You can use kosher salt but flake salt, such as Maldon, is better. It may sound strange but the tiny kick of salt makes this dish.

This simple salad is really delicious. The process of hand mixing and slightly macerating (slightly crushing) the avocados makes it a bit creamy. You can alter this recipe and use different vinegars based on your taste.

This recipe calls for grapefruit, mango, and pineapple, but you can use most any combination of fruit.

This is an example of a recipe that can be made literally hundreds of ways. Add one or two vegetables, one or two fruits, a grain, a bean, and dress with citrus vinaigrette. This recipe uses avocado and orange. You could use cucumber, tomato, onion, or shredded squash – really any vegetable. For the fruit component, any citrus, mango, or pineapple works well. Choose any whole grain and any canned bean. This is a great way to use up leftover grains from other meals. This can be a side dish or served on top of a mixed green salad.

This is a great breakfast or lunch. Healthy fat helps keeps your hunger in check throughout the day.

This salsa is great on a salad, as a dip, or with your favorite taco. Vary the ingredients as you like for your taste. If you like it spicy, you can add jalapeno or other chili peppers. You can add different spices to your taste, such as cumin or coriander.

This is a colorful and tasty salad that is especially good during summer months. It is easy to prepare and only has a few, simple ingredients. For variation, add chopped onions, black beans, and/or red pepper according to taste preference.