Honestly, I abstain from meat for days at a time without even realizing it — partially because I love vegetables and grains, but also because meat-free eating can still be hearty (not to mention inexpensive). But tell me I can’t have meat for, say, a handful of Fridays during Lent, and suddenly I’m a carnivore.
As observers of Lent know full well, it’s really hard to avoid juicy chicken or burgers. But it helps to remind myself of all those meatless mains I crave outside of Lenten restrictions. I don’t have to eat the soggy fish sticks of my childhood nightmares; I can make ooey-gooey gratin, spicy salads, or filling frittatas. If you, too, are looking for filling meat-free meals, check out these 17 dishes. Don’t worry — the steak can wait.
For temporary pescatarians
1. Black sea bass with vegetables en papillote
2. Roasted black cod in ginger cilantro broth
3. Kimchi, shrimp, and soba salad
4. White bean and tuna salad with hard boiled eggs and dukkah
5. Green curry with shrimp and baby bok choy
6. Zuni’s pasta with preserved tuna
For temporary vegetarians
7. Cavatappi with sun-dried tomatoes, brie, and arugula
8. Creamy goat cheese grits
9. Cauliflower fennel salad with roasted lemon & shallot salsa verde
10. Andrew Feinberg’s slow-baked broccoli frittata
11. Alex Raij’s mushroom confit (setas confitadas)
12. Jean-Georges’ ginger fried rice
13. Cabbage e pepe
14. Spiced chickpeas with wilted kale and roasted carrots
15. Linguine with chickpeas
16. Silken comfort tofu
17. White potato and cheddar gratin
This story was originally published on Food52.com: 17 must-make meatless mains for dinner tonight. Read more......