Vegetarian Recipes to Replace Pasta, Rice and Potatoes

One of the biggest problems for vegetarians who want to reduce their carbohydrate consumption is that pasta, rice, and potatoes tend to be the base for many diets.  These foods have a high glycemic index, that the majority of diets don’t take into consideration. Fortunately, there are healthier options, like these following vegetarian recipes.

Cold Cauliflower salad (contains eggs)

Ingredients

• 1 cauliflower
• 6 hard boiled eggs, diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 c. peas, cooked
• 1/2 c. Greek yogurt
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp. mustard
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook the cauliflower until soft (about 15 minutes).
2. Mix all ingredients.
3. Cool the salad in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Mushroom stuffed turnips

Ingredients

• 12 fresh, medium-sized turnips
• 50 grams butter
• 300 grams mushrooms
• Salt to taste

Directions

1. Peel, wash and remove the pulp from the turnips.
2. Submerge the turnips in boiling water with salt for 8 minutes, then cool in cold water.
3. Season the inside of the turnips with a bit of salt.
4. Place in a pot over low heat, add 20 grams of butter and the pulp from the turnips, the cook the mixture.
5. Clean the mushrooms, cut them into small cubes, season with salt and pepper, and cook in 20 grams of butter until the water released is completely evaporated.
6. Mix the turnip pulp with the cooked mushrooms.
7. Preheat the oven to 210 degrees Celsius.
8. Fill the turnips with the mushroom and pulp mixture.
9. Grease a baking dish with the leftover butter, place the stuffed turnips on it and place in the oven.
10. Bake the turnips until soft.

Creamy cauliflower sauce

Ingredients

• 8 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 5-6 c. cauliflower florets
• 6-7 c. water
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/2 c. milk (you can add or subtract however much you like)

Directions

1. Saute the garlic in the butter in a large frying pan, over low heat.  Cook for several minutes, until the garlic softens, without burning it.  Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Boil the water in a large pot.  Add the cauliflower and cover.  Wait for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.  Remove from heat and leave the cauliflower in the water.
3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower pieces to a blender.  Add one cup of milk, the salt, pepper, sauteed garlic, and one cup of the water that you cooked the cauliflower in.  Mix and blend everything into a sauce.
4. Pour the sauce into a frying pan and season to taste with salt and pepper.  If you would like a creamier consistency, add milk, and for a thinner consistency, add water.
5. Serve the sauce hot.

If you would like a potato sauce substitute, try adding more milk than water to the sauce.

Remember that before cooking the cauliflower, you need to disinfect it and remove the green leaves that generally come with it.

Glazed turnips

Ingredients

• 1 kg turnips
• 5 Tbsp. water
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Fresh parsley, diced, to taste

Directions

1. Peel the turnips, dice them into quarters and place them in a large frying pan in a single layer.
2. Add enough water to cover the turnips half way.
3. Add the butter, sugar and salt.  Cover and boil over high heat.
4. Stir occasionally until the water has evaporated.
5. Saute the turnips, and stir until golden.
6. Add 3 Tbsp. water and cook until glazed.
7. Serve and sprinkle with fresh, diced parsley to taste.

Eat healthily with these vegetarian recipes and don’t deny yourself the textures you enjoy.