23 Quick, No Fuss Meals

Now a lot of people know that if you are looking to eat a healthy plant-based diet, there are wonderful blogs out there with a vast assortment of recipes and info. One of my faves is "The Happy Herbivore". I find her recipes are in a very similar style to the way I cook, they are accessible and I enjoy that. I just found a post on her blog that I had to share!

23 Quick, No Fuss Meals

23 Quick, No-Fuss Meals: Still crave the ease and simplicity of a ham and cheese sandwich? No problem! Make any of these fast and almost instant meals!

Simple Stir-Fry: Combine equal parts soy sauce with sugar and set aside. Cook frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables according to packaging instructions (microwave!). Toss with soy sauce mixture and serve over a plate of cooked rice or quinoa. Edamame (soybeans) and/or tofu chunks make a nice addition.

Blissful Burrito: Spread a thin layer of vegetarian refried beans (or regular cooked beans) into a tortilla or wrap. Add salsa and any leftovers you have such as rice, quinoa, vegetables or greens. Roll up and voila!

Penny-Pinching Pad Thai: Toss cooked (and still hot!) rice noodles or pasta with 2 tbsp smooth or crunchy peanut butter and a dash of hot sauce. Cook frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables according to packaging instructions (microwave!) and toss with noodles. Garnish with crushed peanuts if desired.

Fast Fajitas: Mix fajita seasoning packet with water as directed. Cook fresh or frozen bell peppers until cooked, but still crisp. Toss with fajita mixture and cook as directed. Slap into tortillas and voila!

In a Hurry Curry: Mix 1 tsp curry paste with 1 cup coconut milk or non-dairy milk over medium heat to form a sauce, whisking in more paste if desired. Cook frozen mixed vegetables according to packaging instructions (microwave!) and smother with curry sauce. Tofu chunks and/or a side of rice make a nice addition.

Tasty Tofu Scramble: Break a block of firm tofu into chunks. Mix with 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 big squirt Dijon mustard, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp turmeric and ½ tsp cumin and cook until warm, stirring frequently. Add a splash of non-dairy milk if it starts to stick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add salsa, leftover veggies or beans to expand this dish. (video on happyherbivore.com/courses)

Pita Pizza: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce or pizza sauce on a pita. Add any toppings you like: vegetables, faux cheese, faux meat — even leftovers. Bake 5–10 minutes at 350 F. Don’t be afraid to try crazy combinations!

Smashing Smoothies: Blend 2 cups frozen fruit with 1 cup non-dairy milk or juice, or a combination of liquids. Add oats, ground flax seeds or a fresh banana for a fuller meal. Great combos: pineapple chunks with non-dairy milk and OJ; strawberries and vanilla non-dairy milk; banana, strawberries and chocolate non-dairy milk. Mixed berries, plain non-dairy milk and flax seeds.

Quickie Quesadilla: Smash a cooked sweet potato into a tortilla or wrap. Add beans, cooked greens and/or corn and fold over. Heat each side in a skillet if desired. Serve with vegan sour cream and/or fruit-flavored salsa over top.

Crazy Corn Soup: Cook 1 lb. frozen corn according to directions (microwave!). Blend into a creamy soup with 1/4 cup non-dairy milk and voila! Chipotle powder or hot sauce takes this soup to a fiery new level! (Recipe from happyherbivore.com)

Sassy Salsa Soup: Place 1 cup black beans, 1 cup salsa and 1½ cups vegetable broth in a blender, pureeing until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan, add 1 cup frozen corn, more black beans as desired, 1/2 tsp cumin and hot sauce to taste. Cook until thoroughly warm. Crumble tortilla chips over top and serve. Fresh avocado and/or cilantro also make a nice addition.

Mama’s Mexi- Dip: Combine vegan sour cream (or silken tofu blended with a few drops of lemon or lime juice) with ⅓ cup salsa or 1 packet taco seasoning. Serve with refried beans and tortilla chips. Guacamole also makes a nice addition. If you have extra time, make a layered dip.

Better BLT: Combine vegan bacon with lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo, avocado slices or hummus between two slices of bread or toast. You can also use a wrap.

Ancient Aztec Salad: Combine 1 cup corn with ½ cup black beans, ¼ cup cooked quinoa and fresh tomatoes. Squeeze lime juice over top. Serve warm or chilled. This can also be served over lettuce with tempeh slices or in a wrap. (Recipe from happyherbivore.com).

Terrific Teriyaki: Combine 1 can chickpeas with ¼ cup teriyaki sauce, 1 tbsp hot sauce and 1 tbsp sugar (optional) cook over medium heat until the chickpeas turn brown and the liquid absorb. Serve over greens or rice with fresh pineapple or mango salsa. (Recipe from happyherbivore.com).

Sensational Salsa Chickpeas: Combine 1 can chickpeas with 8 ounces of salsa. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until liquid has absorbed. Eat with lettuce wraps and sliced veggies. (Recipe from happyherbivore.com).

Cha-Cha Chili Macaroni: Combine 1 can of vegetarian chili with cooked pasta and a little tomato sauce if desired. Corn and/or fresh avocado slices make a nice addition. You can also add hot sauce to spice it up.

Outstanding Oatmeal: Cook 1 serving plain oatmeal according to directions. Mix with 4 to 8 ounces of plain soy yogurt. Add fresh fruit such as berries or banana slices and nuts, such as sliced raw almonds, on top. Drizzle with agave nectar or pure maple syrup. You can also add seeds, dried fruits or ground flax seeds.

BBQ’ed Baked Potato: Slice baked potato in half and smother with vegetarian baked beans. Serve with a side of frozen greens cooked according to package (microwave!).

Two-Minute Tacos: Combine 2 cups TVP with 2 cups hot water and 1 packet taco seasoning, stirring to incorporate. Once TVP has reconstituted (all water has been absorbed), make tacos or a taco salad.

Nice Rice Nori Rolls: Place chopped raw vegetables, such as bell peppers, cucumbers and carrots, with sliced apples or avocado, plus cooked rice or quinoa in the center of a nori sheet and roll up. Dip in soy sauce if desired.

Tangy Tempeh: Cut tempeh in half. Boil in water for 10 minutes. Drain, pat dry and smother in a tangy barbecue sauce. Serve on a bun with pickle slices and a side of cooked mixed vegetables.

Happy Hummus Wrap: Line a tortilla or wrap with red pepper hummus. Pile in fresh veggies such as sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery and white mushrooms, all sliced thin. Roll up and enjoy.