Last week we shared our Top 10 Fish & Seafood recipes and this week we thought we’d share our Top 10 Meatless recipes. Part of the reason we decided to do two different Top 10 lists is because when we started with the combined Top 10, it was just too hard to leave out recipe #11. And we also realize there are some people who don’t eat or don’t like fish or seafood.
Roasted veggies does something magical to them. The slight little char you get adds so much flavor – way more flavor than steaming something. And when you line your pan with tinfoil the clean up is a total breeze. This is one of Tory’s go-to weeknight meals. I like to change up the veggies with whatever I have hanging out in the fridge and need to use up.
9. French Onion Grilled Cheese
I like to think of this as an ‘adult grilled cheese’. You wouldn’t believe how much that caramelized onions elevate such a classic sandwich and a sprinkle of fresh thyme takes it over the top.
This salty, tangy, garlicky pasta is definitely a Tory pasta since I’m not a huge olive fan. But I am a fan of the simplicity of this recipe especially when it’s so full of flavor and you have to love a quick weeknight meal.
7. Pear & Fontina Grilled Cheese
It’s sort of fitting that two grilled cheese recipes ended up on this top 10 list, since it’s the first thing Tory and I ever cooked together. Specifically, I taught Tory how to make a grilled cheese when I refused to give in to her “I’m hungry, make me something” whine when I was home from college. Isn’t it better to teach someone to fish? The pear and fontina is such a great combination. The pears add a touch of sweetness that goes great with the creamy fontina.
6. Roasted Cauliflower Cacao di Pepi Pasta
I already mentioned earlier in this post that something magical happens when you roast veggies and one of my favorite veggies to roast is cauliflower. This is a grown up version of the simple buttered noodles and Parmesan that I used to love as a kid. It drove my parents nuts that I didn’t want spaghetti sauce.
I’m sensing a roasted vegetable trend on this post… I’m also sensing the trend that Tory’s recipes tend to be healthier than mine. or at least lower carb. You’ll love this hearty dish of roasted veggies in a nice tomato sauce.
4. Baked Egg and Asparagus Crescent Squares
Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorite things to do when I’m home alone because eggs cook so fast. And adding eggs and asparagus to unrolled crescent dough squares couldn’t be easier. The best part is when you cut into the yolk and it spills out to create a sauce.
3 Spaghetti Squash Mac ‘n Cheese
Mac ‘n Cheese has got to be at the top of my comfort food list and both Tory and I loved our Aunt ‘Thann’s Mac ‘n Cheese growing up. Tory turns this indulgent comfort food into a healthier version by using spaghetti squash in place of the pasta. And of course roasted broccoli is cheese’s best friend.
2. Cucumber Avocado Salad Pita
Fresh veggies tossed with a lemon and oil dressing. It’s light and fresh and perfect as the weather turns towards spring (if you live in Minnesota or another Northern climate like this then depending on how fickle March is this year you may want to save this one for closer to the end of Lent.) A pita makes this veggie salad portable.
This has to be one of my all-time favorite pasta dishes. My favorite memory of this is making it in North Carolina when we rented a house near the beach for a weekend with one of our favorite couples. They were arriving a few hours later than us and we had it on the table when they pulled in. Serve this up with a nice salad and you might actually feel a little guilty for eating this indulgent pasta on a Friday in Lent since giving up meat is supposed to be a sacrifice.
Queue the cheese pull!
[…] This year marks the 3rd year that Tory & I have been posting Lent recipes and since we post fish, seafood, vegetarian and meat-free recipes throughout the year as well we have accumulated quite the collection of recipes. We took a look at our overall page view stats and found the Top 10 fish and seafood recipes and later on we’ll also post our Top 10 Meatless recipes. […]