Vegetarian cooking with herbs: flavorful recipes without meat

In a previous blog we dove with you into the ins and outs of the vegetarian diet. In it we explained that by following a vegetarian diet you contribute to a healthier and greener world. Many people think you have to give up flavor for that—that you will enjoy food less. But as far as we’re concerned that’s nonsense. By letting herbs and spices do the work for you, you can put a meal on the table that’s truly impressive, without needing meat. 

Today we want to share a number of basic techniques and recipes that will help you get started in the kitchen in a healthy and green way. By adding these tips and tricks to your culinary arsenal, you'll soon be able to put a tasty and easy vegetarian meal on the table in no time, surprise friends and family with a vegetarian culinary evening, and even try your hand at vegetarian dishes on the barbecue. Don’t believe us? Read on quickly! 

Whether you look up a recipe on the internet, in a book, or whip a meal out of your culinary sleeve; you’ll see that most dishes are built from 3 components. A source of protein, a source of carbohydrates and a source of vegetables form the basis of most (evening) meals. Where this protein source has historically been a piece of meat, you can make this component fairly easily vegetarian or plant-based. 

For example, legumes are a good source of protein, allowing you to replace the piece of meat on your plate in a healthy and sustainable way. By making a curry with chickpeas instead of chicken, you don’t have to compromise on taste or the amount of protein in the dish, yet you eat vegetarian. The taste of a good curry, of course, rises or falls with the spice mix used, so if you make sure that's good, it will definitely be delicious.  

And what about eggs? Although eggs are not plant-based, they are a fantastic source of protein. In addition, you can literally go in any direction with eggs. Boiled, baked, poached—as an omelet or scrambled. You can do more with them than with the average piece of meat, they are better for health and more sustainable for the planet. Plus, by seasoning your eggs with delicious herbs and spices, such as smoked paprika, pepper and salt, you can make an egg at least as tasty as a piece of meat.

By having a standard vegetarian or plant-based substitute for the meat for each type of dish that is used in the recipe, you can make vegetarian eating a lot easier for yourself. Use legumes, such as chickpeas or lentils, as a protein source in soups, stews and curries. And in dishes where you would ‘normally’ eat a piece of meat separately, like a traditional Dutch AVG (potatoes, meat and vegetables), you can simply replace the meat with 2 or 3 fried eggs. 

To help you put a tasty and easy vegetarian meal on the table during the week, we now have a number of recipes for you that you can vary endlessly

For example, you can fairly easily prepare a vegetarian and flavorful stir-fry, ideal for a busy weekday. Stir-fry a mix of fresh vegetables, such as bell pepper, carrot and mushroom, in a little oil until they are tender. Then add crispy fried cubes of tofu to this. 

Method:

For the wok sauce mix 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, a splash of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon Bio Fantastic Five, or 1 tablespoon Habibie Veggie ½ teaspoon cornstarch, black pepper and salt. Stir well, then add it to the vegetables and tofu. If you wait about 10 to 20 seconds you’ll see the sauce start to bubble, which is a sign that the cornstarch is doing its job and the sauce is thickening. Once the sauce has bubbled a bit you can mix the vegetables, the tofu and the sauce together further. 

Garnish the stir-fried vegetables and tofu with finely chopped spring onion and serve it over cooked rice or noodles. While the rice or noodles are cooking you can stir-fry the vegetables and tofu and season them with the simple wok sauce. This way you can put a healthy, vegetarian and above all flavorful meal on the table within 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy your meal!   

In addition to this delicious, quick meal, our website also contains several recipes for simple vegetarian dishes. How about the cauliflower shawarma bowl with green tahini dressing, with which you can make a finger-licking meal in about 30 minutes? And have you seen the recipe for the vegan orzo salad with arugula pesto? Only 25 minutes of work, with a result that is a plant-based taste sensation. 

We regularly share delicious recipes on our website and through our social media channels, so keep an eye on them if you’re looking for inspiration for healthy and flavorful dishes! 

On a weekday we understand that you prefer a tasty, easy meal. But sometimes you just want to pull out all the stops. Especially when friends or family come over. Do you need meat to impress them? Definitely not! You can also create culinary masterpieces in a vegetarian way. 

One thing we certainly don’t want to withhold from you is the vegan one-pan lasagna we recently shared on our website and Instagram page. This is a perfect dish to make for several people. Grab a large pan, follow the recipe you can find on the website and within half an hour you can sit down at the table. No one will miss the meat, because the dish is delicious and well balanced. 

Or surprise your friends with the sweet potato frittata with sauerkraut and raisins. This frittata is flavored with the organic Masala Magic, giving the dish a surprising Indian touch. A bold but delicious combination that’s definitely worth trying. Do you dare? This dish works well as a starter. You can keep it for 4 days in the refrigerator, so you can also enjoy it over several days as lunch.

And who said barbecuing has to be a meat feast? Well, not us, that’s for sure! You can also enjoy the conviviality that comes with a barbecue without having to prepare meat for it. But what should you make then? 

A real vegetarian barbecue classic is the stuffed portobello. The version we want to show you is filled with goat cheese, spinach and pine nuts; a match made in heaven. 

Method:

For this take 4 large portobellos, remove the stem and clean them thoroughly. Place them on a plate or cutting board with the hollow side up, so they become a sort of little bowl. 

To make the filling sauté one finely chopped onion and 2 cloves of garlic in a tablespoon of hot olive oil. Then add the spinach until it has wilted. Season with black pepper and salt. Spoon this mixture into the hollowed-out portobellos, which have been waiting to be filled. Then crumble the goat cheese and sprinkle roasted pine nuts over the filled portobellos. 

Place the portobellos on a hot barbecue on a greased grate. It’s important to grease the grate so the portobellos don’t stick when they’re done. Let them roast on the barbecue for about 10 to 15 minutes. When they're ready you can garnish them with a basil leaf, but this is not necessary. Your vegetarian barbecue delicacy is ready to be served—enjoy! 

In addition to this vegetarian barbecue classic, you can of course also ‘just’ grill sliced vegetables on the barbecue. What’s important here is that you season the vegetables well before putting them on the barbecue. Use at least black pepper and salt for this, which you can supplement with herbs and spices you like. What we personally find a nice addition is paprika powder, both for color and flavor. Or experiment with curry powder, which gives the vegetables on the barbecue a lovely Eastern touch. And have you ever used the Habibi Veggie? With this sustainably packaged spice mix you can easily season your vegetables, and it also contains less salt than regular mixes. A tasteful and responsible choice!

Eating vegetarian is not only healthy, it’s also super tasty. Provided, of course, that you know which herbs and spices to use to season your dishes. In this blog we therefore took you through how you can replace meat in a sustainable way with vegetarian and plant-based alternatives, so that you can do your bit for a healthier life and a greener world. 

We told you about tasty and easy weekday vegetarian dishes, but also how to create a culinary masterpiece in a healthy way. And barbecuing? That can be very vegetarian too. For your next dinner party or barbecue you really don’t need to buy meat. Let that nice weather come! 

We hope we have inspired you to enjoy delicious vegetarian or plant-based dishes in a healthy and sustainable way. That’s how we work together toward a beautiful, flavorful future! Are you joining us?  

5 Frequently Asked Questions about vegetarian cooking

1. How do I replace meat in a vegetarian dish?

You can easily replace meat with protein-rich alternatives such as chickpeas, lentils, beans, tofu or eggs. In stews and curries legumes work perfectly. In a classic AVG meal you can, for example, replace meat with fried eggs or a veggie burger.

2. Will I get enough protein without meat?

Yes, provided you consciously choose protein-rich ingredients. Legumes, tofu, tempeh, eggs, nuts and seeds are excellent sources of protein in a vegetarian diet.

3. How do I make sure vegetarian food doesn’t taste bland?

The key is herbs and spices. Use, for example, smoked paprika powder, curry, cumin, masala or a good vegetable mix. By building layers of flavor your dish gains depth and character, without needing meat.

4. Can you barbecue vegetarian?

Absolutely. Stuffed portobellos, grilled zucchini, bell pepper or eggplant are perfect options. Season vegetables well in advance with herbs, olive oil and optionally a marinade for a powerful flavor.

5. What are quick vegetarian recipes for weekdays?

Stir-fries with tofu and vegetables, one-pan dishes like vegan lasagna or a quick curry with chickpeas are ideal. With a good spice mix you can put a flavorful meal on the table in 20 minutes.