No Meat May

It’s the texture of tofu that I don’t like but I’ve just had smoky tofu and found it really tasty. The smoking process also makes it firmer. Worth a try.

Vegetable lasagne

I have been vegetarian for forty years. I also despise tofu and anything else masquerading as meat. It took many years to get to a point where I could plan meals that did not attempt to replicate a meat based meal. I would suggest you eat fish in May and perhaps try one meal a week that is plant based. This way you can etill enjoy your food without thinking you have to reinvent the wheel.
I had mujadra tonight: fried onions with spiced lentils and rice. Very simple and utterly delicious. I mention it precisely because meat eaters usually react to this dish as being very odd and lacking in a number of things. Homity pie at the weekend I think.

I have the same trouble trying to lose weight on a vegetarian diet. A plateful of salad or vegetables is not satisfying but all the vegetarian sources of protein are either full of carbs (lentils, grains) or full of fat (cheese)
I don’t want to eat meat or fish at all but they are tasty, satisfying and full of protein. Plants aren’t.

We eat a lot of various vegetable curries

Investigate Indian vegetable dishes; dahl, bhaji etc. Fried mushrooms or plum tomatoes on toast are nice but probably too snacky for your requirements. Ratatouille or baked beans with jacket potatoes. Vegetarian pizza or quiche.

Just some random ideas off the top of my head.

I am vegetarian BTW.

ferry please may I move in? You like and dislike exactly what I do. I enjoy vegetarian curries and stir fries. I am not a fan of lentils which knocks out many dishes.

I do enjoy fish but not seven days a week.

Aubergine parmigiana.
Three bean chilli.
Mushroom risotto or stroganoff.
Smoky beetroot goulash.
Sweet potato and Black Bean stew.

And loads more.

I eat chicken and fish but rarely red meat.

You could meet it all half way as it were.

I alternate - 3 days. Meat, fish and veggie. That works OK.

We have a mushroom & leek pasta pie which is very carb-heavy but utterly delicious and we can never eat all of it.(no pulses, tofu or paneer although there is cream cheese but you could use a bit of stock & mix in some parmesan before baking instead)
A quarter of that with a veg side, or a salad, would satisfy any carnivore.
I think it's a Gino da Campo recipe, his veggie recipes are pretty hearty, Jamie Oliver also cooks lots of veggie dishes that look very substantial.

Lentil veg soup
Bean soup
Bean Tacos
Quinoa salad
Eggs with cheese on Toast (not vegan)
Veg Lasagna
Noodles and veg
Rice and veg with eggs (Fried rice, not vegan)
Indian food
Pasta and cheese (not vegan)
Jacket potatoes, stuffed (perhaps not vegan)
Stuffed large portobello
Hummus on toast

Broadly egg dishes galore, especially incorporating cheese, stuffed vegetables of all kinds, stuffing based on bread, rice, couscous, other vegetables Vegetable mixes of every kind with pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes, in pies and other pastries.

The internet is full of recipes. According to my meal plan I am having cheese pudding tomorrow and fish curry on Friday. I am not a vegetarian, nor a carnivore. I am standard human omnivore.

ferry23 Are you serious re the chicken and turkey?

Sorry, but I love meat too much to do a “No meat May”, but wish you luck with your endeavour. 😁

Our favourite is a mixed bean quesadilla - a Dale Pinnock recipe. Basically beans in a tomato sauce in a wrap, finished with cheese on top and two minutes under the grill. Very filling.

I rarely eat meat and enjoy a plate of a variety of veg. When ‘out’ I have a Buddha bowl if available. These are easy to put together at home as most of the ingredients will keep in the fridge for a few days.

Good luck with No meat May’; that sounds like a great idea.

Spaghetti tossed in olive oil and seasoned with pepper and salt with fresh tomato sauce topped with parmesan and fresh basil.

Omelette au fine herbes or mushrooms.

Sago

ferry23 Are you serious re the chicken and turkey?

Poultry, not meat.

Jaxjacky

Sago

ferry23 Are you serious re the chicken and turkey?

Poultry, not meat.

Poultry is meat and certainly is according to No Meat May, as is fish.
No one's policing what anyone eats so giving up red meat is a start.

Grandmabatty

Vegetable lasagne

I once made a big vegan lasagne for a DD’s birthday when she was in her vegan phase (thankfully long gone) and it actually turned out very well - but was a major faff! The ‘meat’ element consisted of masses of mushrooms, cut up and cooked down until most of the water was gone.

We sometimes have yellow lentil dal, with spinach and cauliflower, and warmed up naan bread. Very tasty and filling, if enough spices are included.

I don't like meat at all and haven't eaten any knowingly for almost 40 years.
I eat a lot.
How do you think of vegetarian meals as a starter?
I also suggest curries if you need strong flavours - at least to start with. Many Asian cultures are vegetarian or vegan.

I also eat fish about once a week. I'm looking forward to the first fresh herring.

I loathe the very idea of chicken unless truly free-range because of the way they are forced to live their short lives.

I was intrigued to read that quite a few Olympic medalists are vegetarian, so they must be getting plenty of protein.

Good luck with no meat May!

Cheese & onion & ta'atie bake.
(Grease a lidded casserole.
Cover the bottom with a layer of sliced potato - roughly 2mm slices
Add a layer of sliced onion and a sprinkle of ground black pepper.
Add a generous layer of sliced or grated tasty cheese, eg: vintage Cheddar or vintage red Leicester.
Repeat these layers.
Finish with a layer of sliced potato.
Put the lid on and cook in the oven on Mk 3/160ºC for a couple of hours or until all the vegetables are soft.)
You can make this in whatever quantity suits you, depending on the amount of ingredients and size of dish you have to hand. And, if someone's late for dinner, it won't spoil for hours. Just turn down the thermostat a little and leave it cooking slowly.
It also works extremely well in the slow cooker.

Some great ideas here, thank you!