Vegetarian Goodness

Go meat-free and enliven your taste buds with inspiration from an exciting new cookbook

Whether you’re a veggie looking for fresh and modern recipes, or a meat-eater interested in trying a new cuisine, The Vegetarian Pantry, by Chloe Coker and Jane Montgomery (Ryland Peters, £16.99), could be the new cookbook for you. Packed with fresh and vibrant recipes, this book aims to shake off outdated preconceptions that vegetarian food is dull, heavy and unappealing. ‘Our recipes are designed to be both accessible and flexible,’ says Coker. ‘Our aim is to encourage the reader to experiment and adapt recipes to their own taste and store cupboard, without needing too many hard-to-find or expensive ingredients or lots of experience in the kitchen.’ As occasional meat-eaters, Coker and Montgomery try to eat vegetarian food three or four times a week. ‘We believe everyone’s diet could benefit from including a couple of meat-free meals each week,’ says Coker.

Vegetarian Goodness Photo Gallery

If you want to cut down on meat for health or budget reasons, there are plenty of ideas here to tantalise your taste buds,hether you’re a veggie looking for fresh and modern recipes, or a meat-eater interested in trying a new cuisine, The Vegetarian Pantry, by Chloe Coker and Jane Montgomery (Ryland Peters, £16.99), could be the new cookbook for you. Packed with fresh and vibrant recipes, this book aims to shake off outdated preconceptions that vegetarian food is dull, heavy and unappealing. ‘Our recipes are designed to be both accessible and flexible,’ says Coker. ‘Our aim is to encourage the reader to experiment and adapt recipes to their own taste and store cupboard, without needing too many hard-to-find or expensive ingredients or lots of experience in the kitchen.’ As occasional meat-eaters, Coker and Montgomery try to eat vegetarian food three or four times a week. ‘We believe everyone’s diet could benefit from including a couple of meat-free meals each week,’ says Coker. If you want to cut down on meat for health or budget reasons, there are plenty of ideas here to tantalise your taste buds, so you won’t even notice you’re not eating fish or meat. ‘Gradually build vegetarian food into your diet, keeping it seasonal and simple,’ says Coker. If you already like Thai, Mexican, or Indian cuisine, think of ways to still enjoy these flavours but without meat.

The trick to vegetarian cooking is to bring your dishes to life with colour, flavour and texture, says Coker. ‘Use dried spices to add base flavour to a dish and fresh herbs for colour and fragrance,’ she says. Finding good protein sources when following a vegetarian diet can be tricky, especially without relying heavily on cheese and eggs. But Coker and Montgomery have sought to showcase a range of proteins in this book, such as quinoa and tofu, plus high-protein vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, corn, artichokes and peas.

‘A sprinkling of nuts and seeds is another easy way to add extra protein to any dish,’ says Coker. We’ll certainly be trying the veggie brunch ideas, including the Potato and celeriac rösti and the Chickpea pancakes with halloumi and red pepper salsa. Our mouths areso you won’t even notice you’re not eating fish or meat. ‘Gradually build vegetarian food into your diet, keeping it seasonal and simple,’ says Coker. If you already like Thai, Mexican, or Indian cuisine, think of ways to still enjoy these flavours but without meat. The trick to vegetarian cooking is to bring your dishes to life with colour, flavour and texture, says Coker.

‘Use dried spices to add base flavour to a dish and fresh herbs for colour and fragrance,’ she says. Finding good protein sources when following a vegetarian diet can be tricky, especially without relying heavily on cheese and eggs. But Coker and Montgomery have sought to showcase a range of proteins in this book, such as quinoa and tofu, plus high-protein vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, corn, artichokes and peas. ‘A sprinkling of nuts and seeds is another easy way to add extra protein to any dish,’ says Coker. We’ll certainly be trying the veggie brunch ideas, including the Potato and celeriac rösti and the Chickpea pancakes with halloumi and red pepper salsa. Our mouths are watering with anticipation.

QUICK TIP

Let the ingredients speak for themselves, and take as much care in cooking them as you would an expensive piece of meat or fish.’

Beetroot, celeriac and apple remoulade

Serve this deliciously crunchy remoulade with creamy goat’s cheese toasts, or as a side dish to any savoury quiche or tart.

Serves: 4

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Per serving: 483 calories; 14g protein; 26g fat (7g saturated fat); 49g carbohydrate (11g sugar); 8g fibre; 2g salt

Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

5 tbsp mayonnaise

2 apples, unpeeled and grated

1/4 celeriac, peeled and grated

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 tsp fresh dill, finely chopped, plus extra to serve

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp horseradish cream

2 small beetroots, peeled and grated

A handful of chopped walnuts (optional)

Goat’s cheese toasts

crusty baguette 100g goat’s cheese A drizzle of olive oil

To make the remoulade, put the lemon zest and most of its juice in a bowl with the mayonnaise. Add the remaining lemon juice to a bowl of cold water and put the apple and celeriac in the water so it doesn’t discolour.T o make the remoulade, put the lemon zest and most of its juice in a bowl with the mayonnaise. Add the remaining lemon juice to a bowl of cold water and put the apple and celeriac in the water so it doesn’t discolour.

Add the garlic, dill, mustard and horseradish cream to the mayonnaise and season to taste with salt and pepper. Drain the celeriac and apple and stir them through the mayonnaise mixture, together with the grated beetrootAdd the garlic, dill, mustard and horseradish cream to the mayonnaise and season to taste with salt and pepper. Drain the celeriac and apple and stir them through the mayonnaise mixture, together with the grated beetroot.

To make the goat’s cheese toasts, cut the baguette into slices on an angle, spread one side with the goat’s cheese, then drizzle with olive oil. Toast under the grill until golden.To make the goat’s cheese toasts, cut the baguette into slices on an angle, spread one side with the goat’s cheese, then drizzle with olive oil. Toast under the grill until golden.

Serve the remoulade scattered with chopped walnuts and sprigs of dill, and the goat’s cheese toasts on the side.