Meatless Mondays started as an international campaign that began in 2003 to encourage people to cut down on their meat consumption for their health and the health of the planet. Skipping meat any time of the week is beneficial and lazy Mondays are a particularly good night to experiment with going meat-free because most recipes can be prepared fairly quickly.
Meatless meals typically focus on using vegetables, fruits and grains as ingredients. Fresh produce and spices can make all the difference and you can even apply some meat-related cooking concepts to veggie alternatives with delicious results. (See fritters and cauliflower steaks.)
Read on for some delicious meatless meals to make any Monday — or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...you get the idea.
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Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Hold the delivery and go extra on flavor with cauliflower pizza. This version uses a pre-made crust so dinner can be on the table in less than 15 minutes. This delicious 'za is topped with tomato sauce, mushrooms, kale, goat milk feta and herbs, but feel free to tweak the ingredients for your dietary/taste needs.
Combine Taco Tuesday and Meatless Mondays into one yummy tortilla. You'll love these sweet potato, avocado, cauliflower and black bean tacos because of the mix of textures and flavors. They're also gluten-free thanks to almond flour tortillas.
Meat eaters: Don't knock cauliflower steak until you've tried one. Skeptics will be converted thanks to these no-fuss oven-roasted cauliflower steaks. There's no need to worry about firing up the grill. The chimichurri sauce will transport you to an Argentinian BBQ.
Looking to branch out from falafel? These gluten- and nut-free carrot fritters have the same satisfying crunch but feel new. They're also super easy to make using only four ingredients. Combine with a salad and/or sweet potato fries for a fun Meatless Monday meal.
