This meatless version of classic taco salad is served on a toasted tortilla, so you can eat your plate. Photograph by Quentin Bacon.
In my experience, throwing dinner together without a recipe isn’t always the best idea (no matter how much Cooking Channel you’ve been watching). But with Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals, cookbook author Pam Anderson shares simple formulas that really will get you cooking great food without a cookbook, but with a plan – and as a bonus, these meals are meatless. This isn’t a cookbook just for vegetarians, but for anyone aiming to eat less meat and more veggies. Add these customizable recipe ideas to your repertoire to create your own fresh, seasonal dishes that are low in fat and calories.
Give these meatless recipes a try (they could even work for Super Bowl foods):
Eat-Your-Plate Taco Salad with Black Beans and Grilled Corn
Really Simple Bean Burgers
Minestrone for Every Season
Once you know how to make these easy meatless burgers, you can mix up your routine with different toppings. Photograph by Quentin Bacon.
We’re giving away one copy of Cook Without a Book to one lucky winner. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling us your favorite meatless meal.
So, tell us, what’s your favorite meatless meal?
You must include your email address in the “Email” field when submitting your comment so we can communicate back with you if you’re a winner. (But do not post your email address into the actual body of the comment.) We’re giving one copy away to one very lucky, randomly selected commenter.
You may only comment once to be considered, and you don’t have to purchase anything to win; a purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Odds depend on total number of entries. Void where prohibited. Only open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, D.C. or Puerto Rico, and you must be at least 18 years of age to win. All entries (comments) must be entered between 2:00 p.m. ET on February 2 and 5:00 p.m. ET on February 6. Subject to full Official Rules. By leaving a comment on the blog, you acknowledge your acceptance to the Official Rules. ARV of prize: $32.50. Sponsor: Scripps Networks, LLC, d/b/a/ Cooking Channel, 75 9th Ave., New York, NY 10011.
More Vegetarian Recipes on Cooking Channel
I would love this book, just learning to skip the meat!
Butternut squash soup. With carmelized onions mixed in.
Three cheese grilled cheese with a tomato and dill pickle.
Curried Lentil Soup, yum…I rarely use a cookbook for every day meals; I'm always up for new ideas!
My favorite meatless dish is Eggplant Parmesan. Using Soy Cheese Of Course!
Quinoa with chipotle, black beans and corn. Soooooo good!!
Pad Thai!
My daughter is a vegetarian and today is her birthday – so I think it would be perfect to win this cookbook as a special gift for her. My favorite vegetarian dish is Garden Vegetable Lasagna.
Whole family is vegetarian…my fave meal we cook is a yummy veggie curry with homemade naan and maybe with tikki aloo on the side. Yum!
I'm actually looking to add more meatless meals to our family's diet and am in need of tasty, healthful meals so this cookbook would be wonderful! I suppose my favorite meatless meal is carrot ginger butternut squash soup, a nice salad, and homemade bread. Yum!
I love to create vegetarian mexican food such as enchiladas. I always serve guocomole and salsa on the side! When my boyfriend and I are in the mood for thai food I make a great lo mein with enadame and asian slaw, chopped scallions mixed with peanut sauce! This is so delicious and satisfying.
I feel that vegetarian food is very healthy. When you omit the animal products you seem to feel good after a meal and not over stuffed and bloated!
My favorite thing to do is to plan for a Meatless Monday meal with my children 12&13 allowing them to choose the vegetables we will use…….Last week was a meatless spaghetti sauce with squash, garlic, carrots and a simple marinara sauce…….They loved it!!
My favorite is Curried Lentils with basmati rice. Soo good!
A Greek salad is wonderful and fresh! Would love to have the book!
Mine has to be vegetable soup! I haven't had a lot of vegetarian meals, but I have more and more reasons to learn! I hope I get a free copy of the book!
My favorite is Artichoke and Spinach Casserole
Tomato lentil soup
My favorite is french onion soup made with vegetable broth, of course
Really any type of curry. Delicious.
my favorite meatless meal is vegetarian lasagna. love the cheese and veggie combo.
A nice grilled veggie sandwich… Grilled eggplant, Portobello mushroom, roasted red peppers, arugula and basil and fresh mozzarella cheese… MM-MMM!
My favorite vegetarian meal is eggplant parmesan. I'm just getting into cooking meatless and would really enjoy this cookbook.
Faro with mushrooms
My favorite meatless/VEGAN meal is falafel! Especially the falafel plate at Banura 1 in Indianapolis! YUM!
omg ….what the delicious thing you presenting……..my mouth is full of water….
Pasta with garlic, spinach, and parmesan.
My favorite… toss up between a stir fry or there are so many salad possibilities
This would be great to prepare meals for my family and let then realize that eating healthy can be tasty. My favorite meatless meal would be pasta with a chunky veggie sauce.
I great meatless meal we have made is called vegetarian gumbo. Not really vegetarians but we are trying to eat more healthier.
One of my favorites is a thick vegetarian chili. All sorts of things can be added to it or garnished on top to add variety. I love making a big pot of it and freezing some so I always have some at the ready when I have a craving for it.
Favorite meatless meal? Hard one. Pizza with grilled veggies? Pasta with whatever veggies are hanging around? An Indian dal?
I love mac & cheese
My favorite is Vegetarian Lasagne with sauteed garlic, onion, 3 kinds of cheese, mushrooms, spinach, and tomato sauce.
Chickpea burgers.
I don't know of many good meatless recipes. I'd have to go with a simple bean & cheese burrito!
Lentil Soup…..every time I make Lentil Soup (I've only used a recipe once to understand the basic mix and ratios of ingredients) it turns out different every time. Most of the time it's vegetarian, but once in a while I've made it with meat. Even my picky eater son has liked it.
Vegetarian pizza.
pasta with a homemade tomato based sauce, lots of veggies and olive oil
Bulgur kale casserole with yogurt topping. The yogurt gives it a great tang. The bulgur and kale give it body. It's delicious.
My favorite meatless meal is spicy veggie couscous.