Whether you’re trying to opt for a vegetarian or vegan diet, or you simply want to eat a little less meat in your diet, one of the best things that you can do is make use of some of the alternatives that can do a lot to replicate your favorite tastes and sensations, but without the presence of meat. As such, here, we’re going to look at some of the best vegetarian alternatives you can whip up without making things too complex.

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Lasagna

If you’re looking to cook up a delicious meal for a number of people, then you can’t go wrong with a few casserole recipes. A lot of these make use of meat, but there are vegan alternatives like eggplant lasagna. Eggplants are great at replicating the kind of tender texture that meat gets to get when it’s steeped in sauce and cooked as part of a lasagna. Lentils can help you top up the texture and chewiness of the meal, too.

Wings

This might sound downright impossible. How can you replace the chicken in a chicken wing? Well, by focusing on the aspects of the meal that aren’t the actual wing itself. For a lot of people, the highlight of a good plate of wings is the seasoning and sauce that’s used on them. You can still get that taste sensation but enjoy a healthier meal with this air fried cauliflower wings recipe. Air frying your vegetables can make sure they don’t lose their nutritional quality but gives them a nice crunch and brings out some of the more savory notes of their flavor.

Spaghetti

Do you love a good pasta meal? Well, aside from the lasagna mentioned above, did you know that some of your favorite spaghetti meals can go vegan as well? When it comes to something like spaghetti bolognese, you can replace your minced beef with mushrooms of all things. It might sound strange but there are mushroom replacements for ground or minced beef that are actually really impressive when it comes to replicating their texture and the role that they play in meals. Chewy, savory, and good at blending in with the taste of a good tomato gravy, try replacing your beef with meatless ground “beef” next time you’re craving a spaghetti meal.

Tacos

When you want a meal that’s a little more casual and fun, then tacos can bring some spicy energy to the dinner table. You might think that there’s simply no way to replace the meat inside them and perhaps you’ve even tried bean tacos before, only to find they don’t do the trick for you. However, this tofu taco recipe takes an entirely different approach. A lot of people find that tofu is much better at soaking up the tastes of sauces and seasonings than some of the other meat replacements around.

It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to get a little less meat and a little more veg in your diet with the suggestions above. 

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This is a contributed post