Spicy Eggplant & Chickpeas
Sometimes, those of us who are not vegetarians are guilty of not paying enough attention to the food we prepare for our vegetarian guests. Perhaps its that we spend so much time and effort on the meat, poultry or seafood dishes that by the time we get done, we are too tired to think of creative vegetarian dishes. So we hurriedly put something together and, more often than not, it's a side dish and only one side dish at that. This week's column looks at The Neglected Guest - the vegetarian, and suggests some of the ways that we meat eaters can pay more attention to the veggie fare we prepare for our friends and guests.
I'll let the column speak for itself.
October 1st was World Vegetarian Day and the entire month of October is Vegetarian Awareness Month and so this post is a dedication to the month. My friend, Margot of Coffee & Vanilla is hosting one of the events this year. I know that many of you have eligible entries so why not click here and participate.
Know your vegetarian so you're guided by what you can and cannot make for them:
I've been flexing my vegetarian-cooking muscles and I'd like all of us to make a bigger effort in our vegetarian offerings, particularly when we have vegetarian guests.
Yam & Spinach ball
Avocado & red chili salt
Cherry tomatoes rolled in green chili salt
Spinach dhal (Dhals make for a great soup)
Herb roasted potatoes & carrots
Pigeon peas-spiced pilau
Vegetable fried rice
Okras in onion & tomato sauce
Sauteed mushrooms with garlic & green onions
Sauteed bitter gourd
Spicy long beans & soya chunks
As I wondered through some blogs last evening, I came upon some veggie dishes that I think you might like to try also.
Here's Sia's foray into Thai curry pastes
Pearl's Vegetable Pizza
Kevin's Eggplant croquettes
Dhivya's Zucchini patties
Anh's vegetarian appetizer
There were and are so many others out there, unfortunately, I cannot list them all. I have some friends here, that you can check out their blogs for some fantastic, downright tasty vegetarian food.
Don't forget that you can read this week's column here. And please, email me if you need the recipe(s) for any of the dishes above.
99 comments:
Yum, Cynthia! It all looks SO good. That's the way I make my okra too. Mmm. I was laughing at your article about "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the lamb comment. LOL!
Sooooooo delicious! I have a pure vegetarian at home, so we try not to make him feel neglected, cook more veggies..
Cynthia, I could turn vegetarian with that spread in an instant. Lovely okra and I love the yam fritters!
This is such a great post. My bf is vegetarian (although, for some reason he includes chicken in this) and sometimes I have trouble cooking a completely vegetarian dinner...I am so use to having a main meat dish in all my meals. Everything here looks really great...there's a couple recipes I will be emailing you for ;)
Hi Cynthia, What a great spread!!! Being a vegetarian, I was pleased to see your thoughtful post. It is not that hard to come up with a good vegetarian meal. Unfortuantely, in the western world, vegetarian food often seems to be very bland and not that intriguing to the palette. Things are changing a great deal though as there are more vegetarian converts now:-))))
Sudha
What a lovely spread cynthia. We are pure vegetarians and this gives me a variation from the routine dishes that I cok
Cynthia I don't knwo which dish is good as all of them are looking superb. I was scrolling down and was saying oh this looks delicious and then this too look delicious....
Great post. I'm not a vegetarian, but all your dishes look wonderful.
Dear Cynthia: You're an artist!!!
Cynthia!! gosh so many wonderful dishes and i am gonna bookmark it, a definite definite try!!!
Cynthia, I always try to cater to my guest's tastes. Your veggie dishes look good enough to serve to meat eaters too!!!! Also thanks for the tutorial on the coconut shredders!!! I love reading all about it.
Your yam on spinach looks lovely, really. And I like those gleaming baked potatoes. I could go for many days on veg food like this!
How are you Cynthia? Boy, you have delicious things on your blog! The yam and spinach ball, the mushrooms, perfectly roasted potatoes..mmm mmmm! :)
My.....My.... I have to appreciate your patience.. in making so many dishes...
And all of them look equally delicious!!!!
Cynthia!
You made all of those dishes!!! Wow! They ALL look wonderful. You should call yourself "A Vegetarian's Best Friend."
Cynthia,
Thank you for your entry, very informative and yum & spinach ball looks delicious!
Have a wonderful day, Margot
Dear Cynthia, This is such a thoughtful post. I am always guilty of doing this. Cooking meat takes up so much time, that veggies get left to the last :( Will definitely try most of these. Thanks for sharing.
Cynthia, I know exactly what you mean, had cooked many non-veg dishes without realizing that the guests coming over don't eat them, after one really embarrassing episode I make sure to check.
The dishes look delicious the graphe tomatoes rolled in green chili salt. yum.
ha ha easy for me to concentrate on the vegetarians...coz i am one :) loved the tomatoes rolled in the chilly salt...great idea
wow! Everything looks so good but those Yam & Spinach ball really make me drool! What are they breaded in? corn meal?
Oh my goodness, Cynthia! Although I'm not a vegetarian, I don't think I'd miss chicken or beef one bit with dishes like the ones you've prepared in this post. Everything looks truly delcious...I don't know where I'd start with this feast! :-)
Those dishes would please any vegeterian as well as any non-vegetarian! Extremely attractive and appetizing! I love vegetables (Although I love meat, most of my meals are vegetarian as meat is so expensive here in Switzerland...).
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you for this delectabel post, Cynthia!
Luckily, thanks to people like you, I rarely every feel neglected. As my husband [who is an omnivore] says, Good food is good food." All this looks stellar.
Wow, Cynthia! You've been cooking up a storm! That is a beautiful spread. Being a vegetarian myself,it made me feel good to read this post. You are so thoughtful. Sometime back,one of our meat-eating friends had invited us over for dinner and there was nothing there that we could eat except for some half-baked potatoes and bread:-(It was not good.
The yam-spinach balls intrigues me;-)
lovely yam spinach balls :D
Great Vegetarian recipes.. Looks real yummy.... What a feast!
everything looks wonderful cynthia..
great array of dishes. I can't decide which one I like best,
the roast potatoes look scrumptious, so does the yam and spinach ball, but for me, it is the mushrooms sauted with garlic and green onions. Looks just yummmmmmmm!
Cynthia, everything looks good. It's dinner time here and I am wishing I am having some of those dishes. I have make something for the event but haven't posted it yet. I better get a move on, I only have a few days left.... thanks for the reminder.
excellent post cynthia loved them!
Being born and raised in a pure vegetarian family I am always fond of vegetarian food, even though I have learned to cook and eat non-vegetarian since I was teenager! I prefer veggies any day to meat!:)
Chickpea and Eggplant dish looks delicious! Great entry to the event. Enjoy!:)
Wow, everything looks really delicious Cynthia!
Your friends are lucky ones:)
WOW! All of those dishes look really incredible! And what gorgeous photos. I'm particularly drawn to the fried rice and the pilau (in fact I am planning to make pigeon peas and rice tonight, to go with stewed chicken -- I would love to try your recipe).
thanks for dropping in at my blog..
the veg spread looks awesome..and the neglect thing that you mentioned is real true..
Even at certain wedding receptions , veg dishes are given less importance..there is the usual paneer, peas, and the like...
Sauteed mushrooms and pilau are dishes that I am going to add into my to make lists!!!
Cynthia,
Everthing looks so good and innovative. I'm not a vegetarian but I would definately give these dishes a try and be quite content and satisfied . Great job with the mix of flavors and spices.Love your blog.
Great post and a very much needed article! I only eat poultry and seafood, no other meats, so it can be a challenge sometimed. It took my mother about five years before she believed it wasn't a phase! She'd keep trying to feed me beef and pork whenever I'd go home to visit! I won't even go into the other things that have happened... Anyway, thank you for the post and for the information about Margot's blog event!
; )
You have worked really hard with all these delicious vegetarian versions that no one can complain about being neglected anymore. :) Sumptuous.
yam and spinach ball sounds good....i have never tried or tasted...
Am in heaven Cynthia. So true abt being a vegetarian in a party. All you get is potato or gravy before the meat is added. But hail those hosts who take good care of the veg guests but preparing at least one, but creative dish. I want the recipe for yam/spinach balls.
Oh wow! I'm a vegetarian and so I thank you for those links! I'm constantly looking for tasty veg recipes and these really look great!
Thanks Cynthia......for dedicating the post to our vegetarians......Absolutely loved my journey thru various dishes of urs........:-)
Wonderful post Cynthia. I'd happily be a vegetarian if I could eat at your place. Such wonderful presentation!
Lovely delicious array of dishes. You soon need to do a post on how Vegetarians should pay attention to Non-Veg guests ;-)
Ohh they all are so drool worthy :). Most of the dishes look like our Indian dishes. I love them all...too good.
Cynthia, you've really outdone yourself! Look at how much you made!
I love vegetarian food; I used to be one in high school. I missed cured meats though. Love that bacon, prosciutto, salami, etc. I could go on.
Cynthia, thanks for mentioning my post...
I try all my best to take care of my guests. People do have different dietery requirements, and we need to accomodate for that. I find that veg dishes are the best, almost everyone can eat them without problem!
I am not a vegetarian, but I so enjoy vegetarian food when it is really done right, like you have done here! These are definately worthy for any guest - not just a veggie one!
Cynthia, I cannot imagine for a moment that *any* guest would be neglected at your table! I was not aware of World Vegetarian Month etc. Yours is a lovely parade of creative dishes in celebration!
WOW......great combination of yum with spinach and healthy too. You are cooking nice dishes my dear. You have always made me crazy to check your blog my dear. My email id is kajalkpatel@yahoo.com. :-)
Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cynthia,
Thanx for showing all the recipies in vegetatian....Being a vegetarian ,we have had somany neglections too ....That will be Awful...:((
Thanx for pointing out...!!!
Your vegetarian dishes here all look great,...:))
even if i was a meat eater..i wouldnt mind that kind of vegetarian food!..i think i might be sold!
Wonderful Cynthia! You're so right about vegetarian guests often feeling like an afterthought. Love the chili salts here - they're a gorgeous idea.
Nice info on the event! thanks! I can send any no of entries as we are 100% pure vegetarians!:)) Though I used eggs a few years back, now I've completely stopped using eggs too!
Baby potatoes in herbs is very attractive! my son loves potatoes so that will be my first choice!:))
yum yum... i LOVE that pic of cherry tomatoes rolled in chilly salt. beautiful, classic shot cynth. and thank u sweetie for linking my post. i will send my thai recipes to coffee and vanilla:)
hugs to u...
I often wonder if I could ever become a vegetarian. Your dishes sure gives me the hope. Looks yummy yummy good.
Thanks for that lovely vegie round up cynthia. Really needed. Wonderful dishes.
fantastic pictures! i liked those cute tomatoes with green chilli salt and the mushrooms.
i had sent you an email. please check
ohh cynthia...wats acollection of lovely dishes...all looks fab...cant say which one is better than other...beautiful snaps...
hey Cyn, what a lovely array of recipes! all of them look so good. I had bought some avocados to make Guacamole but they are a bit raw. will I have to keep them out for a day or 2?
BTW you said you will email me booo hooo... and mine is also a veg blog:(
Cynthia, I always admire ur post full of good info and details. All those photos are cool and dishes simply mouthwatering. I am a big fan of okra and makes me want more n more..
Wow, I am definitely going to ask you about the yam and spinach balls. I cannot wait to try those. I always grew up around vegetarians, as the religion I was brought up in encourages it. We still ate meat, but my mom always had something vegetarian on the table, and I find that Ive started to cook the same way. It is amazingly simple these days with the marketing of "vegetarian meats" from Worthington, Boca, and Morningstar Farms. I like some of those foods, more than I like real meat. Im looking into vegetarian/vegetable recipes more now, and I recently purchased my first vegetarian cook book, and am thrilled with it! Thanks for writing this article reminding us to remember the vegetarians :).
Oooo...Cynthia, really great presentation for those vegetarian food!!:D
Chickpeas, cherry tomatoes,okra and avocadoes....really really nice and colorful!!
Great job!!:D
Cynthia I am not a vegetarian ,but seeing the amazing recipes I am seriously thinking in became one.
Wonderful ,like always ,post
Delicious vegetarian dishes!
oooh!!! when are you inviting me over Cynthia??? I can taste and give an honest verdict on all your veggie dishes:D
They all look lovely! loved the cutlets and the rice!
hi Cynthia, all the food looks so yummy , esp the roasted potates, cherry tomatoes, spinach ball , n the green chilli salt , i think they look very cute :)
excellent spread !!!!!awesome ...you are a star lady
That okra looks so good, and I really want to try out that spicy eggplant!
Dear Cynthia: You're an artist!!!
Cada día es más interesante visitar tu blog, ver tus recetas y fotografías.
Gracias por visitar nuestro blog.
Besos,
Ana y Víctor.
Hi Cynthia !!! Your cook and your blog it's gold
Bye kiss
Cynthia, beautiful write up and photos. My kind of food :) Viji
How many dishes do you prepare?! And you use a lot of vegetables as I like! Bravissima :-)
Yummy Vegetarian dishes Cynthia..
www.monaafzal.wordpress.com
Cynthia,
I met a raw-foodist yesterday evening. She owns and operates a vegan restaurant here in Camarillo, which she hopes will eventually become raw-foodist and makes the most amazing food that even carnivores can enjoy. I know that raw food is not a big thing in the Caribbean, but it is here. And it was interesting to have met her just after reading your column!
HI Cynthia,
How site is a treat for me. I'm mesmerized with all those delicious dishes and pictures.
It all looked great but I'd like the yam and spinach balls and the mushrooms for lunch please.
cynthia..the cherry tomato looksss soooo cute !!!!...cute cute bumper cute...and god alone knows if there has been any other veggie which have never ever been to ur blog atleast ones!!..
What a spread! lovely cynthia ,loved the okra.
I've been very busy this last month and had no time to dive into your blog, but I can see the wonderful dishes you have prepared and my mouth is full of water !! These vegan recipes look really good. Maybe I must let the fish, poultry and meat aside and look into trying some vegies, ok?
Hugs from Spain
I'm eating semi-vegetarian. Can't eat red meat. So I love it when people take the time to make a vegetarian option at their dinner parties. Great article.
You have been cooking up a real storm there! Fabulous veggie dishes, the stir fried rice is calling to me especially =)
Those all look fantastic. Thanks for the encouragement of pointing to my site.
Good point about the neglected guest as well.
My mouth waters at a lot of those pics.
cynthia,ur dishes look yumm....especially that chick peas ...feel like having some:)
Dear Cynthia: You know there'll always be a place for you at my table. But what I would love most is to have you in my kitchen. We sure would have a great time!
Hi Cynthia
Amazing post ....I am a vegetarian..and I really freaked out...all of them look mouthwatering and lovely pictures...
The tomatoes look out of the world!!!
Oh, my God!!! All those plates look so fantastic... I love them.
Greetings from Madrid :)
Hey Cyn, thats so sweet of u to come up w/ so many veggie dishes. I am a pure veggie too and I enjoyed your post completely! I could have them all at once
I'm back. :)
OH MAN!!! Eggplant and chickpeas! Both my favorites!!!! These are excellent recipes for me since I cut out red meats a year ago and recently cut out chicken about 3 months ago. So, I needed inspiration and you read my mind! :-D
Although I'm the last person to go vegetarian, these dishes look fantastic and I will certainly have to give some of them a try. I particularly like the looks of the eggplant and chickpea dish.
wow soo delecious and yummy recipes
Not long ago, a request for vegetarian food was often met with slight disdain. Not now, since more and more people are becoming vegetarians. Not only because it is seen as a healthier alternative. The ethical aspect of food has definitely increased too.
In Sweden, many restaurants are completely vegetarian. They are serving real nice vegetarian buffets. All restaurants are providing vegetarian options.
I never heard of "yams". And what you call "okras" looks like our "gombos", a great vegetable. All these recipes look yummy.
Elly, Seena, Peter, Meeso, Hima, Happy Cook, Kalyn, Pamela, Padmaja, Pat, Sra, Cinnamon, Sue, Margot, Pragyan, Indo, Rajitha, Belinda, Urban Vegan, Nags, Seema, Srivalli, Saju, Nora, Roopa, Asha, Valentina, Lisa, Rachel, Anali, Laavanya, Shn, Ann, Sirisha, Truffle, Sandeepa, Shilpa, Emilie, Anh, Jenn, Linda, Kajal, Raks, Joe, Amanda, Latha, Sia, Kribha, Rina, Lissie, Remya, Padma, Willow Tree, Christy, Sylvia, Kumudha, Deepa, Chris, Ana & Victor, Pom d'api, Viji, Francesca, Mona, Amanda, Kitch. Scientist, Bindiya, Pilar, Helene, Kelly-Jane, Pearl, Priar, Swati, Ramya, Valerie, Brilynn, Karin & Anne - thanks for sharing your thoughts and praise with me, they are deeply appreicated.
Sudha - thanks so mcuch for sharing. A very warm welcome to you. I hope to see you around.
Maryann - I am fine thank you!
Andy - I left a response on your blog but just in case, egg wash and dried bread crumbs.
Rosa - I did not know that meat was expensive in Switzerland.
TBC - you see what I'm talking about... neglect :(
Glamah16 - thanks for dropping by and a very warm welcome! Hope to see you around.
Suganya - recipe on the way!
Mansi - the door is always open my friend, always.
Rahin - thanks for your kind comments and welcome! Please come back and visit when you can.
Anon - thanks very much for sharing.
Shiva Priya - it is a pleasure to welcome you to my blog and I hope to see you again.
Pamela - I'd love to be in the kitchen with you too!
Mari Carmen - thank you! welcome! Do come back and visit.
Pearl - glad to have you back! :)
Sagari - thanks. Welcome. Hope to see you around.
I find that a often eat meatless meals. The Spicy Eggplant & Chickpeas looks really good.
Hahaha...came over and now AM frustrated! Isn't it great that no matter how far we are, we are linked by food, the truly universal "language"?
Cynthia, that kerela looks delish! And so does everything else for that matter. It's like i was looking at a restaurant menu and wanting to order everything!
Cynthia.... As i keep browsing through ur blog I wanns try all the vegatrain Recipes u have listed here... wow... ur amazing..
can u send me the recipe for the garlic mushroom and the yam and spinach ball?
The way u write is so amazing hehe... I keep laughing...:) keep it coming
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