Our quick vegetarian recipes to try this spring

The basics of vegetarian cooking

As a reminder, a vegetarian diet excludes all consumption of animal meat. This includes meat, fish, shellfish, gelatin extracted from animal flesh, blood, bones, etc. On the other hand, vegetarians can eat eggs, dairy products, honey, as well as plants. Which still leaves many possibilities, both in terms of the ingredients to use and the recipes to cook.

Note that vegetarian cuisine is different from plant-based cuisine, which only advocates the consumption of plants. Products from animal exploitation are prohibited. As for the difference between veganism and veganism, the first applies only to food, while the second is a real way of life excluding all products of animal origin, such as wool or leather for example.

Read: Vegetarian for a year: my advice for taking the plunge

What do you eat when you are vegetarian?

Summarized in a few lines, vegetarianism can seem exclusionary and lead you to wonder what you can eat. Rest assured, vegetarians have a varied, delicious diet that is a source of many nutrients. Thus, a vegetarian plate is composed like a classic meal, including three families of foods.

Seasonal products

Plants, whatever our diet, are essential for the proper functioning of the body. They provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, water… We therefore always remember to include a portion in our menus, to reach the five daily portions of fruits and vegetables recommended by the National Health Program.
Ideally, we try to choose seasonal products, which have matured naturally and are therefore richer in nutrients and flavor.
From March to June, we favor spring vegetables, such as artichokes, asparagus, fennel, radishes, cucumber, as well as rhubarb and strawberries, as far as fruits are concerned.

Protein

It is not because we no longer eat meat that we no longer consume proteins, quite the contrary. Vegetarian and protein recipes exist.
As for foods rich in animal proteins, we mainly find eggs and cheese. Be careful with the latter, which often have a high level of fat. As for plant proteins, they are mainly found in legumes, also called “dried vegetables”, such as chickpeas, lentils, beans, soybeans, etc. The oilseed family, including walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc. is also a source of protein.
We advise you to combine several protein foods on the plate in order to benefit from a complete range of amino acids, and therefore proteins.

Starchy

Pasta, rice, quinoa, potatoes… No need to worry about starchy foods. You can eat them all as long as you are not intolerant or allergic to them. On the other hand, make sure that they do not occupy a central place on the plate, a quarter is more than enough for a balanced diet.

What vegetarian spring recipes when you don't have time?

In the family of quick and hassle-free vegetarian recipes, we ask for vegetable and egg toast, fried tofu noodles, or veggie sandwiches.
If we are more sporty, and we need to increase our protein quota, we will rather rely on eggs, to cook in omelettes, frittatas, fried, hard-boiled… The egg is an ingredient magical when you're in a hurry, since it lends itself to all recipes.
For a little lightness, we would rather opt for soups, gazpachos or salads. It's up to you to see which of our 22 quick and spring vegetarian recipes inspires you.