As winter settles in, the days of light Mediterranean salads and BBQs are far behind us, and we long for hearty, warming and filling food. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean gorging on roast beef dinners and rich, meaty stews; there are many ways to indulge in warming, comforting, tasty food without meat being the main ingredient.
There are many reasons people become vegetarian, be it health, ethics or environment related. One of these reasons can be to live a healthier life: eating a plant based diet can help to limit saturated fat intakes, and can boost intakes of nutrients such as fibre and vitamin E. Plus, if you don’t want to give up meat completely, there’s no need to go the whole hog: we need only look to initiatives such as Meat Free Mondays to see how accessible and common it is to make an effort to eat less meat, without going cold turkey. Birds Eye are here to inspire your hearty winter meals, whether you want to enjoy them with family, bring to work or just indulge in as comfort food whenever you feel like it.
8 Hearty Veggie Recipes
There are many reasons people become vegetarian, be it health, ethics or environment related. One of these reasons can be to live a healthier life: eating a plant based diet can help to limit saturated fat intakes, and can boost intakes of nutrients such as fibre and vitamin E. Plus, if you don’t want to give up meat completely, there’s no need to go the whole hog: we need only look to initiatives such as Meat Free Mondays to see how accessible and common it is to make an effort to eat less meat, without going cold turkey. Birds Eye are here to inspire your hearty winter meals, whether you want to enjoy them with family, bring to work or just indulge in as comfort food whenever you feel like it.
8 Hearty Veggie Recipes
Pea Spring Onion And Rocket Risotto
This gorgeously green dish is fragrant, filling and delicious all in one: the ultimate veggie comfort food. The sweetness of the peas combined with the peppery crunch of the rocket and zest of the spring onions and lemon make this a taste sensation: add parmesan for a creamier texture and extra comfort. Make sure to choose a vegetarian parmesan- rennet is not suitable for vegetarians.
This gorgeously green dish is fragrant, filling and delicious all in one: the ultimate veggie comfort food. The sweetness of the peas combined with the peppery crunch of the rocket and zest of the spring onions and lemon make this a taste sensation: add parmesan for a creamier texture and extra comfort. Make sure to choose a vegetarian parmesan- rennet is not suitable for vegetarians.
Pea and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
These stuffed mushrooms make a simple yet impressive starter at a dinner party, or as an indulgent snack for yourself. Garlic and herb cream cheese, fresh basil and pine nuts provide the perfect luxurious topping, whilst peas and mushrooms are filling and nutritious. Add freshly cracked black pepper to top it off.
These stuffed mushrooms make a simple yet impressive starter at a dinner party, or as an indulgent snack for yourself. Garlic and herb cream cheese, fresh basil and pine nuts provide the perfect luxurious topping, whilst peas and mushrooms are filling and nutritious. Add freshly cracked black pepper to top it off.
Pea And Blue Cheese Filo Tarts
Another dish that could be a served to friends and family when entertaining or as a treat when you fancy something that can be eaten hot or cold. The blue cheese ensures these filo tarts melt in your mouth, as the chives add a fresh oniony crunch.
Another dish that could be a served to friends and family when entertaining or as a treat when you fancy something that can be eaten hot or cold. The blue cheese ensures these filo tarts melt in your mouth, as the chives add a fresh oniony crunch.
Pea and Roasted Garlic Soup
Is there a better winter warmer than a good hearty soup? We teamed our sweet Garden Peas with roasted garlic to create this mouth-watering pea and garlic soup. To make it creamier without the heaviness of cream, you could add a dollop of crème fraiche, or for an added crunch top with chopped fresh chives.
Is there a better winter warmer than a good hearty soup? We teamed our sweet Garden Peas with roasted garlic to create this mouth-watering pea and garlic soup. To make it creamier without the heaviness of cream, you could add a dollop of crème fraiche, or for an added crunch top with chopped fresh chives.
Pea and Aubergine Curry
This is a healthy and low carb yet beautifully aromatic and tasty curry. We combine five different spices along with cumin seeds and black mustard seeds to make this a seasoned sensation. If you do want to make the dish more filling, you can always add a portion of brown rice on the side.
This is a healthy and low carb yet beautifully aromatic and tasty curry. We combine five different spices along with cumin seeds and black mustard seeds to make this a seasoned sensation. If you do want to make the dish more filling, you can always add a portion of brown rice on the side.
Macaroni Cheese with Garden peas
The classic comfort food dish. A simple yet faultless recipe that is both a crowd pleaser when cooking for family or for a treat for yourself, you can’t go wrong with mac’n’cheese. When cooking as a veggie recipe, you could substitute the pancetta for cauliflower and do ½ and ½ cauliflower and pasta for a slightly lighter alternative.
The classic comfort food dish. A simple yet faultless recipe that is both a crowd pleaser when cooking for family or for a treat for yourself, you can’t go wrong with mac’n’cheese. When cooking as a veggie recipe, you could substitute the pancetta for cauliflower and do ½ and ½ cauliflower and pasta for a slightly lighter alternative.
Mushroom and Pea Risotto
This is one of the more challenging risottos in our collection but is well worth the effort. The mushrooms, peas and rice go perfectly together. The addition of red pepper adds colour, crunch and a sweet flavour to this dish; finish up by adding a sprinkle of parmesan and fresh mint for a real show stopper. Make sure to choose a vegetarian parmesan- rennet is not suitable for vegetarians.
This is one of the more challenging risottos in our collection but is well worth the effort. The mushrooms, peas and rice go perfectly together. The addition of red pepper adds colour, crunch and a sweet flavour to this dish; finish up by adding a sprinkle of parmesan and fresh mint for a real show stopper. Make sure to choose a vegetarian parmesan- rennet is not suitable for vegetarians.
Pea Veggie Burger
These burgers are a guaranteed veggie crowd pleaser when it comes to entertaining guests. Perfect to serve as a vegetarian alternative to a burger made with meat, we use Birds Eye garden peas to create this delicious burger. The fragrant mint leaves and cumin add a subtle yet distinct flavour that can be intensified by your favourite toppings and relish.
These burgers are a guaranteed veggie crowd pleaser when it comes to entertaining guests. Perfect to serve as a vegetarian alternative to a burger made with meat, we use Birds Eye garden peas to create this delicious burger. The fragrant mint leaves and cumin add a subtle yet distinct flavour that can be intensified by your favourite toppings and relish.
So, there you have it – 8 wonderfully warming winter veggie dishes. Whether you’re a fully fledged vegetarian or not, our dishes show that compromising on your meat consumption doesn’t have to mean compromising on flavour, nutrition or ease. At Birds Eye, all of our vegetables are frozen within a few hours of being picked, making them packed with goodness. With us, you can get your five-a-day the tasty way with our wide range of frozen vegetables and nutritious vegetarian meals, which are all quick and easy to make and bursting with flavour. Autumn and Winter are the perfect times of year to gather family and friends round and cook them a hearty, warming and nutritious meal –why not try something new and make it vegetarian? Browse our wide range of vegetables here to inspire your meat free meal times.