It’s about time for some Meatless Monday recipe ideas!
Meatless Monday is a nonprofit initiative aimed at encouraging people to cut out meat one day a week for the sake of their health and the environment. Click here to find out all about it. My husband and I have been going meatless several times a week for awhile now, and it’s no sacrifice whatsoever. The key to eating meatless is fresh produce and delicious recipes.
These two simple recipes have become staples in our household lately. They’re both super-satisfying as a side dish or a main course, and they also go well together.
GREEK SALAD
Leafy greens of any kind – we like arugula or spinach best (does that make us elitists?)
one small chopped tomato or several cherry tomatoes sliced in half
one half chopped cucumber
one half small red onion, thinly sliced and chopped
crumbled feta
10 kalamata olives, pitted and sliced in half
Newman’s Own Family Recipe Italian (you can use any Italian dressing or mix your own)
ground pepper
Mix and toss lightly with dressing. Go easy with the feta and kalamata olives in relation to the rest of the ingredients.
3 BEAN SALAD
One 16-oz can or 2 cups dried cooked kidney beans
One 16-oz can or 2 cups dried cooked garbanzo beans
2 cups cooked green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 small red onion, chopped
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
chopped fresh or dried thyme
ground pepper
Mix first four ingredients in bowl, then mix dressing in separate bowl and toss well with beans and onion. Let sit in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Last night my husband made the Greek Salad himself in about 5 minutes. He says it’s the only way he likes cucumbers. If you’re not convinced that eating more fruit and vegetables is good for your health, check out this article about how a low-carb diet might help you lose weight but is bad for you in the long run. Apparently we can’t hear it too often, because according to this article, most Americans still don’t eat nearly enough fresh produce.
Do you have any easy meatless recipes you’d like to share? Please let us know in the Comments section and I’ll include them in the next Meatless Monday recipes post. And click here if you want to look through previous Meatless Monday recipes.
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