National Vegetarian Week 2022 kicks off on Monday 16th May. It’s all about putting delicious, healthy, plant-based meals into the spotlight. You might have noticed eating meat-free meals has got quite popular over the past few years. Both supermarkets and restaurants have a lot more veggie options to offer these days – because there’s big demand.
Eat greener for a healthier planet
There are a couple of reasons why more and more people are switching to plant-based eating. The first is to do with climate change. There’s good evidence to suggest that meat production generates a lot of carbon dioxide, which in turn contributes negatively towards climate change. So, eating less meat is better for the environment.
Eat less meat and more nutritious veg
Then there’s the health aspect. Many people feel that they eat too much meat, especially lower quality processed meats, like ham, sausages and burgers. So, switching to plant-based alternatives is a way of putting more nutrition inside your body.
Go more veg and save more money
Thirdly, there’s the cost issue. In 2022, lots of us are seeing a big rise in the cost of living. Meat can be an expensive addition to your weekly shop. So, it’s perhaps not surprising that many of us are turning to vegetarian cooking to save money.
If you are thinking of going vegetarian, even for just a single day each week, one thing we’d recommend investing in is a FlavorStone Diamond pan. With its super non-stick surface, you can cook delicious vegetarian meals with no oil or fat. And that’s not all. Unlike standard circular pans, the FlavorStone Diamond is square-shaped. This means you get roughly 25% more cooking area inside the pan. So, it’s great for batch cooking, helping you to cook more food in less time – saving energy and keeping more money in your pocket.
3 delicious, plant-based treats to try
Spicy Black Bean Tacos
This recipe is one the most colourful and fastest on our list...and it’s 100% veggie goodness! Find out how to create your own below.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3 x 400g cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 ½ tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 ½ tbsp ground cumin
To serve
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- 8-12 corn or flour tortillas
- chipotle or other hot sauce
- soured cream or coconut yogurt
Asian Broccoli Tofu Stry-Fry
Want to whip up your own version of your favourite takeaway? Try this Chinese broccoli and tofu stir fry. It might take a little longer than calling the restaurant, but it’s tastes just as good and is easy to make in one big pan like the FlavorStone Diamond.
Ingredients
- 8 oz package of cubed tofu
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 10 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh ginger
- 9 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 cup chopped green onions
- white rice, for serving
Pan-fried cinnamon bananas
Whether you’re making something special for breakfast or simply want an exciting afternoon snack, this recipe will do the trick. Plus, it’s a great way to use up your overripe bananas and it only takes 10 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 bananas Slightly Overripe
- 2 tablespoons sugar (you can substitute granulated Splenda, if you like)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Discover how you can cook low-fat vegetarian meals using your FlavorStone Pan here.
