Meatless Mondays: Easy Weeknight Vegetarian Recipes

Meatless Monday is a global movement, a way of life. It’s not a campaign to turn everyone in the world vegetarian or vegan; in fact, many involved are meat lovers. Eating less meat has been proven to reduce the risk of disease, curb obesity and has important environmental impacts, too. Will you join us in giving up meat, just for one day a week?

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Spicy Hoisin Glazed Eggplant

Eggplant cooks especially well over hot coals. It takes on a wonderful smokiness and is a much quicker alternative to traditional methods of cooking this purple piece of produce. With its spongelike texture, eggplant is perfect for soaking up sauce like this spicy hoisin glaze.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Hoisin Glazed Eggplant

Penne with Spinach Sauce

Make a pestolike sauce from spinach and cheese and mix it with hot pasta and even more spinach for a super easy, veggie-packed meal.

Get the Recipe: Penne with Spinach Sauce

Blue Corn and Mushroom Quesadillas

Mushrooms take on a nice heat from the jalapenos and provide satisfying heartiness to each bite of these vegetarian quesadillas, while creamy queso fresco provides a cool balance to the spiciness.

Get the Recipe: Blue Corn, Mushroom and Cheese Quesadillas

Lemon-Basil Orzotto

It’s just as dreamy as risotto, but requires half the time and effort. After sauteing an onion and allowing the orzo to absorb some wine, the cooking time is just about 10 minutes. Add Parmesan, cream, basil, lemon and peas together at the end, and voila! You’ve got yourself a satisfying summer dinner.

Mediterranean Farro Salad

What can you add to farro? Pretty much anything. Throw in lots of crispy veggies and toss with a Dijon vinaigrette. Serve with a simple green salad for dinner tonight and save leftovers for a light lunch tomorrow.

Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Farro Salad

Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower may seem a little boring — it’s the least colorful vegetable out there. But what it lacks in vibrancy, it makes up for in versatility. When roasted, steamed, pureed, baked or even deep-fried, cauliflower transforms into something totally new. Roast it till it’s golden-brown and tender and serve it as a side dish, or add it to pasta to make a complete meal.

Hummus and Grilled Vegetable Wrap

Match tender zucchini against crisp bell peppers, toasted pine nuts and a handful of baby spinach to create a wonderful contrast of textures in this quick, on-the-go wrap. It’s not fancy and doesn’t demand much thought or effort, but it’s a satisfying Monday meal that will have you feeling great and ready for the week ahead.

Get the Recipe: Hummus and Grilled Vegetable Wrap

Spinach and Tortellini

Sauteed garlic and tomatoes bring familiar Italian aromatics we all crave to this pasta dish, while mushrooms, peas and spinach add new flavor and texture to each bite. With so many healthy ingredients in one bowl, a sprinkle of pine nuts and Parmesan provides the little extra indulgence you deserve.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Tortellini

Sun-Dried Tomato-Basil Mac and Cheese

You’re never too old for macaroni and cheese. Perhaps you’ve moved past the infamous blue box, but cheesy pasta is a timeless — and universal — guilty pleasure.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Dreamy Sundried Tomato and Basil Mac and Cheese

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

When faced with the option to bake or fry, you don’t have to choose between flavorful and healthy. These chips are baked, so you’ll get the same satisfying crunch of the fried version without all the extra oil. There won’t be too much grease, but there'll be just as much flavor: a win-win.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Grilled Vegetable Panini with Herbed Feta Spread

Good sandwiches aren’t just for meat lovers. Almost everything is better in sandwich-form, including vegetables. Sure, they’re great as they are, but they’re better between slices of ciabatta.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetable Panini with Herbed Feta Spread

Hot and Sour Fresh Noodles with Zucchini

Thinking about ordering in for dinner tonight? Instead of reaching for the takeout menu of your neighborhood Chinese restaurant, head to the kitchen and start heating up the wok. You can whip up your favorite Chinese noodles in well under an hour.

Get the Recipe: Hot and Sour Fresh Noodles with Zucchini

Frittata di Verdura: "Clean Out the Fridge" Frittata

Leftover cooked vegetables may not be satisfying on their own, but in a couple of minutes they can be turned into a complete meal — a fancy-sounding one at that: frittata. Beat some eggs, grate some cheese and grab your vegetables — you’re not only minutes away from dinner, but pretty close to a clean refrigerator as well.

Get the Recipe: Frittata Di Verdura: 'Clean Out the Fridge' Frittata