<p>I am trying to have less fish and poultry and more vegetarian meals cuz I think it’s healthy. I am looking for ideas of recipes that are relatively low calorie, NO milk products as I am lactose intolerant, and offer complete protein with food combining.</p>
<p>Thanks! Can’t wait to start experimenting!!!</p>
<p>Black beans and/or lentils with brown rice, avocado, salsa and cilantro make an easy, delicious, filling, protein-rich meal. I also do black bean burgers a lot; there are tons of recipes online. Trader Joe’s has lots of good vegetarian options, even in their frozen section. I love their Superfood Pilaf (quinoa is protein rich). I usually add avocado and a little red pepper to it. Nut butters, hummus, and tempeh are all good protein sources. It’s so easy to go vegetarian these days! Have fun!</p>
<p>High protein, low fat—</p>
<p>Quinoa and Black Bean Chili. There are number of recipes on the web for it.</p>
<p>One of my friend makes this for every potluck we go to because we have so many vvegetarian/vegan/gluten intolerance/lactose intolerance among our group.</p>
<p>She sometimes adds sweet potatoes to the recipe to add another dimension/flavor.</p>
<p>D2 makes all kinds of quinoa salads. Her current quick fix dinner is brown rice with kale topped by a fried egg.</p>
<p>Ooooh WayOutWest, could you possiby get your friends recipe for the quinoa bean chili. It sounds like lots of people have enjoyed it many times. Thanks!</p>
<p>Just FYI, the concept that you need to combine beans with rice to get a “complete protein” is a myth. You don’t have to eat them together. </p>
<p>
[quote]
No Small Misconception</p>
<p>The “incomplete protein” myth was inadvertently promoted and popularized in the 1971 book, Diet for a Small Planet, by Frances Moore Lapp</p>
<p>Quinoa, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili</p>
<p>Serves 4-6</p>
<p>1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
1/2 pound dried black beans, rinsed well
1 chipotle chile from canned chipotle chiles in adobo, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons kosher salt + more to taste
1 1/2 cups sweet potatoes (2-3 small), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained</p>
<p>sour cream, to top (optional)
green onions, chopped, to top (optional)
fresh cilantro, chopped, to top (optional)</p>
<p>Heat the oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and beginning to brown, 6-7 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, and coriander and stir. Cook together for 1 minute.</p>
<p>Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, beans, chipotle pepper, and oregano. Add 5 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer until beans are flavorful and tender, anywhere from 2 - 4 hours (depending on the age of your beans).</p>
<p>After 1 1/2 hours of cooking, add the sweet potatoes, quinoa, and salt. Place the pot’s lid back on slightly ajar and allow to simmer on low heat until the beans are soft and the sweet potatoes and quinoa are cooked through. Add more water if the chili becomes too thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with sour cream, cilantro, and green onion.</p>
<p>Yumm. Sounds delish. Thanks</p>
<p>And thanks for thi info on complete proteins. I did not kn0w that!</p>
<p>Hopefully I will get more vegetarian dishes recipes that can be served as a meal (not just a side dish)</p>
<p>away2school - hopefully you are eating brown rice (which is not the color brown) and not white. Everything I have read talks about how good it is for you. </p>
<p>We love to cook up some brown rice, add fresh herbs, squeeze all or part of a lime over it and then at the end add in some freshly grated parmesan and some rinsed black beans. Easy and healthy.</p>
<p>wayoutwestmom</p>
<p>Made the Quinoa, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili tonight. It is delicious, thanks for the recipe!</p>
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<p>Brown rice is actually brown on the outside (the bran layer). However, there are other whole grain rice varieties that are red or black / dark purple on the outside.</p>