Tara Haddad Shares 5 Creative Plant-Based Recipes for Your Family
If you are interested in transitioning your family to a plant-based diet, you may worry about satisfying their nutritional requirements as well as their different palates. Fortunately, a plant-based diet is even more nutritious than a diet including a large portion of animal products, and there are almost infinite combinations of plant-based recipes that can make everyone ask for more.
Tara Haddad of Vancouver, BC, the CEO of Modern Meat, shares five creative plant-based recipes that you can make for your family. She also goes over the benefits of switching to a plant-based diet.
Switching to a Plant-Based Diet
If you have been researching the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, you may have been impressed by how you could improve your health and your family’s health by reducing the number of animal products in your diet.
Some members of your family may balk at switching to a plant-based diet. It can be hard for some people to reduce their favorite foods like bacon and steak. You may have to be creative to tempt your reluctant family members into eating a plant-based diet.
When you try to persuade your reluctant family members to switch to a plant-based diet, you could appeal to their wish to become healthier. A plant-based diet has many well-documented health benefits, including lower body weight, lower blood pressure, less risk of diabetes, and reduced breast and colon cancer.
You also need to tempt their taste buds with delicious plant-based foods. These five creative recipes will bring everyone to the table and show off the advantages of switching to a plant-based diet.
1. Harissa-Braised Chickpeas
This recipe is garnished with whole-milk Greek yogurt and feta cheese, but vegans can leave off the animal products if they choose.
Chickpeas are braised in olive oil with harissa, a spicy North African chili paste. When chickpeas are braised, they absorb the strong flavors of the harissa and provide a soft and tender bite. A lemon is charred and squeezed over the finished plates, and parsley and mint are added. Greek yogurt and feta are optional and may help some of your reluctant family members who do not want to eat a fully plant-based dish.
The dish has a significant amount of fiber and protein and is low in salt and fat.
2. Cauliflower Curry
Coconut cauliflower curry makes a filling and flavorful meal for the whole family. Along with cauliflower and coconut milk, the dish includes chickpeas, spinach, and sweet potatoes for a full nutritional range and delicious taste.
The recipe includes curry powder, garam masala, cayenne pepper, and cumin for an authentic Indian taste. The cayenne pepper can be reduced to appeal to family members who are not ready for such a spicy dish.
To make this easy recipe, saute onion, cauliflower, and sweet potato. Add tomatoes, spices, and coconut milk. Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Add chickpeas and spinach to wilt the greens. Serve with quinoa or brown rice.
3. Broccoli Salad with Warm Vinaigrette
This crisp salad combines fresh raw broccoli with dates and toasted pistachios. Ras-el-hanout provides an authentic Moroccan flavor. Cook the spices and garlic in olive oil. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in lemon juice, honey, and vinegar. If you prefer to leave out the honey, you can substitute agave nectar.
Toast your pistachios to bring out their rich flavor. Add pistachios, jalapeño, cilantro, broccoli, and dates, and dress with the warm vinaigrette.
4. Creamy Kale Vegan Pasta
Instead of a dairy-based cheese sauce, this pasta is topped with a sauce made from nutritional yeast, white beans, and lemon juice. Nutritional yeast provides a cheese-like flavor and extra vitamins as well.
Cook small vegan pasta like shells. Puree the cooked white beans with vegetable broth, lemon juice, olive oil, yeast, garlic, sea salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Pour over the lightly sauteed kale, sauteed onions, and pasta. Top with toasted pine nuts and lemon wedges.
5. Vegan Tacos
Everyone tacos, and substituting a ground plant-based meat product like that made by Modern Meat can bring authentic flavor home to your family.
Simply brown the crumbles as you would ground beef, using avocado oil. Add onions and garlic. Season with smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, coriander, allspice, oregano, and cayenne pepper.
Tara Haddad recommends topping your tacos with fresh pico de gallo, avocado, cilantro, lime, and vegan cheese.
Eating Well on a Plant-Based Diet
These exciting recipes are good examples of the types of food that you can eat on a plant-based diet. Vegetarian and vegan food comes from various cuisines, and you can experience the flavors of the world without missing out on taste and creativity.
Tara Haddad wants prospective plant-based eaters to know that they have many great options for protein in their diets, including beans, nuts, seeds, and plant-based meats like those produced by her company, Modern Meat. There is no need for a plant-based diet to miss out on protein.
