A lot of people ask me what are my standard weekly no-fuss go-to dinners are, so I thought I’d round ’em all up for ya in a post. It’s super-easy for me to turn to one (or all!) of these in busy weeks when it’s 4.37pm and I haven’t figured out dinner (rare for me, I think about any and every dinner weeks in advance and at least all day) yet. If I’m uninspired and hungry, or want something quick and easy, these are what I trot out on the reg.
My go-to favourite vegetarian dinners
Soups
Listen, no kid around here is going to eat a soup, although we did once have success with pumpkin. I make it very regularly, though, all sorts of flavours, at least once a week in winter. I eat the leftovers for lunches.
Our favourites are the aforementioned pumpkin, the above thick, hearty, chunky, and utterly de-fricken-licious corn chowder, and minestrone with some good garlic bread.
Pasta
Let’s face it, pasta is my life. We have it weekly, in all kinds of guises. Our regulars are spinach and ricotta stuffed shells, a tomato pasta bake topped with thick, rich bechamel and baked like a simpler version of lasagne, ricotta gnocchi with pesto, an antipasto pasta, and a bolognese-type sauce with spaghetti.
My favourite sauce is a simple sugo, or a roasted tomato sauce using canned tomatoes (try it – it really changes it up a bit!)
Fritters, patties, and burgers
On a bun, alongside potato or sweet potato fries, with a side salad, with roasted or steamed veg… they’re in there, and they’re constant.
We love quinoa patties (these ones are lemon and oregano, and these ones are roast veggie) or “meatballs“, zucchini fritters, latkes, or burgers with a mushroom or eggplant stepping in for the burger bit. This is a great veggie burger patty recipe, as is this black bean one. We also sometimes just eat the frozen ones – the Quorn quarter pounder and the Linda McCartney mozzarella quarter pounder are favourites.
Risotto
Always risotto, risotto always. We go for mushroom, goat cheese + roasted tomato, roast pumpkin, or basically whatever we’ve got in the fridge.
Pizza
Every Friday, mates! Usually a margarita for the girls, and whatever we feel like on ours, but it has to contain olives and pineapple (hush now). Our wholemeal base recipe is here, otherwise Jamie Oliver + River Cottage bread dough recipes are used.
I get a bit excited when it’s spinach alfredo pizza time because I will step over my own mother to get to this alfredo sauce.
I also wonder wtf I was thinking when I declared every Friday pizza night with homemade pizzas. Because really, once happy hour starts, I rarely want to get up and roll shit out.
Fiesta fun
Tuesday is usually taco night, or some kind of Mexican wannabe meal. The basis is quite often these spicy black beans, or otherwise this chipotle lentil situation. It’s often burritos, quesadillas, or even our ultimate favourite, this Mexican Lasagne, which is basically a burrito casserole aka heaven out the oven. Get in, on, and around it!
So if you’re ever visiting VMHQ at dinnertime, this is likely what you’ll find. And wine. And probably dessert, depending on how sprightly I feel in the kitchen. You’re welcome any time 😉
Aria says
These dinner recopies looking so yummy and colourful!!Mainly Risotto looks so good, Check us out, you might like ours!!!
https://ozfoodhunter.com.au/blog/top-foods-in-australia
Simone says
Awesome list. Soups are tough. I only have luck when i sprinkle bacon on them so i feel for you!! Xx
Tina Lacy says
Apart from the mushroom situation they all look amazing. I am so looking forward to summer food and being able to buy salad vegetables for less that $6 per item
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
Friday night is always pizza night at our place too. There has to be something constant you can rely on in the world!
Thanks for the recipes, always looking for something new to try.
Nice Piece of Work says
Excellent meal choices – wish you’d written this when I was working full-time with a young child at home…… 🙂