Philly Cheesesteaks—hold the steak!
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There are many kinds of vegetarians out there. My version falls closer to the "selectatarian" category: I'm a used-to-be-meat-free-but-got-sidetracked-by-the-bacon vegetarian. I do eat meat once in awhile, but I like to limit it to special occasions.
Whether or not you're a full-on vegetarian, there are plenty of reasons to eat less meat-even once or twice a week. It's better for your health, not to mention the planet. Plus, you can save a lot of money! With all those benefits, it's no wonder the Meatless Monday movement (meatlessmonday.com) is growing in popularity across the country. (Want to go meatless on Mondays? Here are 10 vegetarian recipes you must try.)
For the most part, I love to let my veggie food be what it is: veggies. But sometimes a little irony is fun too. Recently, I was invited to a dinner where Philly Cheese Steaks were the main course. I offered to bring these Portobello "Philly Cheese Steak" Sandwiches (recipe below) as a vegetarian version. The meaty mushroom and melty cheese combo was a big hit! Even better than the real deal, in my opinion.
Try these other classic meat dishes with a vegetarian twist and challenge yourself to go meat-free at least once a week. I dare you!
Tofu Parmigiana
Instead of having a greasy, battered coating, the tofu "steaks" in this revamped Parmigiana are breaded and lightly pan-fried in just a small amount of oil then topped with part-skim mozzarella, fresh basil and your favorite marinara sauce. This Italian classic will please even those who are tofu-phobic.
Barbecue Portobello Quesadillas
This smoky mushroom-filled quesadilla is reminiscent of pulled pork. A touch of chipotle chile pepper adds extra heat. Serve with coleslaw and guacamole.
Moo Shu Vegetables
This vegetarian version of the classic Chinese stir-fry, Moo Shu, uses already-shredded vegetables to cut down on the prep time. Serve with warm whole-wheat tortillas, Asian hot sauce and extra hoisin if desired.
Bean Burgers with Spicy Guacamole
These bean burgers will even please carnivores. The cornmeal coating gives a pleasant crunch and smoked paprika, cumin, cilantro and guacamole add Southwestern flavor.
Portobello "Philly Cheese Steak" Sandwich
Cheese steaks are a Philadelphia tradition: thin slices from a rich and very fatty slab of beef, fried up and topped with a heavy cheese sauce. We've cut down on the fat considerably-but not on the taste-by swapping portobello mushrooms in place of the meat.
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
4 large portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed (see Tip), sliced
1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
3 ounces thinly sliced reduced-fat provolone cheese
4 whole-wheat buns, split and toasted
1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, oregano and pepper and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are wilted and soft, about 7 minutes.
2. Reduce heat to low; sprinkle the vegetables with flour and stir to coat. Stir in broth and soy sauce; bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat, lay cheese slices on top of the vegetables, cover and let stand until melted, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Divide the mixture into 4 portions with a spatula, leaving the melted cheese layer on top. Scoop a portion onto each toasted bun and serve immediately.
Makes 4 sandwiches.
Per serving: 268 calories; 10 g fat (4 g sat, 4 g mono); 15 mg cholesterol; 35 g carbohydrate; 13 g protein; 7 g fiber; 561 mg sodium; 707 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (140% daily value), Selenium (49% dv), Vitamin A (30% dv), Calcium (25% dv), Potassium (20% dv), Magnesium (16% dv).
Cooking tip: The dark gills found on the underside of a portobello are edible, but if you like you can scrape them off with a spoon.
What kind of vegetarian are you? What are your favorite meatless meals?
By Penelope Wall
Penelope is a web producer and writer for EatingWell.com. When she's not busy geeking out at the computer, she loves cooking and trying new recipes on her friends. Some of her favorite foods are dark chocolate, coffee, apples, sweet potatoes and cheese.
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