[Snugglepot77]

Hiya! I posted this with my DIG as most of us are going through an 'off meat' kind of scenario at the moment I wondered if anyone wanted to share any good vegetarian recipes as I'd love some new ideas! I don't really eat red meat anyway (I eat around it when I cook it for DP), have never had a steak but don't mind a bit of mince (once or twice a year!) on the odd occasion, so I cook a lot of vegetarian meals, but it would be great to see if anyone had anything new as it never hurts to have some new ideas!!

My mum reminded me of a great spinach and rice bake which I made this week and I'd forgotten how great it was! Recipe below! I made it for dinner this week and DP had invited one of his mates over so I wasn't sure how it would go down - but said friend was raving about it to his GF and he even asked for the recipe!!!

Spinach and Rice Bake (makes 9 large slices in a 28cmSQ baking dish).

4 packets of frozen spinach (or a few bunches of fresh spinach)
6 green shallots - sliced
1 knob of butter
1-2 cups of cooked basmati rice (can use brown rice if you prefer)
1 tub of cottage cheese
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1/2 cup of grated colby cheese (or tasty) plus more for the top
Parsley (as much or as little as you like)
Breadcrumbs (I used panko)
Salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste (it needs quite a lot of seasoning)


Put all spinach in a saucepan on a very low heat to defrost. Add the shallots and knob of butter and saute in the pan, adding the salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.

Remove from the heat and stir in all other ingredients (except breadcrumbs and extra colby cheese) then press into a baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs and extra cheese and bake in a moderate over (180 deg C) for abour 20 minutes or until top is melted and golden.

I serve this with a simple tomato, basil and spanish onion salad on the side.

Enjoy!

[Romeo Void]

I made this sort of 'strudel' thing the other day which was a big hit. So tasty!

Broccoli and cauliflower in a cheesy bechamel sauce. It was guess work as I was trying to copy the filling from my favourite store bought pastry shop. I used a recipe I found on the internet but altered it by removing the onion and garlic and replacing with leeks (to try and replicate the store bought one). I didn't really measure and it STILL came out really well. So well I've got the ingredients to do it again!

Broccoli and cheese strudel
1 large bunch broccoli
1/2 small cauliflower
1 tablespoon of butter or marg
2 tablespoons of plain flour
1 leek
1 cup of milk
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
1 cup of grated mozzarella or tasty
6 sheets of filo pastry or 2 sheets of puff pastry
Spray canola oil or other spray oil

Cut up broccoli and cauli into small florets and microwave for 6-7 minutes with 1/4 cup of water (or boil on the stove if you prefer). Refresh under cold running water.

Melt butter in a small saucepan and add leeks and cook until soft. Add flour and cook for 1 more minute. Off the heat, gradually add the milk, whisking as you go. Sauce will thicken as it comes to the boil. Turn off heat and add parmesan and stir through broccoli and cauliflower. Check for salt and pepper to taste.

Spray between the filo sheets with the oil and stack them into 1 pile.
* Place mix along the long edge (leave a little gap at each end) and top with the grated cheese.

Fold ends in and roll up. Spray top with a little more oil spray.

* If using puff pastry, it is easier to divide the mixture into 2 and make two seperate parcels.

Place on an oven tray, seam side down and bake at 200 degrees celcius for 20 minutes.