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This is the season for fresh fruits and vegetables. Whether you have your own garden, community garden, or buy from a local market there are a myriad of produce to choose from. Pick some up today.
Putting meals together from this bounty of nutritional fresh food is not hard. Here are seven plant-based dinner ideas for vegetarians, vegans, or people who just want to eat healthy for every day of the week.
Transformed Taco Night
Love tacos? Try these vegan black bean tacos from The Simple Veganista. Packed with plant-based protein, fresh veggies, and the wholesome goodness of avocado, this ten-minute recipe is easy to make and fun to eat. All you need are black beans (canned), an onion, spices from your pantry, fresh leafy greens, salsa of any kind, lime, either corn or flour tortillas and garnish with fresh avocado slices.
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Cauliflower Steak Dinner
This delicious recipe from BBC Food makes a light summer meal. Combine grilled cauliflower with red pepper, olive oil, capers, olives, red wine vinegar, spices, and topped with natural almonds to make a chock-full of nutrients and plant-based protein meal that even a dedicated meat-eater will enjoy.
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Chopped Chickpea and More Salad
Salad dinners are perfect for warm summer evenings. Using superfood chickpeas instead of lettuce as the main ingredient makes this salad from The Kitchn both filling and nutritious. There are six main components: chickpeas, chopped fresh greens, red onions, at least two other fresh veggies like tomatoes and zucchini, an additional protein source like nuts, and a healthy salad dressing. No cooking required whatsoever.
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Soupy Supper
Soups do not have to be served hot but this spicy Chipotle Gazpacho from BBC Food will heat you up! All you need are fresh tomatoes, pepper, avocado, cucumber, green onions, olive oil, lime juice, red chili, almonds, chipotle paste, and spices. Just blend, cool, and serve.
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Veggie Crunchy Rolls with Peanut Sauce
In the mood for Vietnamese food? Then these rice paper rolls filled with strips of sriracha and soy sauce tofu, fresh veggies and peanut sauce from I Love Vegan is sure to please. You can customize the veggies you use to what is in your garden or market. Vietnamese spring wrappers are available in many supermarkets, health food stores, as well as import stores. The versatile baked sriracha and soy sauce tofu recipe can be used for a variety of dishes.
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Italiano Caramelized Eggplant and Onion Orzo
Make this easy summer recipe from The Kitchn with some of nature’s best seasonal vegetables: eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes. The caramelized onions give this skillet meal an abundance of taste and texture. You can make this dish vegetarian or vegan (with egg-free pasta and vegan cheese). This is one healthy pasta dish that you will want to serve over and over again.
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Traditional Indian Dinner
There’s more to Indian cuisine than just curry according to One Green Planet. In fact, Indian cooking uses healthy vegetables and a variety of spices that are available in supermarkets and specialty stores. Surprise your family with the organization's Vegetable Biryani, a traditional rice-based dish that is layered with healthy vegetables. There is a long list of ingredients so be sure to plan ahead.
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