Vegetarian Meal Plan: June – Week 1

M O N D A Y

Warm Farro Salad

This warm farro salad is a great lunch or dinner. Cooked farro is first tossed with Boursin soft cheese until the cheese melts and then mixed with asparagus and fava beans. The salad is finished with thinly sliced radishes, scallions, fresh herbs, and a vinaigrette.

The post includes suggestions for substitutions for fava beans if you can’t find any canned, frozen, or fresh ones. And if you’ve never worked with fava beans, I’ve included a video on how to peel them.

Side Dish Suggestion

This stove top artichoke is a nice, light addition to the farro salad. There’s no need to stuff it, as called for in the recipe. Just simmer it in the acidulated water per the instructions.

T U E S D A Y

Simple Potato and Lentil Salad

Make this potato and lentil salad with only four ingredients plus herbs and a vinaigrette for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner. The French green lentils and potatoes make this a filling dish and it’s lightened with fresh cherry tomatoes and a bright vinaigrette. But the secret to this recipe is the fresh oregano.

This is also a great dish for parties since it can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

Side Dish Suggestion

This hearty salad doesn’t need more than a simple romaine and avocado salad with a lemony vinaigrette.

W E D N E S D A Y

Avocado Soup with Tomatillos and Hatch Chile

This avocado soup is a chilled soup of avocados, roasted tomatillos, white onion, and Hatch chili (or Anaheim chili), puréed in the blender with cilantro, Mexican crema and broth for a perfect summertime soup.

The Mexican crema makes this a slightly creamy soup, and feel free to adjust the amount to suit your tastes, as the avocado greatly adds to its creamy texture.

Side Dish Suggestion

This soup is perfect with this 15-minute corn and tomato salad.

T H U R S D A Y

Mujadara

The easy Middle Eastern lentils and rice dish, called mujadara, has three main ingredients: lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. A little ras el hanout spice mix and allspice are added for an extra Middle Eastern touch, along with a spray of mint.

Side Dish Suggestion

I like to combine this dish with a side that has acid. Chopped tomatoes tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette works well. Or do something a little different and make this pickled beet salad.

F R I D A Y

Easy Vegetable Soup with White Beans

This homemade vegetable soup with white beans recipe is packed with so much flavor you won’t miss the meat. It’s hearty enough for lunch or dinner, and is family friendly. Best of all, it’s super easy to make and stores well in the refrigerator and freezer.

Side Dish Suggestion

Bread would be a great partner with this soup, and I often go with these quick Bisquick Cheddar Muffins. They’re a cross between a muffin and a biscuit.

W E E K E N D

Instant Pot Risotto with Charred Tomatoes

This Instant Pot Tomato Risotto shows the best way to make any risotto IMO – in the Instant Pot. The tomatoes are roasted with a little balsamic vinegar for extra flavor.

Side Dish Suggestion

Blistered shishito peppers is perfect with risotto and pasta dishes. And they take literally only a few minutes to make with almost no prep.

S M O O T H I E T I M E

Orange Mango Smoothie with Ginger and Lime

As a bonus for this vegetarian meal plan, this orange mango smoothie is a fresh, healthy, light way to start any day. There’s no need to cut up a mango since I use frozen mango chunks!

W E E K E N D C O C K T A I L

Simple Classic Margarita

A good classic margarita needs only three ingredients and very little time to make. This easy recipe always gets raves, and it’s perfect to stash away in the freezer until the party begins.

W E E K E N D D E S S E R T

Angel Food Cake

Step-by-step instructions for baking a fool-proof angel food cake with tips for success, even at high altitudes.