4 low-cost, slow cooker
vegetarian meals
If you want to save time cooking your weeknight meals, a slow cooker is your best bet.
It makes preparing a dish a breeze and best of all, you'll be able to come home from work to a hot meal that's ready to be enjoyed. Here are a few ideas for low-cost vegetarian meals that are perfect for Meatless Mondays or any other night of the week! The trick to a tasty meal? Creativity... and seasoning!
An outstanding chickpea and tofu curry
This chickpea and tofu curry is as delicious as a classic butter chicken and will quickly become one of your family's favourite meals. You'll need a block of firm tofu, a can of chickpeas, a can of coconut milk, a can of tomato paste, Irresistibles garam masala spice blend, an onion, a chopped clove of garlic, and a sweet potato. Start by dicing the tofu and vegetables. Then sauté the onion and garlic in a pan with salt, pepper, and about a tablespoon of garam masala. Add the coconut milk and tomato paste. Cook the sauce while stirring for about 5 minutes or until it thickens. Then place the rinsed chickpeas and chunks of sweet potato and tofu in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce on top and make sure all the ingredients are thoroughly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, simply add a bit of water. Finally, cook the curry on low for about 5 to 6 hours. Serve with rice or naan bread.
A verdant vegetable lasagna
Don't feel like making lasagna because you think the process is too long? Then a slow cooker lasagna is for you! You'll need the sauce of your choice, ricotta, mozzarella, Italian seasoning, spinach, an onion, one or two chopped cloves of garlic, and uncooked lasagna noodles. First, sauté the chopped onion in a pan with the spinach, garlic, a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. In a bowl, combine the onions, spinach, and garlic mixture with the ricotta cheese and add Italian seasoning. Pour the sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker and build your lasagna layers: sauce, noodles, ricotta-vegetable mixture, noodles, and so on. Top with shredded cheese. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
You can make this lasagna in different ways simply by using rosé sauce instead of regular tomato sauce or even using slices of eggplant instead of noodles. And to save even more time, you can head to your Super C where you'll find pre-made Selection or Irresistibles sauces.
Bonus savings tip: when blocks of cheese are on sale, purchase a few, shred them at home, and freeze in an airtight bag.
A heartwarming lentil soup
Lentil soup is a genuinely comforting, healthy meal. The best part is there are thousands of ways to prepare this recipe. Here's our own but don't be afraid of improvising depending on your tastes and leftovers. You'll need lentils (red or green), chicken or vegetable broth, an onion, a bell pepper, a garlic clove, and spices (cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, turmeric). This is a good opportunity to get rid of any leftover veggies you have on hand! You can add carrots, potatoes, celery, etc.
Start by rinsing and draining the lentils. Dice your vegetables and mince the garlic. Add the vegetables, lentils, broth, and spices to your slow cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. To make sure the seasoning is to your liking, you can taste halfway through cooking time. Once you're ready for dinner, serve the soup with pita bread or even a piece of buttered toast. A cozy meal that hits the spot!
A hot and delicious tofu bourguignon
This tofu bourguignon will definitely have everyone running to the dinner table. First, you'll need some red wine fondue, a block of firm tofu, onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, and cornstarch (or flour). You can also add veggies such as carrots and bell peppers if you have any. Start by dicing the tofu and vegetables. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pan and cook the tofu cubes with salt and pepper until they've turned golden brown. Lightly sauté the vegetables with more salt and pepper. Then, add the broth and a dollop of tomato paste to the slow cooker. Add a tablespoon or two of cornstarch or flour to thicken the sauce. Finally, add the grilled tofu and vegetables and simmer on low for about 6 to 7 hours. Serve with noodles or rice. The perfect slow cooker meal!
The increasing popularity of meatless meals
You've probably noticed that vegetarian recipes have become more and more popular in the past few years. That's because they're tasty, inexpensive, and can be easily tailored to what you have in your fridge. Don't forget to keep an eye on your flyer to take advantage of special deals on kitchen staples such as tofu, chickpeas, and canned beans. Bon apétit!
