3 Meatless Main Dishes for the Nine Days

Image by Jean Hanks

By Jean Hanks July 24, 2015

During the first nine days of the month Av, observant Jews abstain from eating meat, in a collective act of mourning.

Meat lovers, fear not! Going vegetarian for a while is healthy and delicious. These three recipes require little prep work and are satisfying enough to make you forget they’re meatless.

Tofu Over Ratatouille

Quinoa Stuffed Pepppers

2 bell peppers, any color
Canola oil
½ medium yellow onion, chopped
½ cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup vegetable stock
½ cup black beans, rinsed and drained
¼ cup pimento stuffed green olives, halved
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon cumin
Cilantro

1) Preheat the oven to 375˚ F.

2) Cut each pepper in half and remove all seeds and membranes. Brush with oil and set in a lightly greased baking dish.

3) Sauté the onions over medium heat in a saucepan until translucent. Add the quinoa and then the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes until all the liquid has evaporated.

4) In a separate bowl, mix the cooked quinoa, black beans, olives, salt, pepper, garlic salt and cumin.

5) Fill each pepper with the mixture. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake for another 20 minutes.

6) Garnish with cilantro, and serve.

Jean Hanks is the food intern at the Forward. Contact her at hanks@forward.com.

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