Vegetarian Low Carb Main Dish Ideas?

[scuzzo]

No pasta, flour, potatoes, rice, etc. Looking for fun, creative ideas. Eggs and dairy are fine, especially egg!

Thanks in advance for your efforts!

[weezycom]

Lettuce wraps made with tofu instead of chicken; any sort of veggie-added frittata; large zucchini split lengthwise, seeded and stuffed with ricotta/mozz mixed and a variety of peppers, onions, pine nuts, parsley, basil & oregano; spaghetti squash made into - duh! - spaghetti with a basic marinara and some good parm; roasted eggplant with a tahini-lemon sauce.

[scuzzo]

That's a great idea!

[nemo]

Stuffed cabbage (and some sturdier lettuce leaves, like Romaine), filled with shredded cabbage, carrots, onions, water chestnuts for crunch, zucchini, mushrooms. For protein, mix in cooked quinoa. I know quinoa has carbs, but it's a complete protein, and definitely not in the same league with white flour or white rice.

Are you totally not interested in lentils and/or beans?

[invinotheresverde]

Virtually no carbs, like Atkins or just lower barbs?

[scuzzo]

Yea, low carb, like Atkins...

[invinotheresverde]

-Sauteed greens with sesame oil, celery and soy
-Very thinly made "omelettes" can be used as wraps and stuffed
-Spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Go SUPER easy on any marinara.
-Boca Grillers have one net carb each, as do Quorn Grilled Chicken. I ate these constantly when I did Atkins, especially to bulk up stir fries. Also used them with egg salad lettuce wraps.

Be aware that a lot of the previous recipes call for things like carrots, onions and tomatoes, which aren't really allowed if you're going to do Atkins.

[GretchenS]

Cheesecake 17's spinach jibin http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/583305#4279747 Ths is truly just as good warm out of the oven, cold out of the fridge, or reheated. Also really good with sauteed mushrooms added although it doesn't need it.

Ina Garten's Eggplant Gratin. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/in... I ue a good-sized eggplant and double evrything else. Also, I brush the sliced eggplant with a little olive oil and broil on a cookie sheet -- MUCH easier than sauteeing. Easy and delicious -- friends and family go nuts over this.

[scuzzo]

Those are both great! I've made "spinach bread" by adding beaten egg to squeezed out frozen spinach and baked gently in a jelly roll pan to create slabs that can be used like bread to make a sandwich. I liked this a lot, and obviously can be jazzed up a lot.

[another_adam]

A minor variation on this are the once-ubiquitous "spinach squares": spinach, eggs, cottage cheese, possibly also feta or shredded cheese, with spices (often nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper). We used to sprinkle wheat germ on the top before baking, but that could be skipped if you're avoiding the carbs...

[chowser]

I make lasagne and roast thin slices of zucchini for the noodles.

[salsailsa]

What about Portabello mushroom pizzas, where you use the mushroom as the 'crust.'

[lgss]

Shepherd's Salad, lentil soup...

[waytob]

Spicy red bean curry with baked cauliflower mash, i usually sub cailiflower for alot of potato dishes. Baked arrowroot is another alternative (if you can get it).
Moussaka made with soya mince (sub the potato with sweet potato)

[Diane in Bexley]

Roasted Vegetable Frittata - basically rost some low carb veggies like onion, assprted colored peppers, zuchinni, yellow squash, mushrooms, asparagus, etc.

In a large skillet - preferably cast iron, add some EVOO or butter, throw in the veggies, add some beaten eggs with a little milk/cream, some cheese of your choice (Swiss, Gruyere, Cheddar, Gouda, whatever) Cook stovetop for about 5-10 min, then throw in 375 oven for 10-15 min. This is great at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also very good served at room temp in 2 in squares as appetizers.

Most quiche recipes can be made low carb by eliminating the crust. Make sure the pan is well oiled or buttered.

[LulusMom]

Baked eggs with mushrooms and spinach from epicurious is fabulous, but up the cream and garlic to make it more so and I like to use gruyere instead of parmesan. Here is the link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

Also baked portobellos with goat cheese and spinach in the center, very tasty (I can find the recipe if you want it). Agree that any quiche can be made low carb by just skipping the crust.