Transitioning to vegetarian cooking can be intimidating without a guide to the fundamentals. Most people envision vegetarian meals as traditional meat, starch, and vegetable combinations- just minus the meat. Vegetarian cooking does not mean a lifetime of eating side dishes, however. Exploring vegetarianism simply involves considering meat alternatives, foreign cuisine, and exploring whole grains.

Meat alternatives consist of plant- based food products which can be used in place of meat in recipes. The most popular meat alternative is tofu, a soy product which is relatively tasteless. Tofu absorbs the flavor of whatever it is cooked with, making it an excellent stir fry option. Soy crumbles are a great alternative to ground beef for chili, pasta sauce, or casseroles. There are also easy to prepare meat alternatives available in the frozen section of the grocery store. Black bean burgers, soy burgers, and soy nuggets are all tasty meat alternatives.

Another fundamental element of vegetarian cookery is foreign cuisine. Mediterranean, especially Italian, cooking can easily be adapted to a vegetarian lifestyle. There is a great deal of pasta and whole wheat based recipes from this part of the world. Indian cuisine is largely vegetarian, with several rice and lentil based dishes. The exploration of foreign cuisine will open the door to cooking with whole grains. Whole grains are another elementary piece of vegetarian cooking. Bulgur wheat, cous cous, oats, and rice are all excellent examples of whole grains. Salads, casseroles, and other one pot dishes are easily created with whole grains, vegetables, and a choice sauce.

Vegetarian cookery also requires a bit more vigilance in regards to the ingredients list. A great deal of store bought processed food contain animal products that are not obvious. The transition to vegetarianism ultimately means the consumption of more whole foods.