If you are a vegetarian, this article is definitely for you. Or, maybe, you are trying to cut down on meat and you don’t know where to begin, or how. Perhaps, you have a plant-based diet, but you feel you are running out of ideas when cooking different dishes and you want to vary a bit. Don’t worry! This article is also for you.

Looking for new ideas can be tough when we aren’t sure about the ingredients that exist out there. Many people tend to eat vegetables, tofu, beans, or lentils. But today, I bring you some different options: 2 vegan meatloaf recipes that will blow your mind!

Why are they different? Because their main ingredient is brown rice, a very nutritious staple that is a great source of antioxidants, calcium, iron, manganese, and magnesium. Did you know that?

Let’s begin with the first one

This recipe is ideal for you if you are taking your first steps in the kitchen. You are going to need simple ingredients and you will have to follow just a couple of easy steps.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of brown rice.
• 1 small onion.
• 3 cloves of garlic.
• 1 egg.

For the seasoning

• ½ tbsp. of parsley.
• ½ tbsp. of cumin.
• A pinch of salt and pepper.

Instructions

1. Firstly, cook the rice following the package directions.
2. Then, add the chopped onion and the garlic.
3. After that, season with parsley, cumin, salt, and pepper.
4. The next step is to add the egg and blend the mixture together well.
5. Then, spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and transfer the mixture to it. Cover it with foil and refrigerate it for about 2 hours.
6. Finally, bake it for about 90 minutes at 660°F. You just have to wait!

Cook’s Tip

If you want to make it tastier, you can mix some ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard and a pinch of salt and make a delicious topping. It will make a huge difference!

Do you want to take it a little bit further?

You may be an experienced chef, or perhaps, you relish cooking and you have some expertise.

If that is the case, here goes a recipe that requires a couple more ingredients but that will blow your mind as well as the previous one. Let’s try it out!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of brown rice.
• 2 cups of walnuts.
• 1 cup of cashews.
• 2 onions.
• 6 cloves of garlic.
• 10 oz. of mushrooms.
• 4 tsp. of parsley.
• 4 tbsp. of dried herbs.
• 8 eggs.
• 2 cups of cottage cheese.
• A pinch of salt.

Instructions

1. To begin with, cook the rice according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Then, grill the nuts in the oven for about 10 minutes and allow them to cool.
3. After that, chop the vegetables. Once they are ready, chop the nuts.
4. The next step is to heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion and the garlic for about 3 minutes. Add the herbs and the mushrooms and cook everything, stirring, for about 5 minutes.
5. Then, transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the nuts, parsley, cottage cheese, and salt.
6. Take a bowl and beat the eggs. Combine everything.
7. Transfer the mixture to a cake pan, preferably with baking paper.
8. Then, bake the preparation for about 45 minutes and let it sit for 10 minutes before taking the loaf out of the pan.

Chef’s Tips

• If you already have some experience cooking exquisite dishes, you can play a little bit with the ingredients you use. Remember that cooking is about being creative. So, don’t be afraid of changing the ingredients just a bit to give the recipe your own touch!
• If you felt you had run out of ideas and you didn’t know what else to cook, I think I have given you two interesting and exquisite recipes to try.
• It is possible to cook and eat healthy, easy, and quick dishes which are made out of simple staples.

Conclusion

I am telling you, once you try these recipes, you are not going to feel like cooking any others. Your mouth will melt! You can start with the easiest one, and then move forward to the next level to see how much you have improved in the kitchen. You will be surprised and grateful. I believe there are no more excuses. Try these tasty dishes out and give yourself a treat!