The vegetarian diet is a diet that involves abstaining from meat, poultry, and fish.

There are a variety of reasons people choose to adopt the vegetarian diet – some for ethical reasons, some for health reasons, some because of personal preference, and more.

Cheese is generally considered vegetarian-friendly, and adding cheese to any dish can make it more flavorful.

So, I’m sharing a roundup of vegetarian recipes with a cheesy upgrade.

5 Cheese Vegetarian Recipes

Just a note: parmesan cheese isn’t vegetarian, as it uses animal rennet, but there are vegetarian parmesan cheese being sold in most grocery stores, so just buy a vegetarian version if the recipe calls for it.

Pesto English Muffin

330 calories

This recipe is great for breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1 English muffin – 130 calories

• 2 Tbsp Pesto (Tbsp) – 120 calories

• 1 oz Cheese, sliced, mozzarella, full fat/ regular – 80 calories

• 1 Basil, dash – 0 calories

• 1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories

• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Slice open English muffin, toast for ~1 minute

2. Top with pesto, 1/2 slice cheese on each half, and seasonings

3. Bake for 3-5 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until cheese has melted

4. Plate and enjoy

5. No dairy? Swap this meal out for a different recipe

Eggplant Parm Skillet

341 calories

This is great for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Eggplant slices – 35 calories

• ⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella – 112 calories

• 1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories

• 2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 50 calories

• ½ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed – 25 calories

• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories

• 1 Basil, dash – 0 calories

• 1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories

Instructions

1. This recipe works best when making 2 or 3 servings at once.

2. Cut eggplant into small pieces.

3. Add oil to pan.

4. Cook eggplant ~15 minutes on lowest heat, stirring frequently.

5. Add tomatoes and seasonings, stir ~3 minutes.

6. Top with cheese and let simmer until cheese melted.

7. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, or swap this meal out for another.

Quick Kadai Paneer

498 calories

Another recipe that’s great for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

• 3 oz Paneer cheese – 240 calories

• ½ Onion, yellow – 27.5 calories

• ½ Bell pepper, green – 13.5 calories

• ¾ cup Canned, diced tomatoes – 37.5 calories

• ¼ cup Tikka Masala sauce – 60 calories

• 1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories

Instructions

1. Dice onion, chop pepper into medium pieces, and cube Paneer cheese

2. Add oil to a pan, turn to low heat

3. Stir fry onions ~7 minutes, or until translucent

4. Add in pepper, tomatoes, cheese, and Tikka Masala sauce

5. Let simmer 10+ minutes

6. No dairy? Use tofu

Goat Cheese Box with Chickpea Salad

473 calories

This box is great to pack as lunch for work.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Cheese, goat – 103 calories

• 1 Serving of crackers, whole wheat, 110 calories per serving – 110 calories

• 2 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 14 calories

• ⅛ cup Pecans (cups) – 94 calories

• ½ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked – 134 calories

• 1 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 17.5 calories

• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories

Instructions

1. Rinse and drain chickpeas.

2. Combine spinach, pecans, and chickpeas.

3. Top with dressing and salt.

4. Serve cheese and crackers on the side.

5. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, or an oil-based vinaigrette (not a light vinaigrette). Gluten-free? Use a gluten-free crackers.

6. Note: I’m using TJ’s cranberry goat cheese here, but use any type you have.

7. Note: I love AkMak whole grain crackers, but Triscuits are also a good choice available at most stores.

8. Note: I like Trader Joe’s fat free vinaigrette – but Paul Newman, Whole Foods, etc. all
   have good light dressings.

Strawberries and Cannoli Dip

218 calories

This is an interesting way to use cheese in a sweet food! Who says tomato sauce is the only dipping sauce you can eat – what about cannoli dip?

Ingredients

• 1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories

• 2 Tbsp Powdered sugar – 60 calories

• ¼ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories

• ¼ cup Ricotta cheese, part-skim – 108 calories

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, powdered sugar, and vanilla, to make a dipping sauce..

2. Stir until evenly mixed.

3. Wash & cut strawberries in halves.

4. Dip strawberries into cannoli filling.

5. No dairy? Swap this snack / dessert out for another.

6. Optional: Add chocolate chips, track them!

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