10 Easy Dishes to Suggest When Your Family Insists on Cooking For You

By the time many of us reach adulthood, we’ve more-or-less discovered what kinds of tastes, ingredients, and cuisines we respond best to that fit into our dietary restrictions. And while even the pickiest of eaters among us sometimes have to accept that we’re not always in control of what we eat, we often at least have the chance to anticipate these inconveniences. If you’re traveling, for example, or on a budget, you might not have the access or the funds to consume the food you most desire.

But what about when your family insists on cooking for you? For some people, the very idea of sitting back and allowing someone else to prepare a homemade meal is warmly welcomed; for others, the notion sends shivers down their spine — especially if you are someone who adheres to a specific diet, such as a plant-based one.

We get it: you don’t want to appear ungrateful, but you’re also not sure how to suggest a meal that your family will both know how to cook and be able to enjoy with you. Luckily, we’ve scoured our Food Monster App to pull together 10 easy recipes to suggest your family makes if they absolutely insist they want to cook for you, and five staples they should start stocking in the house.

1. Three Bean Sriracha Chili 

This Three Bean Sriracha Chili is gluten-free and packed with protein from the three different types of beans. For those who enjoy some spice to their chili, this dish gets its kick from Sriracha, the hot sauce close to everyone’s heart. Make a big batch to eat all week long! This chili is perfect alongside some mixed greens, over quinoa, or with some yummy cornbread.

2. Baked Sweet Potato Stuffed With Turmeric Hummus 

There’s just something so cozy and satisfying about these Baked Sweet Potatoes Stuffed With Turmeric Hummus. This dish is simple, grain-free, and packed with nutrition. It involves using turmeric hummus as one of the baked sweet potato fillings. After baking sweet potatoes whole, stuff them with a healthy slathering of the hummus, a fresh green salad of spinach leaves, lettuce, mint, and a healthy handful of pomegranate!

3. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bursted Cherry Tomato Spaghetti 

We think this Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bursted Cherry Tomato Spaghetti includes all the elements for a family friendly and satisfying meal — it’s spaghetti, after all! Sweet, roasted Brussels sprouts and tart, oven-bursted cherry tomatoes tangle with spaghetti in a cheesy, buttery sauce. Make the most of those veggies that quickly move past their prime with this delicious pasta dish!

4. Caramelized Onion Pasta

This Caramelized Onion Pasta proves that pasta doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated to be tasty, which is a huge bonus for you and your family — everyone can enjoy a simple, delicious meal. In this particular one, onions are caramelized and then tossed in with lemon-dressed Casarecce pasta. Savory with a pleasant citrusy surprise. Yum.

5. Easy Lo-Mein

This Easy Lo-Mein dish is gluten-free and full of color. The sauce is simple and elegant and the works perfectly with the hot noodles and crisp green onions. This recipe is quick, easy, and perfect if you are in a rush to get dinner on the table.

6. Roasted Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Hummus Wraps

Check out these Roasted Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Hummus Wraps! These wraps are packed with soft, savory sweet potatoes, tender smokey cauliflower, velvety hummus, and a hearty kale salad. This wrap has everything you need for lunch in a portable form.

7. Cheesy Corn and Smashed Avocado Quesadillas 

These Cheesy Corn and Smashed Avocado Quesadillas may feel like a total comfort food indulgence, but they are remarkably healthy! The “cheese” is made with corn, nutritional yeast, garlic, and salt, and with the avocado and cherry tomatoes, these are pretty well-rounded ingredient-wise. Who knew ooey-gooey deliciousness could be so wholesome?

8. Eggplant, Onion, and Tomato Stew 

This is for all your Paleo eaters out there. This Eggplant, Onion, and Tomato Stew is really simple to make with a minimal ingredient list of fresh veggies and it can be enjoyed plain or over quinoa, brown rice or even pasta. It’s a one-pot meal and basically, after dicing your fresh veggies and simmering them for about 20 minutes, it’s ready to enjoy. And not only is it a delicious meal to serve for “Meatless Mondays,” it’s also vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and even paleo-friendly.

9. One-Pot Split Pea Curry

Bursting with flavors, this creamy and fragrant One-Pot Split Pea Curry is a complete meal on its own. Mildly spiced so that the whole family can enjoy it with rice or grains of your choice and plenty of fresh coriander. Like most curried dishes, it is even better the day after so you can look forward to a tasty packed lunch.

10. Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

We are drooling over these Roasted Cauliflower Tacos. Whether it’s beans, mushrooms, peppers, or corn, there are quite a few filling options for those looking to keep meat and dairy out of taco night. While these are great options, sometimes it’s nice to the routine up with something unique! These roasted cauliflower tacos do just that! Crispy cauliflower florets, white beans, lime, and zesty avocado spread? Yum!

Staple, Affordable Ingredients to Have on Hand

While we have plenty of guides to different staples you should have on hand when you’re learning to build your plant-based kitchen — from baking essentials to ingredients for the health-conscious among us — we’ve extracted some key ingredients that we think have prime crossover appeal; you’ll be able to center a nutritious plant-based dish over these, and your family will recognize all of them.

1. Pasta

Andrew_Writer/Flickr

There’s a reason dried pasta is one of the most popular ingredients you’ll find in any person’s pantry. There are plenty of varieties, such as grain-free kinds of pasta, the cheap but comforting kind that comes in pre-made meals, and more. If you have some pasta on hand, you’ll be able to go through any number of plant-based pasta recipes and find a dish that works for you.

2. Chickpeas

Melissa Kristofferson/Flickr

Chickpeas can be transformed into a number of different dishes; your family will recognize them as a staple ingredient of hummus, but you can also make desserts out of their water with aquafaba (we suggest starting with this Vegan Meringue), or smash them up into a delectable Chickpea “Tuna” Salad Sandwich.

3. Basic Tomato Sauce

Tomatoes are absolutely divine when they are harvested at the peak of their season, but they are always available in canned varieties year round. They can be incorporated into so many different dishes and are a staple in many cuisines. If you’re up for making your own, here’s our recipe for The Only Tomato Sauce You’ll Ever Need. Of course, if you decide you still want a few others up your sleeve, we love this Homemade Spicy Red Wine Tomato Sauce and this easy guide on How to Make Fresh Marinara Sauce.

4. Potatoes

Everyone loves potatoes, right? The average American eats 140 pounds of potatoes per year, and there are so many affordable varieties to choose from! Sweet potatoes are high in potassium, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, but we love them all. Check out our guide on 8 Ways to Make Badass Baked Potatoes and these 15 Must-Make Vegan Sweet Potato Dinners for more inspo.

5. Bags of Frozen Vegetables

Lisa Brewster/Flickr

No matter how healthful and good our intentions, we all sometimes end up buying too much produce and allowing it to rot or spoil in the back of our fridge (check out these 6 Tips to Keep Your Veggies Fresh Longer for storage advice). However, if you have a couple of bags of frozen veggies on hand, you can whip up a number of nutritious and delicious dishes with the addition of a little salt and pepper! Here are some sneaky ways to up your veggie intake.

So what do you think of these easy, family-friendly recipe and ingredient suggestions? We’d venture a guess that if you provide your family members with pasta, quesadilla, or chili recipes, your recommendations are probably going to be well-received. We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook, for more inspiration. The app has more than 8,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to ten new recipes per day. Check it out!

Lead image source: Easy Lo-Mein