8 meals where you won't miss the meat

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Introduction

Whether you’re a vegetarian, pescatarian, pasta-tarian or someone who believes meatless meals are made of a combination of grass and rabbit food, you deserve to eat good, delicious meals. Regardless of your dietary or ethical restrictions, here are eight meatless meals that are so filling and flavourful that any carnivorous cravings will disappear with one bite.

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Portobello mushroom cheeseburger

Fire up that barbeque -- it’s burger time. Just because you’re forgoing the ground beef doesn’t mean you have to skip out on smoky, grilled goodness. Thanks to Rachael Ray Buddy and locavore chef Louisa Shafia's marinated mushrooms, you and your “cheeseburgers” will be the envy of all barbeque-goers the second they start to smell the soy sauce.

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Homemade veggie pizza

Ordering in pizza can cost a fortune these days and making your very own homemade pizza is so easy you'll wonder why you ever parted with your hard-earned cash in the first place. It’s surprisingly easy to enjoy a meat-free pizza – especially when you pile on the flavour with peppers, mushrooms, olives, artichokes and artisanal cheeses.

Gus Philippas

Tunaless sandwich

No, you're not looking at fake tuna fish. You’re actually looking at Louisa’s innovative alternative to this lunchtime staple -- tangy chickpea salad. Who knew that this little bean could be a replacement for this fishy filling? We didn’t believe it either until we tried it ourselves. Don’t take our word for it: Whip up a batch and be a convert yourself.

Gus Philippas

Hearty and heart-friendly vegetarian chilli

Top off your nachos, add it to a veggie burger or just enjoy it plain in a bread bowl -- Louisa’s vegetarian chilli is delicious however it goes down. Protein-packed and ready to warm you up from the inside out, this soupy stew is a great freezer meal for those nights you’re just wanting to kick up your feet and stay out of the kitchen.

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Seasonal vegetable and whole grain salad

Colourful, flavourful and packed with protein, this simple salad is quick to make -- and quick to disappear. When you combine fresh seasonal vegetables with protein powerhouses like quinoa and chickpeas, you’re left with a delicious, figure-friendly salad. Make a double batch, because you’ll probably want to pack some for lunch tomorrow.

Gus Philippas

"Whatever’s in the fridge" miso soup

Leftover lentils? Half-eaten mushrooms? Almost-expired celery? Well, you’ve got yourself another meatless meal. With Louisa’s soup, yesterday’s remnants are reinvented into today’s main dish, making your impromptu meal so hearty and flavourful that adding meat would just seem like an unnecessary afterthought.

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Enchiladas

Enchiladas aren’t just for queso and carne. Instead of chicken or steak, stuff your tortillas with grilled peppers, roasted carrots, marinated cauliflower or whatever veggies you happen to have on hand. Just add some cheese, spicy sauce or salsa verde and you’re well on your way to having a fiesta right in your mouth.

Gus Philippas

Pesto pasta

On the days when you dread the question “what’s for dinner?” it’s no surprise that pasta is what pops into your head. It’s quick, economical and relatively hands-off, but we’re willing to bet that you’ve made plain ol' pasta and meatballs more times than you’d care to admit. Thankfully, meat-free pasta sauce like pesto is much easier to whip up than its carnivorous cousin.