Budget friendly vegan meal ideas - Help please!

I found a great soup this summer! Butternut squash--or really, any kind of similar squash--cooked and throw it in a soup pot. Add some water, a little milk and a cooked pear (or canned). Blend it and when you serve it put a little cinnamon on top. It's very, very yummy! You can also add lentils or other type of bean to make it more protein/fiber rich.

Hi GreenMoo, Off the top of my head I can only think of really simple things like beans on toast, nut roast, vegetable stew and a really tasty salad with mushroom burger. I am sure there are probably sites with recipes available. My daughter was vegetarian for a while but never vegan so at least I had egg and cheese dishes dishes I could do. Huggles. Ellie :D

We do a dish called Hay Stacks. It is corn chips or rice over cut lettuce, pinto beans, tomatoes, then the fixing for a taco. such as salsa, sour cream (Vegan version)olives and cheese (vegan version). It is a hit at our church. You can also make a vegan veggie lasagna Recipe at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Vegan-Lasagna-I/Detail.aspx Here is a site with a list of vegan recipes too. http://allrecipes.com/Search/Recipes.aspx?WithTerm=vegan+recipes&SearchIn=All

If you want cheap and hearty ... vegan chili! I just made some tonight as a matter of fact. I make the chili just as I normally would but instead of brown ground meat, I use TVP. TVP is texturized vegetable protein ... basically little irregular chunks of soy protein. YOu can find it in the health food section of your grocery store. TVP is not real expensive like some healthy things can be :) Also you are forgetting some very basic things that you probably never thought of as vegan..... how about spaghetti with tomato sauce, a salad and garlic bread? Lentil soup. Tomato soup. Rice pilaf. Grill or roast some veggies and throw them up on a roll for a yummy sandwich. Red beans and rice even. And hows about some hummus and pita chips for a snack? I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian but I do love veggies. I do hope this helps. The great thing is there are vegan products out there like vegan-mayo and vegan egg substitute. Good luck and I hope your visit is more about enjoying each other rather than you stressing over what to feed your friend.

Well i am no great cook. i can only make ann omlate if I have to and toast coem bread. Yes i can brew some tea and coffee too. Besides that if yo ask me i know how to heat water. ha ha ha Anyway I am sorry I can't be helpful but you have my moral support and i cna wish yo all the best in looking after the guests. have a great time.

This is a great discussion to follow, as I have a friend that is trying to go vegan but is having a difficult time affording it. Here is a recipe I found for Chocloate Torte: 3/4 cup pecans 1 cup couscous 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cocoa 1/4 teaspoon salt 2-1/2 cups water 1/2 cup sugar 5 tablespoons cornstarch 3 tablespoons of cocoa 2 cups soymilk Roast the pecans in the oven at 375 degrees F until they are fragrant (about 8 minutes). Cool, then grind in a food processor just enough to make a course meal. Set aside. Mix the couscous, 1 coup sugar, cocoa, salt, and water in a sauce pan. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat until thickend (about 7 minutes). Spred in a 9" springform pan and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the ground pecans. In a medium saucepan, stir the remaining sugar, cornstarch and cocoa together, then whisk in the soymilk until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until very thick (like pudding). Spread evenly over the top of the cake, then sprinkle the remaining pecans. Refigerate until the cake is set, at least 3 hours, before serving. *If you aren't a fan of pecans (like me), you can leave out the pecans all together and put fresh sliced strawberries over the top of your torte and it tastes delicious! Hmmmm, I want some now.... Happy cooking!

I am not into vegan cooking myself, but if you were to use soy, rice or almond milk instead of cow's milk you could make a white sauce. Vegetable oil instead of butter. That would make the sauces you are thinking of I believe. In our stores we even can get soy cheese products. I hope you have lots of luck. All I can think of is lentils.

I make a vegan potato, pea and veggie soups. Also, its easy to make vegan beans. I often have to eat vegan because of my food allergies. Give it a try.

Hi Greenmoo, how about making a vegetable pilaf served with riced or quinoa; mixed bean soup; sweet and sour tofu with stir fried vegetables; any recipe you have that uses minced beef could be made with Quorn, which is a mushroom-based microprotein, i.e. spag. bol, chill con carne, shepherd's pie etc. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Uh oh, I am not a good cook so I don't think I'll be a lot of help. I'd serve soup as it is very easy to make and can be filling as well. Warm vegetable soup with bread is something I'd like to eat.:) Are nuts vegan food? If so, you might want to keep some handy for your guest to munch on. Lots of fruits should also help and you can buy cheap ones at the market. :) Hmmm I also think tofu is a good dish. Soy tofu, tofu burgers, fried tofu with greens- these are some dishes that I enjoy. :)

It is a little unfair to expect you to become an instant expert on someone's extreme food choices like veganism. You should ask her what she eats and ask for some recipes then you are in a good comfort zone for her. You might even suggest bringing some of her favourite supplies.