Vegetable-heavy breakfast ideas - anyone have any?

[Flaxbee]

Preferably not baked or scrambled into eggs ...

Trying to get some healthy breakfast ideas that aren't centered on eggs or cereals or waffles/muffins/pancakey things. I grew up with pancakes and eggs for breakfast so I crave those kinds of carb-heavy breakfasts, but would like to transition to veggies. Fruits are easy, but what about veggies?

[olddots]

1. vegitarian cook books have cool ideas

i know how you feel about avoiding carbs = not easy and breakfast habits are the hardest to break .

[Flaxbee]

4. I should check those out ... so many advocate putting veggies into eggs or muffins, though..

"Mediterranean" breakfasts have a lot of non-carb items like cucumbers, olives, cheeses, etc.... and I can do some of that; just trying to find additional inspiration.

Thanks.

[trof]

2. Sure. Bacon wrapped fried broccoli. Or grits?

Grits are guaranteed all vegetable.
It's corn.
Farina
It's wheat, or something.
Cream of Wheat.
About as yucky as Farina.

[Flaxbee]

5. I actually love Farina. With some raspberry/apricot jam mixed in, or

some other berry jam with fresh blueberries, it's terrific.

My mother used to serve it to me loaded with butter and brown sugar; trying to be healthier.

[Graybeard]

3. Soup.

Do a Google search for 'soup for breakfast' and you will get many
cookbooks on the subject and loads of recipes.

Butternut Squash soup spiced with cinnamon or nutmeg would be
great. Add milk to make it creamy.
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[Flaxbee]

7. ok, thanks. I've considered miso, but I'll look for others, too.

I have a recipe for butternut squash roasted and then blended with nutmeg or cinnamon with apples and nuts tossed in for texture - as a substitute for oatmeal. Need to try that; I have some frozen butternut squash at home but just has been too hot to turn on the oven/broiler.

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. Israeli Breakfast Salad:

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http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2009/11/serve-a-delicious-and-healthy-israeli-salad-for-breakfast.html
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[Flaxbee]

9. that looks terrific, thanks!

[antiquie]

8. Sweet potatoes and corn bread.

Veggie chili and corn bread -- one of my favorite breakfasts.
White egg omelet and spinach with a slice of tomato, yum.

[Flaxbee]

12. good suggestions, thanks. I like sweet potatoes, apples and walnuts together.

With a little butter and/or tiny bit of honey.

Husband doesn't like eggs, so sometimes I make them just for myself and that sounds good. I love spinach. I put salsa on my scrambled eggs. Good stuff.

[Xipe Totec]

10. Nopalitos

Great in tacos on corn tortillas



http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nopalitos_with_tomatoes_and_onions/

[Flaxbee]

13. now that is not something I'd considered -- but I'll have to look at one of our local marts for

nopalitos.

Huh. Sounds good.

[Xipe Totec]

15. In Massachusetts I get them in Fall River, Rhode Island. In Texas, just about anywhere. nt

[KamaAina]

39. Pssst...

Fall River is in Mass., though near the R.I. line.

[Xipe Totec]

40. Well wadayaknow....

What can I say, it's on the Providence highway.

[mainer]

11. protein source?

just asking. Unless you use eggs, you're going to have to resort to beans.

Mexican-themed breakfasts could include black beans and tortillas.

[Flaxbee]

14. Not so much in the morning - maybe some cream cheese or feta ...

I don't eat much meat at all (but trying to avoid the vegetarian trap of lots of carbs); husband's weakness is chicken but we don't eat any pork products (no bacon, ham, etc.) or beef.

I'd love some fish, but probably not for breakfast, to be honest, and it isn't easy finding sustainably-harvested fish around here or non-Chinese-fish-farm fish.

[Graybeard]

17. The Brits love their Kippers.

But I never could bring myself to eat fish in the morning.

I also pass on the smoked salmon -Lox- w/cream cheese on

a bagel. (Serve it to me for lunch. )

[Texasgal]

16. I personally love

to make sauteed spinach and tomatoes on a toasted english muffin with cream cheese! I love to make that on weekends.

On the go in the morning a nice refried bean and cheese taco gets me going, one of my favorites!

[Flaxbee]

18. that sounds like a nice combo on the english muffin...

I could buy veggie refried beans and go for the quick morning burrito.

[Texasgal]

19. I'm a vegetarian so the beans I buy are

meat free... of course I still cannot seem to shake cheese! I love cheese, I drink soy milk and use soy creamer for my coffee... but that damn cheese!

[Flaxbee]

20. I've moved away from soy and I loooove almond milk. Unsweetened, or even light

vanilla, it's fantastic with cereal or coffee.

I really like cheese, too, but I definitely eat less of it than I used to. Love feta, mozzarella if I have fresh tomato and basil, brie, and then a really good, sharp cheddar with crackers - a weakness.

[Squinch]

46. Have you ever tried making it at home from just almonds and water?

You will NEVER go back to the storebought. It is fabulous, and takes about a half hour a week to make.

[Flaxbee]

49. huh, no, never have. almonds cost a fortune (all nuts do) - how many almonds to

make, say, a gallon?

do you have a recipe?

[Squinch]

55. I get the almonds at Trader Joe's

for about $4 a pound. A gallon takes 2 pounds and lasts me two weeks, so I'm spending $16 a month on it. But I started making it so I could cut out the half and half and take myself off cholesterol meds, so I save money that way.

Soak them for 5 or 6 hours, and then you can pop off the brown skin easily. Take the un-skinned almonds and put about half a pound in the blender with enough water to cover them plus another inch or two. Blend it, then strain it into quart mason jars through a nut bag (insert joke here.) Before I bought one, I used knee-high nylons to strain it. Don't know if that is the healthiest thing to do due to the dyes but they worked.

I put one mason jar in the fridge to use and freeze the other three to keep them fresh.

When you defrost these, they are an unsightly grey color, and the almond part has separated from the water part. I just pop off the water part which is now like an ice cube, put fresh water in with the almond part, put it through the blender again for 30 seconds, and it's just like the fresh batch.

It's very rich and a really nice substitute if you are used to half and half or cream in your coffee.

[RebelOne]

23. I know that feeling. I am a vegetarian also.

I would go vegan, but I could not give up the cheese. I love cheese. Those vegan cheeses in the supermarket are just not the same as the real thing.

[antiquie]

43. Ice Cream.

For me, worse than no cheese.

[Flaxbee]

50. I know I'm weird, but I really don't like ice cream. Unless it's on something 'a la mode'

and all melty and delicious on hot pie or a hot brownie or something.

But by itself, meh.

[Paulie]

21. PB&J

I've also done hummus and crackers with slices of avocado. We do breakfast quesadillas quite a bit just omit the sausage and bacon. Also skillets with diced baked potato, vegi sauté and cheese baked till bubbly.

[Flaxbee]

25. I love PBJ and when we splurge, almond butter. yum.

[Avalux]

22. Will take a little while to cook - but I like Quinoa Banana 'Bread'.

I make it in a crock pot, takes 3-4 hours (so maybe brunch?). Quinoa is a healthy high protein grain that fluffs up when cooked. The result is more like a bread pudding, and good eaten hot in a bowl with sliced bananas and milk. Good as left-overs too.

Quinoa Banana Bread

1 C. quinoa
1/2 C. non-fat sour cream
1/2 C. low-fat milk
1 cup water
1/2 tsp. vanilla

(mix the above in the crock pot)

2 bananas mashed
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
3 Tbsp brown sugar (I've used maple syrup too)
1 1/2 Tbsp butter (or alternate, melted)

Add mashed banana to crock pot and mix well.

Mix walnuts, brown sugar and melted butter together. Sprinkle into crock pot and stir everything together. Set the crock pot to low. Keep an eye on it and add more liquid if needed; will be done when the top and edges are nice and brown and fairly firm.

[RebelOne]

24. Sounds great, but could I omit the walnuts?

Would it still be just as tasty because I hate nuts?

[Flaxbee]

26. I'm sure you could (this isn't my recipe, but I plan to use it)

I'd think you could toss in anything - raisins might be nice; cranberries, apricots... any manner of fruit would probably be wonderful.

[Avalux]

29. All of that sounds really good!

It's not in the recipe, but I added a little cinnamon and about a splash of salt to mine.

[Avalux]

27. Sure you could.

One of the things I love about cooking is that sometimes recipes are meant to be altered. Lots of different things you can do with this one.

[BootinUp]

28. Not a vegetable nut, was going to suggest eggs and spinach.

[Major Nikon]

30. I love a sliced ripe tomato for breakfast

Smoked sweet peppers

Bruschetta

Avocados either sliced by themselves or mashed and spread on toast

Hummus on a toasted pita

Sauteed mushrooms

[Cass]

45. Oh my! What a terrific breakfast! nt

[Flaxbee]

51. I OD'd on avocado and a dash of salt on toast earlier this year. But I'm sure it'll sound good to

me soon. Love avocados.

I've been having caprese salad, actually - garden tomatoes, mozzarella and basil with a dash of balsamic vinegar. Heaven.

Shrooms are good, too. Will have to get some baby bellas... but shiitake are my favorite when sauteed properly.

[hobbit709]

31. Closest I come to that is chopped onions and serranos in my eggs

[applegrove]

32. I've been eating broccoli, cabbage and carrot slaw at night. I eat it without dressing. The

raw vegetables are tasty enough. Talked to someone today who says she uses it in stir fries or wraps. I get it ready chopped into matchsticks in a plastic bag in the vegetable section of the grocery store. You could try and invent something out of that.

[Flaxbee]

52. not a bad idea at all. Maybe with a light breakfasty dressing like poppyseed or something

huh. Thanks!

[applegrove]

61. It actually has cawliflower matchsticks too. I read the bag.

[MiddleFingerMom]

33. I've just hit the Mother Lode!!! One word -- PEPPADEW!!!!

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For your purposes, especially the "Appetizer" and "Stuffed" categories.
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http://www.peppadewfresh.com/Recipe_folder/Recipes.html
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[Flaxbee]

53. never heard of a peppadew until now. :)

will have to look for some, if for no other reason than to say I've eaten a peppadew. sounds like a cross between dr. pepper and a honeydew melon.

[MiddleFingerMom]

59. They are INCREDIBLE -- very sweet with a slight SLIGHT burn that builds very slowly.

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They go with ANYTHING -- I've been tempted to put them (and shall someday)
on vanilla ice cream.
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They're often in olive bars (that's where I first found them) or in the olive/pickle
aisle where the more "gourmet" bottles and jars of roasted peppers and such are.
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They're fairly pricey in either case -- but more, MUCH more than worth the cost.
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And if you DO ever try them, this recipe website will make YOU ecstatic, too. You
will impress and amaze everyone at the potluck (family dinner, etc.) from now on.
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I had forgotten all about them (neither of my two usual "go-to supermarkets" has
an olive bar anymore).
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[mnhtnbb]

34. Green smoothies are all the rage for some folks.

You can find lots of recipes for them on-line.

[Squinch]

47. That's my breakfast. A bunch of spinach, an apple, and the juice of a lemon.

Tossed into the blender.

It's surprisingly tasty, and it wakes you up and gives you a lot of energy. Also you know you've had 3 of the 5 servings of veggies and fruits you need for the day.

A lot of people think this is bunk, but I also like it because it is very alkaline, and my feeling is that it neutralizes a lot of acidic food ills till I have time to make a salad at night.

[Flaxbee]

54. Very good stuff - I really like spinach-based smoothies (and beets, too)

I quite often have some juice in the morning, however, I like to eat something. vegetable juices are filling, though, so I could probably have a veggie/apple juice and a few slices of tomato and be satisfied.

[Squinch]

56. I never thought of beets! Do you use the greens or the beets themselves?

[BainsBane]

35. You could make a frittata

with lots of vegetables. Just lightly saute the vegies you want, pour a beaten egg over it, and cook until done.

[AtomicKitten]

62. +1

[magical thyme]

36. on hot and humid summer days, I can eat ginger-carrot salad 3x per day

and be happy. The ginger helps clear the sinuses first thing, as an added plus. I add in finely chopped cabbage or broccoli to the grated carrots, grated ginger, walnuts and frozen o.j.

In the wintertime, cajun sweet potato fries are nice. Slice up the sweets about 1/8-1/4" thick, lay them out on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkly lightly with cajun spices. Broil until brown bubbles appear, flip, drizzle and sprinkle and broil a little more. Also good with cajun spice and a light sprinkling of brown sugar, or with cinnamin alone for a less spicy start to the day.

[Arugula Latte]

37. It just occurred to me that my favorite food, caprese salad, would make a great breakfast.

Fresh mozzarella (w/ a bit of salt), tomatoes, fresh basil, a drizzle of good olive oil ... Mmmmm.

[MiddleFingerMom]

41. Add some balsamic vinegar to that and I'm like a Pavlovian dog (pardon the visual image).

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Fresh mozzarella is AMAZINGLY low in sodium for a cheese (if it isn't
in brine) -- usually around 25mg per OUNCE!!!
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[Bunnahabhain]

38. I took a lot of crap for this last week but..

beans as the staple if you're trying to avoid heavy carbs.

http://www.wholeliving.com/130295/millet-bowl-black-beans-and-vegetables is a great example. Beans add protein and "backbone" to many dishes as well as being full of fiber. Hummus is great with some toasted pine nuts, zatar, and some scrambled eggs. Or black beans with eggs and a large portion of fresh salsa for veggies.

[magical thyme]

42. roasted sweet red peppers, mushrooms, onions, and tomato slices

after marinating overnight in greek or italian dressing. mmmm.... Maybe sprinkle with a little parmesan...

[RZM]

44. I know you said no eggs. But . . .

I sautee some onions, peppers, and mushrooms in a little oil and butter and add some garlic toward the end. Then I mix up a bowl with 2 eggs, and a little sour cream and cheese. Then I pour the egg mixture over the vegetables and cook for a minute or two until the eggs are done.

It's incredibly filling.

[Squinch]

48. IF you have a hard time moving away from that filled feeling after one of those breakfasts,

try Ezekial bread (get it at Trader Joe's - it's bread made of sprouted grains instead of wheat) with some almond butter and sliced fruit on top of it.

Extremely filling. I have it for lunch often.

[Flaxbee]

60. thanks! we're about an hour from TJ's, but I think our local grocery carries some sprouted grain

breads. will give them a try.

the best almond butter is at Costco, IMO; we don't go there anymore but I'm tempted to rejoin if for no other reason...

[Squinch]

63. I didn't know that. I'll look for it.

[TuxedoKat]

58. Maybe

You could make Hash Browns with lots of vegetables? I had never made them before but my daughter's school wanted some one to make them for a staff breakfast so I volunteered. I found a recipe on YouTube I made them and they turned out great. The secret to great hash browns is to half cook the potatoes first by boiling them first. Anyway, instead of so many potatoes, you could use 1/2 potatoes and 1/2 other vegetables. The last time I made them I put in onions and red peppers. You could easily add other vegetables too, such as squash and celery.

Lots of great suggestions in this thread -- thanks for starting it!