While I’m not even close to being vegetarian I know that I feel and look better (more energy, clearer skin) when my diet is heavy on vegetables. I like the thinking behind the Meat Free Monday campaign, committing to go meat-free at least once a week (not necessarily on a Monday, although I personally like to get the week off to a healthy start).
These days I would say I’m meat-free for around two thirds of the average week and I’m always looking for new veggie recipes to try (hence the cookbook addiction, that I’ve mentioned before!). When the people from organic box scheme Riverford got in touch to ask whether team RMS would like to try one of their recipe boxes, it was a no-brainer to pick the vegetarian recipe box – everything you need to cook three veg-packed recipes for two. There’s also two recipes boxes for meat eaters, a quick recipe box (three speedy seasonal recipes) and the original recipe box (three classic recipes).
And so, last Thursday morning a very lovely man arrived bearing vegetables, and all the other ingredients I needed to make the three dishes of the week: spinach & wild garlic frittata with alfalfa & pumpkin seed salad; mushroom & aubergine curry with citrus yoghurt & naan bread and broccoli wheatberry fricassée with roasted cherry tomatoes & mash. After working out where he could leave future boxes if I happened to be out, he left me to it.
Of course the second he’d gone I ripped open the box. Everything was neatly organised into compartments, a mixture of vegetables, dry ingredients (flour, herbs etc) and, wrapped in a cool bag, ingredients that needed to be chilled (milk, cheese etc). There was a key explaining what was where for the purpose of identifying any unusual ingredients and everything was measured out into the exact amounts needed. I put everything away and marveled at my (for once) full fridge. There was also a Welcome/A-Z Of Veg Booklet and a March – April recipe booklet featuring recipes starring four in-season vegetables (purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens, leeks and asparagus).
The next morning I got out everything I needed to make the frittata. With all the ingredients measured out already it felt a bit like being on a cookery show. I resisted the urge to pretend talk to camera as I cooked, and got started. The recipe was insanely easy to follow, explaining exactly how to prep ingredients where necessary, for example in the case of the wild garlic it advised putting the leaves on top of each other, rolling them into a cigar shape and then finely shredding them. As the card had predicted 35 minutes later I had a perfectly cooked frittata with salad for two. It tasted as good as it looked (see above!).
The other two recipes were just as easy and every bit as delicious (although they took a little bit longer, around 50 minutes respectively). The only thing that caught me out was that the wheatberries, a key ingredient of the broccoli wheatberry fricassée, needed to be soaked overnight which I only realised about six hours before the dish was due to be on the table. I soaked them for as long as I had and the dish tasted great, although tbh never having eaten wheatberries before, I’m not sure exactly how they were supposed to turn out.
The ever-so-slight stress of the wheatberry incident aside I loved my veggie recipe box and will definitely order another one. It was great to be able to try three new dishes (from both a cooking and eating perspective) and some new to-me ingredients, with the convenience of having everything arrive in the exact measurements required. The best thing, however, was the quality of the ingredients. Everything was like the very best version of itself, the tomatoes couldn’t have been more tomatoey, the lemons more lemony. I suppose it might not suit if you’re very fussy (although you can make substitutions) but I liked trying something new and that someone else had done all the thinking (and shopping) for me. If you’re tempted (and I thoroughly recommend you give it a try), The Riverford vegetarian recipe box costs £33 for three meals for two although depending on your appetite, it might go further. The aubergine and mushroom curry was plenty for two with enough leftovers for me to have it for lunch the next day. Read more about the recipe boxes here.
Anyone else do the Meat Free Monday thing? Have you tried a recipe box scheme? What did you think? Anyone else veggie one day a week, or more? What are your favourite spring veggie recipes right now? Do share below!
I used to LOVE my Riverfood veg boxes, it kept me on track with healthy eating really well and helped me to try new recipes as I opted for the seasonal box, and had a new challenge each time to incorporate something new. So, I love that they have moved into the realm of recipe boxes (something I have considered from other suppliers). That said, I have moved house since my veg box days and don’t really have a ‘safe place’ to leave boxes anymore 🙁 xx
Oh that’s annoying Emma, I don’t really, but the delivery guy suggested putting the box in a big bag and hiding it behind the hedge that’s in front of the building my flat’s in. x
Miranda this sounds amazing! Why didn’t you invite me round?! 🙂
I love the idea of doing this every so often – it’s a great way to learn new recipes. x
Haha, I thoroughly recommend, will definitely cook all three dishes again! x
I use Abel & Cole for my veg box and they have started doing the recipe boxes too. I totes agree on the quality, everything just tastes so much nicer! I’d say my diet is about 95% veggie (I’d go 100% but it annoys me when I’m eating out that there is only ever 1 veggie option, (which is sometimes fish anyway!) and I’ve eaten enough spinach and ricotta pasta dishes to last me a lifetime – perhaps some restaurants should try the recipe boxes!!!).
If you like carrots, try these carrot burgers (sounds weird I know, trust me, they’re insanely delicious!)
http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/recipes/curried-carrot-veggie-burgers
It doesn’t say it in the recipe but I squeezed some of the water out of my carrots before I mixed them with everything else and I think it really helps.
Haha, yes, some restaurants could definitely do with a little inspiration! I love a veggie burger, they’re one of my go-to orders at Mildreds’s my fave veggie restaurant in London.
Veg boxes are great especially local ones. We started having one to increase the amount of seasonal veg we are using in our meals. Originally we had Riverford for a while (other family members still do) but the box contents and local it was being driven from became less local (I don’t class tomatoes grown in Spain as having low food miles). Food miles being as equally as important to us as organic we sourced a local box company; The Cornish Food Box Company who’s boxes are equally as good and everything even down to the meat, fish and milk you can add to the box is local so less food miles 🙂 They have recently moved into the recipe boxes which we haven’t tried yet but the recipes they post up each week sound tasty.
Ooh, The Cornish Food Box company sounds great Hannah and, totally agree, these boxes in general are great for increasing the amount of seasonal veg you eat!
Thanks for this recommendation – I think we’re going to try it as we’re stuck in a bit of a food rut at the moment and the weekly shop is feeling even more chore like than usual! 3 meals is ideal as we’re usually out/eating separately at least 2 weeknights anyway. Having said all that, can I ask what the use by dates were like? Would be good to have a decent amount of flexibility when to have each dinner.
Katie
On the recipe cards it said to cook within 5 days, which obviously means you could have a spontaneous night out without wasting any food, plus I guess freezing is an option and depending on the dishes one, like the frittata, might be lunch box or even breakfast friendly!
I looked into using Abel & Cole but as they could only deliver on a certain day, neither Chris or I would be in to take delivery. They suggested leaving it in a safe place, but we live in a flat so unless we gave them a key to the communal door (!) there wasn’t anywhere to put the box. Such a shame as it would definitely have encouraged us to branch out more cooking-wise.
It’s such a shame that the delivery days don’t work out. If I hadn’t been in mine would have had to have been left in front of the building my flat’s in but can be hidden behind a hedge, not ideal though.
Thank you this looks wonderful. I decided to cut down on meat a year ago. I have really enjoyed trying new and colourful veg, I feel much better for it! Now if only I could do the same with chocolate!!The Deliciously Ella website has some fantastic recipes and advice also. Sarah X
Haha, cheese is my chocolate Sarah! Yes, there are some great ideas on DE and I’m very much liking A Modern Way To Eat by Anna Jones for veggie inspo!
On day one of my ‘reboot’ (not a detox….) and already planning what I’ll devour when it’s over. As I’m practically veggie everything above appeals.
What a great idea to get you out of a rut. Everything sounds delicious x
What did day one involve? Or not involve? I think the recipe boxes are great for new ideas and trying new things I’d never cooked with wild garlic and I’ve never knowingly eaten wheatberries! x
Day one has involved eating my body weight in vegetables. Tomorrow is more of the same.
Had lemon sautéed kale as part of my dinner which was absolutely delicious.
Yum, that does sound good!
At the Weekend I signed up to try gousto, same principle but you get a choice of recipes to choose from which I quite like. Trying it as there was a £20 voucher (code is MYLITTLEGOUSTO until 12th May if anyone is interested) I really like the idea but feel it may be quite expensive every week without any offers. being delivered on Wednesday x
Ooh Emma, that sounds like a great deal. I don’t think I’d do a box every week, but it would work well on weeks when I’m not going out so much, kind of like a staying in treat!
We’ve been getting a fortnightly veg box from a company just outside Edinburgh called East Coast Organics. They’re great but there’s no ‘key’ to what’s in the box. I have been known to remark on more than one occasion: “when is someone going to invent a Shazam for vegetables?!” Yes really, the world’s most middle-class app!
Haha, yes, a Shazam for vegetables, I love it Nikki !