Vegetarian Mince Recipes: 7 Easy Ways to Use Veggie Mince

Looking for easy vegetarian mince recipes that don't require a long list of ingredients or hours in the kitchen?

Veggie mince is one of those useful ingredients that can turn into almost anything. Tacos, pasta, nachos, cottage pie, chilli, rice bowls. If you would normally make it with mince, there is a good chance you can make a vegetable-based version too.

And it doesn't have to mean swapping dinner for something completely different.

At Vince, we make vegetable mince from real vegetables, herbs and spices. Add boiling water and it is ready in minutes, then use it on its own or combine it with beans, lentils, tofu or even regular mince if you're simply trying to get more vegetables into dinner.

Here are seven easy ways to use it.

1. Veggie Mince Tacos

Tacos are probably one of the easiest places to start.

Prepare Mexican veggie mince, then pile it into taco shells or soft tortillas with whatever you have handy.

Try:

• grated cheese

• avocado

• tomato

• lettuce or cabbage

• Greek yoghurt or sour cream

• salsa

• black beans

• corn

For an even easier dinner, put everything in the middle of the table and let everyone build their own.

2. Vegetarian Spaghetti Bolognese

A good bolognese doesn't have to start with meat.

Use it by itself or with passata, crushed tomatoes or your favourite pasta sauce, then serve with spaghetti and Parmesan.

You can also add lentils or beans if you want to make it go further.

It is an easy option for anyone searching for healthy mince recipes because you can build plenty of vegetables straight into the sauce without needing to prepare several different sides.

3. Easy Veggie Nachos

This is one of our favourites because it requires very little thought.

Prepare Mexican veggie mince and serve it over corn chips with cheese, avocado and salsa.

You can add black beans or chilli beans for extra protein and to stretch the meal further.

It also works well served over rice if you want something a little more substantial.

4. Vegetarian Cottage Pie

Veggie mince makes a great base for cottage pie.

Prepare the mince, add peas and cubed carrot, then spoon it into a baking dish.

Top with mashed potato and cheese and bake until golden.

It is also a handy way to use leftover mashed potato from the night before.

5. Veggie Mince Chilli

For an easy vegetarian chilli, combine veggie mince with:

• black beans or kidney beans

• canned tomatoes

• chilli

• cumin

• smoked paprika

Simmer everything together and serve with rice, tortillas or corn chips.

Make a larger batch and you have lunch sorted for the next day too.

6. Loaded Baked Potatoes

Sometimes dinner doesn't need a recipe at all.

Bake potatoes until soft, split them open and pile veggie mince on top.

Add cheese, avocado, Greek yoghurt, spring onion or whatever else is in the fridge.

This works particularly well when you're cooking for one because you can prepare exactly as much filling as you need.

7. Veggie Mince Rice Bowls

Rice bowls are brilliant for using up little bits and pieces.

Start with rice, add veggie mince and then raid the fridge.

You might add:

• avocado

• cucumber

• tomato

• shredded cabbage

• corn

• beans

• leftover roast vegetables

• hummus

• yoghurt or aioli

There are no strict rules. That is rather the point.

What Is Veggie Mince?

The term veggie mince can describe quite a few different products.

Some plant-based mince products are designed to closely imitate meat. Others are made primarily from vegetables, legumes or grains.

Vince is a little different.

Our vegetable mince is made from vegetables and seasonings that have been dried so they're easy to keep in the pantry. Add boiling water, leave it for a few minutes and it is ready to use.

You can eat it as the main part of the meal, or use it alongside mince, beans, lentils or tofu.

That makes it particularly useful for people who aren't necessarily vegetarian but simply want an easier way to add more vegetables to everyday meals.

How Do You Make Vegetarian Mince?

It depends on what you're starting with.

You can make vegetarian mince from lentils, beans, mushrooms, tofu, vegetables or a combination of ingredients.

Or, if you don't particularly feel like chopping mushrooms, onions and vegetables on a Tuesday night, you can use a ready-to-go vegetable mince instead.

With Vince, you simply add boiling water and let it rehydrate before using it in your meal.

From there, treat it much like any other mince base.

Add tomato sauce for pasta. Beans and chilli for Mexican meals. Mashed potato for cottage pie.

Simple.

What Can You Make With Veggie Mince?

A useful rule is:

Think of a meal you would normally make with mince, then try it with veggie mince.

Bolognese, nachos, tacos, chilli, pies, wraps, stuffed vegetables and rice bowls are all easy places to start.

You don't have to reinvent dinner.

Sometimes the best shortcut is simply finding an easier way to make the food you already like.

Looking for Veggie Mince in NZ?

Vince Vegetable Mince is made here in New Zealand and designed to live in the pantry until you need it.

No chopping. No fridge space. No forgotten vegetables quietly turning into compost in the crisper drawer.

Just add boiling water and build dinner from there.

More vegetables. Less fuss.

CHECK OUT OUR RECIPES PAGE FOR MORE INSPO.