There’s a stereotype towards vegetarian food that holds that it can’t be filling. In truth, meat-free dinners can be just as hearty as carnivorous ones, and these five recipes will have everybody eating their fill at the table:

• Make a tarragon-based pesto with pine nuts for a zesty, unique flavor. Steam a mixture of sliced asparagus, green beans, and zucchini cut into batons and serve with the pesto – it’s a low-carb pasta substitute that packs a huge nutritional payload and will fill you up fast.
• Instead of using wheat-based pasta for your lasagna, get a large squash and cut it thinly into sheets instead. They will bake to perfection in the lasagna pan and provide significantly more nutrients to the meal.
• Tofu gets a bum rap among meat-eaters, but it can actually be quite delicious. Quickly pan-fry cubes of tofu and serve with a sweet and sour sauce made from pineapple, sugar, cornstarch, and vinegar over steamed brown rice. Brown rice is inexpensive and very filling.
• Throw out the flavor packets from your ramen and serve it in a broth made from vegetarian “No-Chicken” stock cooked with lots of ginger and garlic, sweet potatoes, kale, and edamame soybeans.
• A surprisingly tasty alternative to the traditional meatloaf is to substitute steamed lentils instead – as it bakes in the oven, they will take on a delicious, crispy consistency that will satisfy even the hungriest eater.