mushroom caponata stuffed peppers

What's the vegetable? A radical mindset.

Ah yes, the question that plagues us all—What am I going to make for dinner?

I’ll save you the dinner “hack” spiel. You already know all about chopping on the weekend, double batching, freezing, and meal planning. Instead, I’m going to share with you the one question that has changed how I think about dinner.

Here it is: What’s the vegetable?

I make it all about the vegetable.

When I ask myself “What’s for dinner?” I immediately shift to “What’s the vegetable?”

This pivot or paradigm shift, if you will, has changed the dinner dance for me. It’s like culinary reverse psychology and I think it will breathe new life into your home cooking and get you out of a “what to cook for dinner” rut.

Let me explain.

By starting with “what’s the vegetable” I mean that the essence of the dish, its theme, and/or how it’s plated is determined by the vegetable. We’re turning the dinner plate anatomy on its head and let me tell you, it works. Especially if you follow a plant-based diet or you like to cook plant-based meals (this also works if you have an omnivorous household, keep reading).

Right now you’re wondering how could dinner be all about a vegetable, what about protein, complex carbohydrates, and fat? These are the macronutrients we need to live and although present in veggies, aren’t abundant. And you’re so right but don’t worry, we’re going to add lots of whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds and they’ll do most of the nutritional heavy lifting. But these components are more like the supporting cast in terms of deciding what to cook, they’re not the leading lady.

Here’s why beginning your brainstorm with vegetables is a great idea:

• You’re guaranteed to eat more vegetables (always good).

• You’ll likely eat more seasonal vegetables (also always good!)

• You’ll be more likely to use the produce in your fridge and reduce waste (save that money!).

• You’ll get that extra nudge to try something new and avoid dinner boredom (change is the essence of life!)

“What’s the veg?” examples:

To put this thought process into action, here’s what it looks like for me.

It’s Tuesday, 4 pm. Ok, what’s for dinner? I look in the fridge. I see a head of cauliflower, a head of green cabbage, 4 large carrots, and 5 bell peppers (and other odds and ends and essentials like garlic and onions).

Here’s my brainstorm for each (I’m doing this exercise in real-time by the way).