Casseroles are cooked in dishes that are deep and large which are also used as serving dishes. We will focus on vegetarian casseroles in this article. You can get the same effect by using a crock pot and there are many vegetarian casseroles recipes available for use in a crock pot.
However, this does not mean that the meat eaters among you have to skip over this section. These dishes can be an accompaniment to your meat dishes.
Zucchini and Tomato Casserole. Ingredients. 6 medium zucchini (cut into 1/2 inch slices);4 medium tomatoes (diced);5 cloves garlic (finely chopped);1 onion;1/2 cup olive oil;1/4 cup oregano (chopped);Salt and pepper to taste. Directions. Set oven to 350 F. Place 2 tbsp olive oil in skillet over medium heat and add onion and garlic. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until softened. Place onion mixture with zucchini, tomatoes and oregano in a large bowl, and season with salt and pepper and toss. Place in 2 quart casserole dish and drizzle with rest of olive oil. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes until vegetables are tender. Tilt pan from time to time to collect juices and baste vegetables.
Vegetarian Brown Rice Casserole (Preparation time is approximately 7 minutes and cook time is approximately 5 minutes. Ingredients. 1 can (19 oz) ready-to-serve lentil soup;1 package (about 9 oz) ready-to-serve brown rice;1 can (7.75 oz) unsalted mixed vegetables, drained;1 large or 2 small canned roasted red peppers, diced;1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided;Salt and pepper to taste. Directions. Combine soup, rice, mixed vegetables, peppers and 6 tablespoons of the cheddar cheese in a 2-quart microwave-safe casserole dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste and level the top of the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese. Cover and cook in a microwave oven at full power until heated through and the cheese on top melts, about 5 minutes.
Green Bean Casserole (using a crock pot). Ingredients. 2 bags frozen green beans;1 can cream of mushroom soup;1 can French fried onions or 1/2 onion (chopped);1/3 cup milk or soy milk;1/4 teaspoon salt;1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Directions. Mix together the green beans, soup and milk in the pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and half of the French fried onion or all the chopped onion. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. Top with remaining French fried onions just before serving.
Chili Rice Casserole. Ingredients. 1 cup raw instant rice;1 can cream celery condensed soup;1 can chopped up green chili peppers;1 cup sour cream;1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese. Directions. Set oven to 325 F. In a baking dish mix rice, chili peppers, sour cream and soup. Place cheddar cheese on. Bake in oven for approx. 25 min.
As you can see, casseroles are quite simple to prepare and are hassle free as you put all the ingredients into the dish and cook. Vegetarian casseroles can be made either in the oven, in a crock pot or in a microwave.