Although I'm firmly in the camp that says we should eat less meat, I know many people still base their meal planning around meat and three vegetables. When I think of this Kiwi staple, I think peas and carrots boiled to within an inch of their lives, overcooked potatoes and a hunk of meat.
That's definitely no longer the case, and it can still be a great way to create a balanced meal.
Two of these recipes - edamame, kale and pea salad, and the Mediterranean roast vegetables - can be enjoyed without meat or with fish instead. They're also great as leftovers for lunch the next day.
I decided to use venison this time for a number of reasons. It's now more readily available and is surprisingly easy to cook. It tastes slightly gamier than beef but the farmed venison we now get in stores has a much mellower flavour than the wild venison my friends sometimes give me after hunting trips.