substitutes for nightshade vegetables

[annabella1]

Mom and I both have osteoarthritis, I had read years ago that nightshade vegetables can aggravate arthritis but I didn't really believe it. Well mom decided she would try a diet free of nightshades and it really relieved her pain. I have always been unable to digest potatoes properly so I thought I would try giving up the rest of the nightshades also, and it has made a huge difference.
The nightshade vegetables are:
potatoes (Irish or White)
tomatoes
peppers
eggplant
tomatillos
ground cherries
and a few other unusual varieties.
My problem is almost every recipe I use calls for some nightshade veggie. I have made some just leaving out the nightshades and made some using a few substitutes as follows.
tomato sauce or ketchup: apple butter
eggplant: zucchini or squash
potatoes: sweet potatoes(not a nightshade), or cauliflower
recipes with peppers:use more celery or onions and add fresh ground ginger and some cumin for a spicy smoky flavor.
What I need is some more ideas for substitutes, I know that if you don't put peppers or tomatoes then it's not really chilli. but similar dishes that I can use instead would be greatly appreciated.

[Shamrock1121]

After a quick Google search, here's some things I've come up with. It looks like pumpkin/beets/cranberries (sauce)/carrots are good substitutes - you just have to have the seasonings associated with tomato-based foods, like spaghetti sauce, etc... These substitutes will give it the body and texture associated with tomato products. Do a search and I'm sure you'll find more recipes than what I've shared below. -Karen

Here are some recipes from: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/mb/noarthritis?forum=79765 - The Arthritis Nightshades Research Foundation.
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Fannie May Wesley's Sweet Potato Salad

3 Medium Sweet Potatoes; boiled and cubed
3/4 Cup Celery; sliced and chunked
1 Small Can Pineapple Chunks, drained
3/4 Cup Pecan Halves, broken
1 Large Apple, diced to 1 cup

Dressing for Above
3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar
3 Tablespoons Pineapple Juice Pinch Salt
1/4th Teaspoon Lemon Juice
1/4th Teaspoon Dill Seasoning
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MOCK TOMATO MEAT SAUCE with MUSHROOMS RECIPE
Lori Anderson

COMBINE FOLLOWING IN GOOD-SIZED POT:
1 can (29 oz) plain pumpkin
1 can (15 oz) beets, salt free, pureed
1 half cup red wine vinegar
1 and 1/2 TBSP prepared horseradish (Gold's brand with blue top - no nightshades)
1 TBSP oregano
2 TBSP Italian seasoning mix, ground fine (nightshade-free kind)
1 and 1/2 TBSP onion powder
2 and 1/2 TBSP garlic power
1 and 1/8 tsp. sea salt, or to taste
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 TBSP wheat free tamari soy sauce
scant 1/4 cup white sugar

SAUTE, SALT & PEPPER AND BROWN:
3 TBSP good olive oil
1 pound chopped meat (whatever type you like)
REMOVE MEAT FROM PAN, SET ASIDE

SAUTE:
2 TBSP good olive oil
1 large onion, chopped fine
10 oz. fresh portabella mushrooms, chopped
6-10 large cloves fresh garlic, minced (add late to avoid burning)

ADD BROWNED MEAT TO SAUTEED ONION/GARLIC/MUSHROOMS.
COMBINE AND COOK APPROX. 3 MIN

ADD SAUTEED MEAT/VEG MIX TO PUMPKIN-BEET-SPICE MIXTURE

ADD FOLLOWING:
3/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Few good shakes of grated parmesan cheese

BLEND SEVERAL CUPS OF SAUCE IN BLENDER. ADD BACK TO POT
SIMMER APPROX 5-7 MIN AND SERVE

YIELDS APPROX. 9 CUPS (2 QUARTS PLUS 1 CUP)

FREEZES WELL
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Vegan Nightshade-Free Tomato-Free
http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=112725

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Tomato Free Ketchup
http://www.recipezaar.com/173780

[CarolAnn]

Alchemy Acres assured me that Sun chokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) are good if you prepare them properly. They're the starchy tuber of a sunflower-like plant.

Don't forget about mushrooms!

Also, I've found in cooking for my vegetarian friends that spices and flavorings go a long way to convincing the taste buds that something familiar is on the table. I've made a meatloaf with 1C each of: crushed walnuts, oatmeal, grated cheese, onion and a couple eggs to bind it together. I know this isn't a "nightshade avoidance" type dish, but the key here is that I add the same spices that I would to a real meatloaf. It's surprisingly like the real thing. (Of course, I also throw in catchup, which you'd need to leave out!) So try chili with ground beef, beans, onions and pepper (the spice) for heat instead of peppers, and add any other spices you might add to regular chili.

Slather a beef roast with prepared mustard before you bake it, and be ready to be surprised at how delicious it is! (That eliminates the need for catchup!)

With this diet, you also want to avoid sorrel and maybe spinach too. They have oxalic acid that aggravates arthritis. (I'm sure about the sorrel, not sure about the spinach!)

[annabella1]

Thanks for the replies. The links are really good too. Today I have been craving my favorite food of all time (eggplant parmesan) I guess I'll have to recreate it as zuchinni parmesan with an alfredo sauce instead of marinara ;)