My Vegetarian Story
How many times does a vegetarian hear, "If you're going to eat that, why be vegetarian at all?" I don't understand when people criticize veggie burgers and other foods with a meat-like taste or texture. People don't become vegetarian because they dislike the taste of meat. They become vegetarian because they're passionate about something -- whether it's animal rights, the health of their planet, the health of their own bodies.
As for me, I don't like to eat sentient creatures. I've been a vegetarian since college. I'm not vegan, but I do try to limit my consumption of animal products.
I was introduced to quite a few vegan cooking alternatives during my seven years in Tucson housing co-ops. We had a vegetarian meal plan and a shelf of cookbooks from Moosewood and other high-end vegetarian eateries. Sometimes we splurged on gourmet ingredients from the local Tucson Cooperative Warehouse. (We made up for it by carting off crates of half rotten vegetables for a couple bucks a box.)
This page is about vegetarian and vegan alternatives: not meat substitutes, but rather savory cooking ingredients that appeal to our craving for umami flavors. My list of 'top vegan ingredients' is for people who are now vegan and vegetarian, but who retain a taste for former favorite foods -- or cook for and love folks who aren't vegetarian).
As for me, I don't like to eat sentient creatures. I've been a vegetarian since college. I'm not vegan, but I do try to limit my consumption of animal products.
I was introduced to quite a few vegan cooking alternatives during my seven years in Tucson housing co-ops. We had a vegetarian meal plan and a shelf of cookbooks from Moosewood and other high-end vegetarian eateries. Sometimes we splurged on gourmet ingredients from the local Tucson Cooperative Warehouse. (We made up for it by carting off crates of half rotten vegetables for a couple bucks a box.)
This page is about vegetarian and vegan alternatives: not meat substitutes, but rather savory cooking ingredients that appeal to our craving for umami flavors. My list of 'top vegan ingredients' is for people who are now vegan and vegetarian, but who retain a taste for former favorite foods -- or cook for and love folks who aren't vegetarian).
Top Vegan Ingredients
For your shopping list
Tahini has a more savory taste than peanut butter. You can spread it on sandwiches, or use it as the 'cream' in creamed lentil soups. Try stirring in some water and add miso and chipotle peppers to make sauce. (Chipotle or hot pepper sauce also combines well with tahini for a sandwich spread.)
Mushrooms make savory vegan broths and gravies. (You can make a lower sodium broth by using mushrooms as a flavoring.)
Frontier's 'chicken' bullion makes authentic soup bases, 'chicken n' dumplings', and stuffing. Use it to stuff vegan turkey... and to stuff non-vegan friends. If you want to add texture, try textured vegetable protein. On it's own, TVP has little flavor -- or nutrition -- but it soaks up other flavors. (A bonus is that you can buy it in the bulk food bin, dirt cheap.)
Seaweed is pretty fishy... as well as jam packed with nutrition. Use nori sheets for vegan sushi rolls. Use mixed seaweed in soups and noodle dishes.
Mushrooms make savory vegan broths and gravies. (You can make a lower sodium broth by using mushrooms as a flavoring.)
Frontier's 'chicken' bullion makes authentic soup bases, 'chicken n' dumplings', and stuffing. Use it to stuff vegan turkey... and to stuff non-vegan friends. If you want to add texture, try textured vegetable protein. On it's own, TVP has little flavor -- or nutrition -- but it soaks up other flavors. (A bonus is that you can buy it in the bulk food bin, dirt cheap.)
Seaweed is pretty fishy... as well as jam packed with nutrition. Use nori sheets for vegan sushi rolls. Use mixed seaweed in soups and noodle dishes.
Chicken-less Broth: A Vegan Alternative
Frontier Herb Chicken Flavored Broth Powder ( 1x1LB)
Amazon Price: $8.66 (as of 06/04/2012)
No chickens here -- but this stuff may well fool your non-vegetarian friends. Use in broths, gravies... and Thanksgiving stuffing. An organic version is also available.
Recipes with Chicken-less Broth
(More) Vegan Ingredients
For the care and feeding of non-vegans
Lentils aren't just for soup. Use them to make veggie burgers (a nice low-budget option).
Tempeh makes great sandwiches and stir fries. It's made from fermented soy or grains. It isn't designed to taste like anything other than what it is -- but it has been giving a 'meaty' taste and texture to Asian cuisines for centuries. It has more flavor and texture than tofu. Like tofu, it marinates well.
Miso is another fermented soy product. It's a salty paste that works well in sauces as well as soups. (White miso has a mellower flavor than red.)
Seitan is made from wheat gluten and, seasoned, it "tastes like chicken". (Seitan is pricey, but you might want it for your holiday cooking.) It is also possible to make your own.
Tempeh makes great sandwiches and stir fries. It's made from fermented soy or grains. It isn't designed to taste like anything other than what it is -- but it has been giving a 'meaty' taste and texture to Asian cuisines for centuries. It has more flavor and texture than tofu. Like tofu, it marinates well.
Miso is another fermented soy product. It's a salty paste that works well in sauces as well as soups. (White miso has a mellower flavor than red.)
Seitan is made from wheat gluten and, seasoned, it "tastes like chicken". (Seitan is pricey, but you might want it for your holiday cooking.) It is also possible to make your own.
Make Homemade Seitan
- Post Punk Kitchen
- Save costs by making seitan from inexpensive wheat gluten.
- eHow
- A step by step tutorial on making seitan -- the process of making it from flour does waste some flour (as the starch is washed away).
Video: Making Seitan
powered by Youtube
Make Tempeh
- Tempeh Info
- A wealth of information about tempeh.
An Excellent Vegan Cookbook
Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook
Amazon Price: $15.29 (as of 06/04/2012)
Here you can find recipes for miso-tahini sauce, seitan tacos, tempeh sandwiches... a wealth of resources for vegan alternatives as well as the more traditional vegetable dishes -- good stuff for entertaining (vegans and non-vegans alike).
More Vegetarian Recipes
When people ask me why I'm eating vegetarian
I say it's better for the planet and I don't like eating things with faces.
Who's Talking About Vegan Foods?
A Vegetarian Cookbook
From the acclaimed Moosewood series
Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day
Amazon Price: $9.34 (as of 06/04/2012)
Simple recipes from the acclaimed Moosewood series. More than a cookbook, this book contains quite a bit of information on ingredients and meal planning. (Note: Some of the recipes include dairy products or eggs.)
Follow @whyveg and read more veggie stories
...and get some more recipes, too
What About Protein?
Many of the ingredients on this page are packed with protein. Here are some more ideas.
Veggie Thoughts?
Comments on my WhyVeg page?
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Matstar
Dec 18, 2011 @ 2:27 pm | delete
- I enjoyed your lens and being vegan myself i learnt a few tips on the way :)
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ChrissLJ Apr 4, 2011 @ 10:23 pm | delete
- The video on making seitan makes it seem so easy. I hadn't tried before bc of all the nightmare stories. Considering how expensive it is at the grocery store, I'm definitely going to have to give the recipe a try.
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ChrisDay
Dec 29, 2010 @ 11:23 am | delete
- Nothing to do with animal rights but with my own ethics - one day I couldn't kill an animal I had reared for the pot (as I had done so often before). I stopped eating meat that day and now the idea is repugnant to me. I appear to have undergone a total and surprising physiological change. Even the smell of meat is ghastly to me.
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TaraGreen
Nov 27, 2010 @ 11:11 pm | delete
- um....I'm a vegetarian because I don't like the taste or texture of meat, has nothing to do with animal rights I've just never liked meat.
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asiliveandbreathe
Nov 2, 2010 @ 10:37 am | delete
- Excellent information here. I try to include vegetarian and vegan recipes on my food lenses so I've lensrolled this lens to my Meal of the Month Part 1.
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Sylvestermouse
Jun 20, 2010 @ 9:32 pm | delete
- Thank you, thank you, thank you! My children are both vegetarians (since last Fall) and they have requested that I find a substitute for chicken broth so I could make chickenless Chicken and Dumplings for them. I am so glad you featured that here. Now I know what to try.
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kajohu May 4, 2010 @ 6:56 am | delete
- Great info! I'm not a vegetarian, but trying to include more meatless meals in our weekly menu. Our daughter-in-law IS vegetarian, and when they come over for dinner, I prefer to make one good vegetarian meal rather than our "regular" meal with just a side-dish for her.
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FelicityLuckey Apr 29, 2010 @ 5:40 pm | delete
- This is great info for a vegan like me! Thank you. I've never made Seitan before, but I do love it. I'll have to try it soon.
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southshoretees
Apr 20, 2010 @ 8:19 am | delete
- I try to eat less meat then I used to and have started eating more vegetables, but going completely meat free I don't think I could do. I haven't tried a lot of meat alternatives to be fair though. Thanks for the suggestions!
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WordCustard
Apr 10, 2010 @ 7:26 am | delete
- Some really tasty alternatives here! A vegetarian diet can be delicious, as you have proved. I've lensrolled to my Top 5 Sources of Vegetarian Protein.
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Vegetarian
Tell your own story.
WHY VEG? is a collection of articles and recipes by people who are vegetarian, vegan, or simply have veggie leanings. Why not write your own? It's free to do... and fairly easy.
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Credits
- Hummus Sandwich
- Mhjoy, Flickr Creative Commons
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This GoodVeg page written by
KarenTBTEN
Hi. I'm a long term vegetarian who cooked dinners at a housing co-op once or twice a week for years. There I had the had the opportunity to experimen... more »
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