I’ve heard people say that they dont understand why people eat meat substitutes, why is there something brown on your plate that’s not cooked flesh?…when I see pigs I dont think of sausages and when I see lambs I dont think of lamb chops. To me these vegetarian products can be convenient, healthy, cruelty free protein components than contribute to quick and tasty meals
I disovered this delicious tofu in the Wholefoods Market (where meat is unfortunately sold) and made this quick delcious dish
Ingredients for 2
a (225g) can of Marigold Braised Tofu
100g (3 and a 1/2 ounces) of savoy cabbage (roughly shredded with the toughest parts of the stems removed)
a tablespoon of sesame seeds
260g (9 ounces) of wholemeal spaghetti or a wheat free alternative such as rice noodles
an inch (2 and a 1/2 cm) of ginger, finely chopped
a glove of garlic, finely chopped
a teaspoon of dried chilli flakes
a dash of soy sauce
a drizzle of sesame oil
vegetable oil
salt and black pepper
fresh flat leaf parsley to serve (optional)
Method
Put a pan of salted water on to boil for the pasta
On a low heat gently toast the tablespoon of sesame seeds in a large pan, watch carefully so they dont burn and when they are lightly browned scrape them out of the pan into a bowl
Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente
In the meantime splash some oil into the hot pan in which the sesame seeds were cooked and throw in the shredded greens
Gently heat the Marigold Braised Tofu in another small pan
Add the ginger to the greens and stir
Add the garlic and stir
Add the teaspoon of dries chillies and sitr
Season with salt and pepper and add a dash of soy sauce
Add 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking liquid to the greens and stir
When the spaghetti is ready drain and stir into the greens, serve topped with the heated braised tofu, sprinkled with the sesame seeds and more soy sauce if required. Scatter with fresh flat leaf parsley (optional)
“To me these vegetarian products can be convenient, healthy, cruelty free protein components than contribute to quick and tasty meals”
That really says it all.
I’m relaitvely new to being vegan and I still have all too vivid memories of the flavour and texture of cooked animal flesh and when it comes to meals, it’s easiest at times to have something that resembles a meal I’ve previously had many times over the course of my life, than it is to be to adventurous for every single meal. A big example is chilli, I’ve always made it with minced cow flesh, well I’m making it exactly the same way, but instead of minced cow flesh, I now use animal product free mince, which tastes very similar when combined with the other ingredients and the texture is very similar too, therefore, the meal itself does not feel alien to me at this point, but the biggest point, is that no animal was harmed in the cooking of my meal and that makes me feel much happier. Another example for me, is that I have been a huge eater of sliced pig stuck in a sandwich and I found it quite difficult to know how to replace such a big part of my life, well thankfully with their being replacement products that look, feel and taste similar, it has made that part of my life so much easier to deal with…. The simple fact really, is that it makes life much more convenient, just the same as other animal related convenience foods do, except without the suffering.
Thanks Tom. These are my sentiments too. Tasty food and no suffering! Here is a link to my Chilli sin Carne page https://carrotsandclaret.com/chili-sin-carne/
Yum, i’ll be sure to let you know how I get on with that recipe as soon as i’ve made it and eaten it… 🙂
Eating fake meat is something I don’t do too often, but I’m not against it. I have had people ask me “Why do you have to have something that looks like meat on the plate?” Well, I don’t. Just because I eat in a more compassionate way, doesn’t mean that I didn’t like the taste, or the chew-factor, of meat. I did, at one time. I just choose to not eat it now. I haven’t for almost 40 years.
Love this. I am in a sort of transition phase, I am starting out just doing meatless monday and as I get where that isn’t so hard I am going to try to go more and more days without meat. Though living with my mom might make this hard none the less I am working on it. I have been wondering about the “Faux” meat products, glad to hear some reviews about them.
They make a convenient and tasty change from just straightforward beans, lentils and pulses etc
I have been meatless for over 25 years, but do remember eating meat until I became a middle-aged rational adult. Morningstar Farms makes meat analogues for those trying to transition to a meatless diet and I hear they are pretty good. Still, no animal is dying to feed a human if you eat a meat analogue. That’s the best reason I know.
Hear hear!