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Thursday 26 September 2013

Using Stand-Ins For Recipe Ingredients As A Vegetarian

By Mike Jones


Recipe ingredients can get tricky when you happen to be on a diet that not many share. While there are plenty of great vegetarian recipes available, sometimes you may want to adapt something that either a friend shared or you just happened across outside of vegan or vegetarian cooking sites. With a little insight into things like texture and flavor you should have no trouble getting going.

The first and often largest hurdle to get over is the meat itself. Meat is often viewed as the real substance to a meal and so getting something to replace it can be a bit of a chore. This is to say nothing about recreating the form in which the animal flesh was to be prepared, e. G. Chopped, ground, or just thrown in as a steak.

In the case of meat that would have been ground or even finely chopped up, beans and cheeses can be your go-to solution. Each will offer a good whack of protein while also being able to impart flavors that are as subtle or direct as you like. In some cases the texture can be very similar as well.

If it calls for larger chunks or even whole pieces of meat normally, consider tofu or a meat substitute like seitan. Depending upon the preparation of these items you can achieve the texture and flavor of most chicken or even steak dishes. It may take a little time to learn how to handle them, but generally the results can be exceptional.

Beef or chicken stocks can similarly be supplanted with a stock made by yourself or bought in-store if you like. Replicating the taste in this instance is a bit trickier, however, and often earthier and more savory flavors will work best if you are aiming for a faithful substitution. Often the rest of the items going into the soup will determine just what is missing for you.

Something that can pose a problem but also go overlooked is gelatin. It does happen to be a product of animals and therefore hopefully will not find its way into your meal. Instead, try working with guar or xantham gums which are made from grains. These and other options can provide the body or texture you need without compromising the lack of animal content.

Recipe ingredients do not have to seem like a culinary boogeyman just because you are a vegetarian. With a little knowledge and a bit more practice you should have no trouble reproducing dishes that were originally intended for your more carnivorous neighbors. Remember to shoot for fresh and organic items when you do your shopping and be patient with new dishes.




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