Daniel Jowssey asked:


Cooking for the vegan is more or less like cooking for any other ethnic or religious group which restricts certain things from their diet. A little creativity will win you some big points with your vegan customers, and furthermore will help conquer a niche market. Vegans often mourn the lack of restaurants that cater to their needs. Providing some imaginative menu entries for vegan customers will make a happy patron who spreads good word of mouth to their vegan friends!

Understanding Vegans…

Vegans are vegans for any combinations of these reasons:

_Health_ The vegan diet includes whole grains, beans, soy products, olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and fresh spices. Resultantly, they argue, their diet is very high in protein, vitamins, beneficial monounsaturated fats, and antioxidants and other micronutrients, while being moderate in sodium, calories, and saturated fats. In addition, they automatically exclude those scary food contamination problems that strike their meat-eating counterparts, such as e. coli and mad cow disease.

It should be noted that there are essential vitamins missing from the vegan diet, most notably B12, iron, and calcium, which they must supplement by other means. Vitamin-fortified foods or vitamin supplements are usually used.

_Ethics_ Probably the biggest concern is for animal cruelty. Vegans typically wish to exclude any and all forms of “”animal exploitation”" – not just meat and leather, but even the products that you can obtain from an animal without killing it; because even milking a cow or shearing a sheep for wool is still exploiting an animal for a human’s benefit. This is a belief, when held, which varies in degrees of commitment from philosophy to religion.

_Environmental Responsibility_ The typical environmental impact talks about methane gas from domesticated animals being as bad for the ozone layer as emissions from car exhaust, and about how it takes this many acres of land to sustain one cow where the same acres could more efficiently be used to raise crops, and so on.

_Religion_ While religions which specifically require veganism are rare, several sects of Buddhism still require strict adherence to non-violence, including killing an animal. Parts of different philosophies, which usually focus on reducing the impact one’s life has on the Earth, also suggest or enforce vegan beliefs.

_Aesthetics_ It can certainly be argued, if you’ve been inside a slaughterhouse, that the factory-like process of butchering animals is unpleasant in smell and appearance. Vegans also boast that their food just plain tastes and looks better. They say that the elimination of salt, grease, animal fat, and so on keeps their palette clean enough to taste the real essence of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Vegan Cuisine…

One wonders where vegans would be without soybeans. Soy forms a big staple in the vegan diet, in the form of soy milk, soy meat substitutes, and tofu. It is interesting that vegans work so hard to create so many things out of soy beans that look, smell, and taste just like the meat and animal products they are trying to eliminate. Anyway, soy substitutes will be a big part of any large vegan banquet, particularly because soy is so easily fortified with other vitamins and nutrients.

International cuisine holds many wonders for the vegan dietary spectrum. In particular, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Southern Indian, Thai, Mesoamerican, East Asian, and East African cuisine have a rich tradition of recipes and dishes which happen to be vegan-friendly. This is due in part to some parts of the world having birthed their culture in a regional area that doesn’t have a handy livestock animal nearby, or just being poor grazing grounds to start with.

But also, many cultures of the world have a wealth of native crops which lend some interesting flavors to the cuisine. At least here, you can be a little envious of vegans – some of them are gourmets in their own right, and can regale you with tales of Indian curry, rice pilaf, almond deserts, salsa, baba ganoush, seven-grain bread, and various other cultural specialties. Particularly in contrast to the typical North American and European Union homogenized diets, which sometimes seem to consist entirely of hamburgers and fries or chips, the vegans certainly get a wider variety of flavors.

A chef can see this as an artistic challenge to be creative within a strict set of rules, and studying some vegan recipes and the menus at vegan restaurants should give you a host of inspiring ideas.

Meat substitute will usually be some form of tofu. Tofu comes in textures ranging from soft, which is about like yogurt or jello in consistency, to very firm, which is more like a hard cheese. Tofu is marvelous because it can take on the taste of virtually anything.

Make tofu bacon by slicing thin strips of hard tofu and frying in a skillet with vegetable oil, adding a couple drops of liquid smoke flavoring. Or grind hard tofu into a good hamburger and chili substitute. The medium-texture tofu can be used for a cheese substitute. And soy, itself, can be made into anything from milk to yogurt to ice cream, some of it tastes as good if not better than its animal exploiting counterpart.



Clyde

CD Mohatta asked:


As we saw in earlier parts of this article, there are many different kinds of food allergies. The “big eight” list of known allergens should not prevent anyone from enjoying the food they eat. We have looked at some recipes for cookies that are appropriate for the Christmas holidays but can be used all year long. The last cookie recipe in this series will be the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies that follows. Some ideas for other foods that can be served to avoid other allergies will follow this recipe.

Peanut-free Diet for those with allergies to all kinds of nuts, as well as foods that may contain “peanut protein” or oil from nuts. Foods with these ingredients should be prevented for consumption if you happen to have people who have peanut allergies. It has been discovered that “soy nut” is the best substitute for food preparation, which is free from peanut. A soy nut does not belong to the “nut” family since the term is coined for soybeans that are drenched and baked for a crispier taste. There are a lot of peanut-free recipes you can prepare. To name a few of peanut-free recipes are (1) Soy Nut Butter Cookies and (2) Tofu Pie made from Soy Nut and Bananas and (3) Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

·    1 cup margarine

·    1/2 cup sugar

·    1/2 cup brown sugar

·    1/4 cup soft (silken) tofu

·    1/2 tsp vanilla

·    1 1/2 cups flour

·    3/4 tsp baking soda

·    1/4 tsp salt

·    1/2 cup peanut butter

·    1 cup chocolate chips

PREPARATION:

Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF degrees.

In a large bowl, add together the margarine, sugar and brown sugar and mix until creamy. Add the tofu and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.

Add to the margarine mixture and combine well. Add the peanut butter and mix well, then fold in the chocolate chips. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, until cookies are golden brown.

Milk-free Diet is for those with a milk allergy, which is an allergic response of the immune system when an individual has consumed one or more proteins acquired from cow’s milk. If you are allergic to milk, you should not consume foods or beverages which contain milk, butter, different types of cheese, and sour creams. Some of the dairy-free recipes which you may want to prepare are: (1) Potato Soup, which is homemade; (2) Grilled Salmon or Shrimp, which is marinated and then grilled; (3) Pecan snack; and (4) Spaghetti with No Red Sauce.

As we have seen, it should not be boring to eat for people with food allergies. It does, however, take a lot of creativity and resourcefulness so that a person with food allergies can eat the foods that they want using different food substitutes. It can be done and all it takes is some beforehand time and preparation to make delicious treats that will not affect the person who is allergy prone.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.



Jackie

ravinder asked:


If you are a Vegan, are considering becoming a Vegan, or know or love somebody who already is a Vegan, you probably have some idea of how important tofu is in the Vegan diet. Many people think that cooking tofu for Vegans is difficult to do, and many others still think that tofu doesn’t taste good but there are plenty of people out there that would choose to differ.

Cooking tofu for vegans isn’t difficult, but it is a matter of science just as any other cooking is a science. Including tofu in your diet is a good way to supplement your meals. For more details go to: www.dishadvice.com it acts as a replacement for that which meat would normally provide, as far as essential vitamins and minerals go. Many of the non-meat products that you buy in the grocery store are actually made with tofu; that is how commonplace and important tofu is in many aspects of the Vegan diet.

Is cooking tofu imperative for Vegans? Probably not. Tofu is a soy bean product, and soy beans are packed with protein. Protein is the important part of meat that makes it so imperative in our diet, so replacing meat with tofu in your diet is a great way of keeping the protein and eliminating the dangerous animal fat. The problem with being a vegetarian lies in the dangers of not having enough protein in your diet, but tofu can help to eliminate this as a risk at all if you regularly include it in your diet as you would meat.

Many vegans out there choose not to include tofu in their diets, simply for reasons of taste. Not everybody is going to like everything and let’s face it; tofu isn’t one of the tastiest foods out there, but it can be worked with.

For can visit to: www.camping-outdoors-recipes.com Cooking tofu is an art. Tofu can definitely ruin a meal, but not if it’s prepared right.

It is often said that when you cook with tofu, it does not maintain a taste of its own, but it does tend to take the taste of the food it is prepared with. For example, if you were to include tofu in a Vegan tofu stir fry, it takes the taste of the noodles and soy sauce in the stir fry; if you include tofu in spaghetti, it would take the taste of the vegetables and/or the marinara sauce.

For Vegans, cooking tofu can be rather intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are considering become a Vegan, or just want to learn about cooking tofu for a Vegan you love, there are ways to learn. The internet is chock full of great recipes for tofu-cooking beginners, from the tofu spaghetti and stir-fry that was already discussed to great veggie burgers, hot dogs, and other things.

Cooking tofu for Vegans doesn’t have to be a chore, and with proper information and a bit of practice, you shouldn’t have to live with results that are less than pleasing for very long.



Jamie

Emily Morris asked:


Soy and soy products have come under more and more close inspection in the news lately. If you’ve taken a look, and if you’re a vegetarian or are investigating the vegetarian eating style, you’ve likely seen that the news isn’t all good. Men, especially have cause for concern, due to the high plant-estrogen content of the soy bean and plant. Before reaching for another block of tofu, or taking a closer look at the vegetarian diet, you’ve got to read this!

First of all, why is this especially a MENS issue?

Everyone has a little bit of both types of hormones: Testosterone and Estrogen. They play important roles in the body’s many functions. Men have more testosterone than estrogen…and they don’t need any more than the body already produces. Declining testosterone production in older age men causes health problems, as the testosterone/estrogen balance is then upset. Testosterone levels in boys are also important for proper development and bone health. Adding in extra estrogen to the mix isn’t a good idea at any stage.

So what’s the problem with soy?

It has high levels of “plant estrogens”. Plant estrogens are hormones the plant uses for its daily function. They’re not the same as the ones found in  humans, and if consumed, are 1,000 times LESS effective as human hormones. They are sometimes called phytoestrogens or lignans.

But as a vegetarian, or anyone trying to adopt a healthy eating pattern, soy and soy products play a big role. Don’t want nasty bovine hormones? Drink soy milk. Don’t want to hurt animals by eating meat? Get protein from tofu blocks/ tofu dogs/tofurkey and countless other sources of Soy products.

It may be less effective than human estrogen, but all those little bits add up when you’re using soy and other phytoestogen rich plants as your protein source. These may be ok for women, especially anyone having menopause, but males don’t need any extra estrogen. You might see a lot of studies done in the news saying things like “too much soy reduces ***** count” and “over-eating of soy products leads to earlier memory-loss in men in Indonesia” (Indonesia consumes a lot of soy as part of the traditional diet) While the FDA hasn’t ruled on anything yet, this “Bad Buzz” is enough to scare some people away, and make others think twice.

Unfortunately, this fact (and the fact that not everyone is going to like tofu, no matter who they are) scares people away from even trying the vegetarian diet. This no longer has to be the case! A recent discovery makes it much easier (and more delicious) to get the protein you need, without ANY soy or soy-based product.

The answer is the Chia Seed.

This seed is unique among seeds for many reasons, all of which are beneficial to you! First off, by weight, the chia seed is 23% complete protein. Complete protein is difficult to come by in the plant world, and most people get their daily amount from animal meat. Vegetarians routinely mix together incomplete protein food sources in order to meet healthy diet needs. The Chia seed’s protein level makes it a valuable dietary addition for vegetarians.

This tiny seed has other wonderful benefits that can especially be taken advantage of by men. They don’t have plant estrogens to mess with the hormone balance that keeps you healthy. They don’t require you to learn how to cook with tofu (and make it taste good—a real feat!) They don’t require lots of preparation time or know-how in the kitchen. You don’t have to change your eating habits. Basically, if you have a measuring spoon or scoop, you can use chia—whether you’re a vegetarian or not!

Things you should know about this tiny miracle seed:

First:

Chia has no flavor of its own. You’re not fighting to cover up a taste you don’t want. Instead, the seeds distribute the flavor of food or beverages you add them to. A food with totally customizable flavor is a food that’s totally easy to use. Sweet or savory, in a recipe or just sprinkled on top, Chia seeds go to work distributing the flavor right away.

Second:

There are so many ways to use it. Tofu claims to be versatile, but can you use it to cut out half the fat of a delicious brownie and have it taste exactly the same? No way! But Chia Seeds can.

Fact:

Chia Gel can replace up to half of the butter or oil in any recipe without altering the flavor or the cooking method.

Another thing you can’t do with tofu, is to sprinkle it over any food you already like to eat, to get your daily recommended amount. Any food that is moist enough to prevent the seeds from bouncing off the surface can be used. This includes pizza, yogurt, ice cream, soup, sandwiches, cereal and any drink. The flavorless seeds won’t interrupt your eating enjoyment.

Third:

Chia Seeds are loaded with bonus benefits. Want to feel full at meal time without eating as much food? The fiber and gelling action of the seed keeps you feeling full longer, and replaces calories you’d normally eat with water. Want better regularity? Chia is packed with soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber acts as a ‘sweeper’ in the intestine, keeping food moving along. Soluble fiber irrigates the bowels making digestion easier so the intestines don’t have to work as hard to move food. Enough fiber in your diet also helps reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Fourth:

Every seed is packed with nutrition: a full range of B vitamins, more calcium by weight than milk, healthy omega-3 oils, anti-oxidants, and important trace-minerals such as boron.

There’s no need to “fear the tofu” if you’re looking to make the healthy choice of a vegetarian diet. If you are already a vegetarian, all the anti-soy hype in the news won’t bother you, when you have Chia Seeds in the house. Whatever conclusion the scientific studies come to, with regards to plant-estrogens, you’ll know you’re safe with chia seeds. Don’t wait another day to try this nutrition revolution!



Randall

serenity asked:


What is the best thing to do for fried tofu so it will turn out right or would grilled and pressed tofu be better?
And what would be the best things to pair it with?
You don’t have to say anything about getting the water out of the tofu though.

Marjorie

wolfchica asked:


I love frying up tofu with a little cooking oil, lemon juice, and hot sauce, but the problem is my kitchen gets ridiculously smokey for hours whenever I cook it. Any suggestions on how to avoid the smoke?

Gilbert

Bryan K asked:


I am having friends over for dinner soon and want to respect the vegetarian habits of a few of them. I am going to make a batch of tofu and dumplings for them and chicken and dumplings for everyone else but have never used tofu. I know enough to get firm or extra-firm tofu but beyond that I am clueless. Can I just treat it like chicken and prepare it the same way?

Brian

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


There are many recipes in print and on the market today. Chinese vegetarian cooking is only one area that provides you with great vegetarian cooking. Here are some popular Chinese vegetarian recipes available for your cooking pleasure. One Chinese vegetarian cooking recipe enjoyed by many is…

Soba Noodles with Ginger Sauce

1/2 cup fat-free cholesteral-free egg substitute

1 package (8 ounce) soba (buckwheat) noodles or uncooked vermicelli

1 cup Green Giant forzen sweet peas (from 1 pound bag)

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 teaspoons finely chopped gingerroot

1/8 teaspoon red pepper sauce

1 clove garlic

1 cup shredded spinach leaves

1) Use your favorite cooking spray and a 10-inch non-stick skillet; heat over medium heat. Pour in 1/4 cup of the egg substitute, retating the skillet to cover the bottom of the pan. Cook for 1 minute or until the egg substitute is set. Roll and remove from skillet to cool. Continue this process until the egg substitute is used completely.

2) Cook noodles as directed on box. Combine peas for the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain.

3) Using a large bowl, mix together the soy sauce, lemon juice, oil, gingerroot, pepper sauce and garlic clove until well blended. Shred egg rolls finely and add to mixture in bowl.

4) Combine noodles, peas and spinach into bowl mixture. Stir gently until coated evenly.

Another recipe that is favored in Chinese vegetarian cooking would be…

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks in juice, drained and juice reserved

3/4 pound firm Tofu, cut into 1 inch cubes

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons could water

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)

1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces (1 cup)

4 cups hot cooked rice

Sunflower nuts, optional

1) Mix together water, vinegar, honey, soy sauce, ginger and pineapple juice

2) In small bowl put Tofu and pour in juice mixture

3) Toss gently. Cover. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours

4) Remove Tofu from marinade. Reserve marinade.

5) Dissolve constarch in 2 tablespoons water

6) Heat sesame oil using a WOK or 12 inch skillet over medium high heat

7) Add onion and carrots. Stir-fry about 3 minutes or vegetables are crisp-tender

Add pineapple, Tofu and bell pepper; gently stir-fry 2 minutes.

9) Combine cornstarch and reserved marinade. Add to Wok or skillet. Cook 2 additional minutes, occasionally stirring. Lower heat; Cover. Cook 2 minutes

Serve over rice. Sprinkle with nuts (optional).



Alan

Jessica asked:


I need step by step instructions on exactly how to cook tofu. Specifically, for a stir fry, but I’m open to any other suggestions that you have. Thanks.
how exactly do you cook it though? do you cut into little pieces, leave it in like a steak-looking piece. how long do you cook it for? could you get sick if it’s not cooked long enough (I’m guessing not)? do you buy the hard kind or the soft kind? what section is it in in the grocery store? i need to know everything lol.

Jared

Kelly Limpert asked:


It is common belief that low calorie and vegetarian recipes have to challenge your palate. The truth is, however, they can be just as delicious as your favorite dishes. Now, I am about to share with you two such recipes, and you can just give them a try to convince yourself.

1. Vegetarian Black Bean Burgers

You will need the following ingredients to prepare for this recipe:

* 1 can of black beans

* 1/2 of an onion

* 1/2 cup of flour

* 2 slices of bread

* 1 teaspoon of garlic powder

* 1 teaspoon of onion powder

* 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

* salt and pepper

To prepare, follow the steps below:

a) Dice the onion, then saute it for about 4 or 5 minutes until soft.

b) Pour the black beans into a large bowl and mash them until they are almost smooth.

c) Add to the mashed black beans with the sauteed onions, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoned salt.

d) Crumble up the sliced bread and add them to the mixture.

e) Add the flour to the mixture, a few tablespoons each time. Keep stirring after each addition.

f) Add a small amount of oil into a frying pan, and heat it up.

g) Scoop some of the mixture out of the bowl with your hands, and shape it into a pattie that is about 1/2 thick.

h) Fry the patties until they are firm.

Have a try and you will be amazed at the wonderful taste of the burgers.

2. Tofu Scramble

If you have ever tried vegetarian diet, you will know that tofu is always used as a meat substitute. And, the tofu scramble which we are about to try can be served as a wonderful substitute for scrambled eggs.

You need these ingredients:

* 1 block of tofu, drained and press

* 1/2 yellow onion

* 1/2 green pepper

* 1 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1 teaspoon onion powder

* 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

* 1 tablespoon soy sauce

* 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

* 2 teaspoons oil or margarine

Here are the steps for cooking:

a) Cut the tofu into one inch cubes, and then use a fork to slightly crumble it.

b) Dice your onion and bell pepper.

c) Add some oil or margarine to a skillet set to medium-high.

d) Add the onion, green pepper and tofu to the skillet. Cook for 4 or 5 minutes.

e) Add to the skillet with garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, soy sauce, and nutritional yeast.

f) Cook the tofu scramble for 6 or 7 minutes, stirring frequently. When it is done, pour onto a plate and enjoy.

You can treat a tofu scramble like what you would do with scramble eggs, adding vegetables of your choice, like tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and carrots.

Now, are you convinced that low calorie and vegetarian recipes can be just as tasteful as the non-vegetarian ones? Simply give the two recipes a try. In fact, there are thousands of people out there who are enjoying delicious and healthy vegetarian diet every single day!



Nellie