Help needed! How do I make something vegan with flavour?
Discussion
Evening all!
It's my turn to cook for the extended family tomorrow night. I've already prepared something tasty for all the meat eaters, but annoyingly my sister has decided to become a vegan!
Even though I won't have to eat the vegan stuff myself, my pride won't let me just give her a flavourless slop - this evening we had a pale imitation of a Spag Bol made with something called "Saitan" whose entire purpose in life seems to be making me fart! - nor am I prepared to offer up some sort of hideous ultra processed junk food, so what should I do?
I'm thinking the obvious option is loads of slow roasted cherry tomatoes, a nicely caramelised sofrito, a truckload of garlic, oregano & thyme and some nice, chunky mushrooms, but what do I serve with it? I don't really want to serve up pasta two nights in a row, and obviously bunging it in the oven covered in thinly sliced potatoes slathered in large amounts of butter and/or duck fat rather defeats the object! I could just bung in a few eggs to bake in it (and no, that's neither a typo nor me forgetting. She's a vegan who eats eggs!
), but even then it feels wrong not to be able to sprinkle a good handful of parmesan over it at the point of service!
Any suggestions gratefully received, as I'm really struggling on this one!!
It's my turn to cook for the extended family tomorrow night. I've already prepared something tasty for all the meat eaters, but annoyingly my sister has decided to become a vegan!
Even though I won't have to eat the vegan stuff myself, my pride won't let me just give her a flavourless slop - this evening we had a pale imitation of a Spag Bol made with something called "Saitan" whose entire purpose in life seems to be making me fart! - nor am I prepared to offer up some sort of hideous ultra processed junk food, so what should I do?
I'm thinking the obvious option is loads of slow roasted cherry tomatoes, a nicely caramelised sofrito, a truckload of garlic, oregano & thyme and some nice, chunky mushrooms, but what do I serve with it? I don't really want to serve up pasta two nights in a row, and obviously bunging it in the oven covered in thinly sliced potatoes slathered in large amounts of butter and/or duck fat rather defeats the object! I could just bung in a few eggs to bake in it (and no, that's neither a typo nor me forgetting. She's a vegan who eats eggs!
), but even then it feels wrong not to be able to sprinkle a good handful of parmesan over it at the point of service!Any suggestions gratefully received, as I'm really struggling on this one!!
A vegan that eats eggs lol. A mates wife is strict vegetarian (her words), but eats chicken.
Seriously, fry some bacon in a pan, remove bacon to enjoy yourself and then cook the vegans stuff in the bacon fat.
Accept the subsequent compliments gracefully and when asked about the incredible flavor, say it was an infused olive oil from an artisan cook shop bought during your last visit to Bath.
Seriously, fry some bacon in a pan, remove bacon to enjoy yourself and then cook the vegans stuff in the bacon fat.
Accept the subsequent compliments gracefully and when asked about the incredible flavor, say it was an infused olive oil from an artisan cook shop bought during your last visit to Bath.
sherman said:
Sounds like you need a quiche.
Pastry made with vegan block.
Put your tomato and mushroom sauce and eggs in as a filling.
Serve with chips and salad.
What is this? It sounds like something I should be suspicious of! Pastry made with vegan block.
Put your tomato and mushroom sauce and eggs in as a filling.
Serve with chips and salad.
I've tried to make various things masquerading as the low/no carb equivalent of something normal for my diabetic wife before now, and those have been universally appalling, so I fear the same outcome with vegan stuff.
Life is too short to even contemplate trying the abomination that is a cauliflower pizza base, in case your were wondering!
Just make her an omelette? sautee some veg/mushrooms and add it. wont take more than 10min of your time. Don't see why you should spend a huge amount of time and resources on making 1 thing for 1 person. It was their choice to restrict themselves.
it might help to know what sort of other dishes you're cooking as there might be a vegan/vegetarian meal that might compliment it.
i.e. no point in making a vegan chili con carne if everyone is eating currys. might as well make a vegetable curry etc..
it might help to know what sort of other dishes you're cooking as there might be a vegan/vegetarian meal that might compliment it.
i.e. no point in making a vegan chili con carne if everyone is eating currys. might as well make a vegetable curry etc..
I did a vegan mushroom risotto for friends recently. Almost the same as the one we eat regularly, but tweaked a bit.
I had the benefit of some foraged mushrooms, but plenty of shops now sell good mixed mushrooms.
Combined with good homemade stock and dried mushrooms and chestnuts, you don't really miss meat. Good herbs, plenty of garlic, and a splash of good quality dry white and you have the makings of something very tasty.
I add buckwheat and pearl barley (spelt or oats work well too). Some sprinkled roasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds are a nice addition too.
I used vitalite spread and some vegan cheese, although obviously not as good as the real thing it worked well.
It's a meal you can all enjoy together and if anyone will really miss meat, served with something like a chicken of duck breast with nice crispy skin
I had the benefit of some foraged mushrooms, but plenty of shops now sell good mixed mushrooms.
Combined with good homemade stock and dried mushrooms and chestnuts, you don't really miss meat. Good herbs, plenty of garlic, and a splash of good quality dry white and you have the makings of something very tasty.
I add buckwheat and pearl barley (spelt or oats work well too). Some sprinkled roasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds are a nice addition too.
I used vitalite spread and some vegan cheese, although obviously not as good as the real thing it worked well.
It's a meal you can all enjoy together and if anyone will really miss meat, served with something like a chicken of duck breast with nice crispy skin
Read up on the vegan recipe. Make sure you know the method and ingredients, maybe even buy an ingredient or 2.
Then make the vegetarian version but if queried give her chapter and verse of the method and how much of a faff it was but hey it’s Xmas just don’t expect this in future.
Job done.
Vegans don’t eat honey as it’s exploitative to bees. Your ‘vegan’ eats eggs so that’s the mindset you’re dealing with. Don’t overthink it as clearly she hasn’t.
Then make the vegetarian version but if queried give her chapter and verse of the method and how much of a faff it was but hey it’s Xmas just don’t expect this in future.
Job done.
Vegans don’t eat honey as it’s exploitative to bees. Your ‘vegan’ eats eggs so that’s the mindset you’re dealing with. Don’t overthink it as clearly she hasn’t.
Thanks for the suggestions all! 
The rest of us are having Chicken Dopiaza, but it would be way too much faff to try and make a vegan curry, especially as I'd have to try and replicate my spice rack here in arse end of nowhereshire!
I totally get the sentiment of "f
k her, she chose this absurd restriction", and if it was just a case of picking a restaurant then so long as they could offer her a carrot in a hotdog bun I'd consider it job done, but I just can't bring myself to actually cook something I wouldn't be happy serving to the whole table!
Fortunately, the very first thought to enter my head when I woke up was "pan fried gnocchi", which along with adding a good glug of white wine to the roasted cherry tomato and mushroom sauce should do the job, I think!
The rest of us are having Chicken Dopiaza, but it would be way too much faff to try and make a vegan curry, especially as I'd have to try and replicate my spice rack here in arse end of nowhereshire!
I totally get the sentiment of "f
k her, she chose this absurd restriction", and if it was just a case of picking a restaurant then so long as they could offer her a carrot in a hotdog bun I'd consider it job done, but I just can't bring myself to actually cook something I wouldn't be happy serving to the whole table! Fortunately, the very first thought to enter my head when I woke up was "pan fried gnocchi", which along with adding a good glug of white wine to the roasted cherry tomato and mushroom sauce should do the job, I think!
If you’re having curry then 100% do a vegan curry, dead easy and makes a good side dish for everyone else’.
Pataks nan breads are vegan by the way, so are poppadoms.
If you are buying ready-made starters then the likes of the M&S Indian mixed starter packs are vegan too and pretty tasty (bhajis, samosas etc).
Pudding: vegan ice cream and make affogato. Job done.
Pataks nan breads are vegan by the way, so are poppadoms.
If you are buying ready-made starters then the likes of the M&S Indian mixed starter packs are vegan too and pretty tasty (bhajis, samosas etc).
Pudding: vegan ice cream and make affogato. Job done.
Edited by Lefty on Sunday 22 December 08:10
Mobile Chicane said:
Indian vegetarian food is your friend here.
Much of it can be adapted to become vegan without too much hassle.
Only thing is, it's st-load of work.
Indeed. The best veggie/vegan food is from cuisines that are naturally veggie rather than faking traditionally 'meat' dishes into being veggie/vegan - so lots of Indian food, and Italian pasta sauces (although I suspect vegan pasta is an actual crime in Italy)Much of it can be adapted to become vegan without too much hassle.
Only thing is, it's s
t-load of work.And as suggested above, a lot of processed vegan food is way less healthy than people think.
A vegan curry is about as easy as you could, especially if you are already doing a curry.
I don't get all this 'fk her, her choice'. Miserable bds it's Christmas. It's not exactly difficult to accommodate a vegan or vegetarian. There is actually some good things worth learning by diving into that area of cookery. We've massively reduced the amount of meat and dairy we eat, the food has never been better.
I don't get all this 'f
k her, her choice'. Miserable bds it's Christmas. It's not exactly difficult to accommodate a vegan or vegetarian. There is actually some good things worth learning by diving into that area of cookery. We've massively reduced the amount of meat and dairy we eat, the food has never been better.Douglas Quaid said:
Make a dhal. Easy to make and tasty too.
Learn how to do this and it will open a whole new world of tasty vegan food to you and your guests, who will be wowed by the depth of flavour.I’m not a vegetarian, but a good dhal with Indian breads is one of the most satisfying dishes you can eat a great addition to any Indian meal.
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