Using Substitutes For Recipe Ingredients For A Vegetarian
Navigating recipe ingredients can seem like an obstacle course for vegetarians at times. Certainly there are a number of sources for veggie-only meals, but sometimes you have a friend who you would like to try and recreate a meat dish for or you just want to adapt something else you found. Both scenarios are entirely possible to accomplish with just a bit of insight into what might do better than meat.
Tackling the problem head-on, meat is the first thing that needs to be considered. Whether you are talking about beef or chicken or seafood, meat has a variety of seemingly unique tastes and textures, not to mention nutritional content, that can be tricky to duplicate. You also have to consider what form it would have been in - whether it would have been ground or sliced etc.
For chopped or ground meat substitutes, you might try beans or possibly some cheeses. Both of these items have exceptional body to them and can offer subtle or notable flavors depending on your aim. Often beans are great for protein when combined with rice and can provide that hearty touch people look for.
In the event of a recipe calling for whole or just larger pieces of animal, tofu or possibly seitan might be what you are needing. One of the great things about tofu is how variable it can be made to be in terms of its flavors and texture. If you have never handled or worked with them before, however, be prepared for a bit of experimentation as they may not handle exactly like a steak when it comes to cooking.
Should you want to make a soup and wish to avoid beef or chicken stock, you might turn to making your own stock instead. Utilizing any number of vegetables you like, you can create a mother-watering broth that will more than suffice for any missing animal content. Put a bit of thought into what flavors you think would go best depending upon the rest of the dish.
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.
Tackling the problem head-on, meat is the first thing that needs to be considered. Whether you are talking about beef or chicken or seafood, meat has a variety of seemingly unique tastes and textures, not to mention nutritional content, that can be tricky to duplicate. You also have to consider what form it would have been in - whether it would have been ground or sliced etc.
For chopped or ground meat substitutes, you might try beans or possibly some cheeses. Both of these items have exceptional body to them and can offer subtle or notable flavors depending on your aim. Often beans are great for protein when combined with rice and can provide that hearty touch people look for.
In the event of a recipe calling for whole or just larger pieces of animal, tofu or possibly seitan might be what you are needing. One of the great things about tofu is how variable it can be made to be in terms of its flavors and texture. If you have never handled or worked with them before, however, be prepared for a bit of experimentation as they may not handle exactly like a steak when it comes to cooking.
Should you want to make a soup and wish to avoid beef or chicken stock, you might turn to making your own stock instead. Utilizing any number of vegetables you like, you can create a mother-watering broth that will more than suffice for any missing animal content. Put a bit of thought into what flavors you think would go best depending upon the rest of the dish.
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.
About the Author:
If you wish to find your favorite recipe ingredients in some outstanding recipes, click the link to Recipe Matcher. Discover all the fantastic recipes we have for you, when you visit us at http://www.recipematcher.com now.
Comments
Post a Comment
Put your fingerprint cold building