Living Vegan for Dummies by Alexandra Jamieson

Author:Alexandra Jamieson [Jamieson, Alexandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: food
ISBN: 9780470522141
Google: dCzjxOY3xTAC
Amazon: 0470522143
Barnesnoble: 0470522143
Publisher: For Dummies
Published: 2009-12-01T10:00:00+00:00

Thinking and cooking small can make a big difference for your vegan kitchen. For instance, you can make your meals more exciting by mastering a few homemade condiments. Tofu Sour Cream, Homemade Pickled Vegetables, and fresh salad dressings, like Carrot Ginger Dressing, can take a simple plate of beans and whole grains in a totally new direction. Find all three of these recipes in this chapter.

Side dishes can make or break a meal as well; I know I’ve chosen certain meals from a menu just for the side dish! While a bunch of steamed veggies is nice, wouldn’t that homemade vegan lasagna be a little more exciting if it came with some creamy broccoli soup? Discovering a wide variety of healthy, tasty side dishes and lighter meals is simple and helps you feel like a budding gourmet.

After you discover the joys of creating your own condiments and side dishes, you can progress up the culinary ladder and start making simple, one-dish meals. Soups and salads, for example, can easily make a meal by themselves, and they also offer an opportunity for you to get creative: You can add almost anything to a salad, and soup can be made out of various bits and pieces from your refrigerator and cupboard. These dishes are healthy and delicious, and they’re easy to take to school or work.

Concocting Your Own Condiments

Making your own condiments, such as dips, cheeses, pickles, dressings, and spreads, allows you to create flavor combinations specific to your tastes. Vegan cheeses are available in many health food stores, but making your own gives you the ability to make it spicy, strong, or mellow tasting. All the condiments in this section have versatile uses and come in handy if you keep a nice selection in your refrigerator.

Dairy alternatives are easy to make at home, and the following recipes for Tofu Cheese and Tofu Sour Cream use simple techniques to get you started. And for you pickle lovers out there, rejoice! Did you know you can pickle almost any veggie or fruit? Use the Homemade Pickled Vegetables recipe to get your feet in the brine, and then branch out and start adding new spices or vinegars to explore the possibilities. You can impress your friends and family with a platter of homemade pickles at your next gathering.

Tofu Cheese

Cheese is often missed by new vegans; luckily the void can be filled with this recipe. This tofu dish is simple and tasty, and it comes with none of the negative attributes of cow’s milk. Spread this cheese on toasted bread or crackers, or crumble it on top of salads like you would feta cheese.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Chilling time: At least 8 hours

Yield: 4 servings

1 pound extra-firm tofu, drained

1 1/2 cups any color or flavor miso paste

1 Gently wrap the drained tofu in a clean kitchen towel and lightly squeeze out some of the remaining moisture.

2 Spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of the miso on a dinner plate and place the tofu on top of it; be sure to make the layer large enough to accommodate the entire block of tofu.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.