General / Off-Topic Vegans?

Avago Earo

Banned
Avago Earo
I've just become a Vegan. It's been on my mind for a long time. I watched a film. I won't describe it as it's too disturbing (I can't unsee it).

I'm looking for some recipe ideas. I have a good Indian cookery book, so a curry is on the horizon.

Anyone got any Vegan recipes you think I should try (Spock jokes aside). I do meant free of all animal produce.

And this isn't to be a righteous thread. Each to their own. I was eating everything until today.

Also advice at keeping hunger at bay. My body is very used to animal fat. I tried vegetarian diet before, but ended up going through packets of biscuits. In the end I ran to the supermarket and made myself sick, gutting out on roast pork. Does that pass, or do I need to adjust my eating times?

Cheers in advance.
 

Caramel Clown

Caramel Clown
I'm not vegan, but I could provide you my little idea of what might help. And who knows - maybe there is something to it.
Basically it's about umami. That elusive difficult to explain basic taste that is associated with a nicely cooked "savoriness" of meat. Your brain might reject meat as a desirable product thanks to your decision, but your taste buds and stomach might still crave :)
Fill your diet with umami rich products. Personally, I find walnuts, mushrooms, and beans to be some of the best. Sometimes when I wake up late at night craving for a snack a handful of nuts will kill the hunger, even thought you've ate so little.

P.S. A little sprinkle of whole sesame seeds in your salad. Try it :)
 
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Avago Earo

Banned
Avago Earo
Caramel Clown said:
I'm not vegan, but I could provide you my little idea of what might help. And who knows - maybe there is something to it.
Basically it's about umami. That elusive difficult to explain basic taste that is associated with a nicely cooked "savoriness" of meat. Your brain might reject meat as a desirable product thanks to your decision, but your taste buds and stomach might still crave :)
Fill your diet with umami rich products. Personally, I find walnuts, mushrooms, and beans to be some of the best. Sometimes when I wake up late at night craving for a snack a handful of nuts will kill the hunger, even thought you've ate so little.

P.S. A little sprinkle of whole sesame seeds in your salad. Try it :)
Click to expand...

Thanks. Good advice. I remember the umami flavour being discussed on TV a few years back. I think it's a word in Chinese to describe something you can't quite describe in terms of sweetness or saviouryness; a somethingelseness. Mushrooms is probably a good idea, texture wise. I think it's about making food interesting. I'm not a bad cook, but I've relied on making meat the centre of my dish (when I'm not being lazy and heating ready meals in the microwave). I've got some sesame seeds too, and making salad interesting would be a godsend, I really don't like salad despite the health benefits. Nuts, good idea for pangs. Nice one, cheers.
 

Avago Earo

Banned
Avago Earo
Just to be clear, there's no righteousness on my part. I welcome ideas from anyone, meat eater or otherwise. It's vegan recipes and diet advice I'm interested in from whomever wishes to share. their ideas.

Cheers, I salute you in advance.
 

Caramel Clown

Caramel Clown
Avago Ero said:
Thanks. Good advice. I remember the umami flavour being discussed on TV a few years back. I think it's a word in Chinese to describe something you can't quite describe in terms of sweetness or saviouryness; a somethingelseness. Mushrooms is probably a good idea, texture wise. I think it's about making food interesting. I'm not a bad cook, but I've relied on making meat the centre of my dish (when I'm not being lazy and heating ready meals in the microwave). I've got some sesame seeds too, and making salad interesting would be a godsend, I really don't like salad despite the health benefits. Nuts, good idea for pangs. Nice one, cheers.
Click to expand...

Umami is nothing mysterious really :) It's one of the basic tastes - on the list with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. It is recognized as one for decades now. It's trigger mechanism is understood to some degree.
Problems arise when you try to describe it to somebody. It's much easier with other tastes, hence why it took so long to formulate and document it's nature.
You're not far from the word origin. It's Japanese.
 

znôrt

znôrt
tofu is a great source of protein but it's taste is really bland, so any form of curry is a great option for it.

also, check out "sun dubu", a korean spicy soup which is for me the best way to consume tofu, just omit the egg and use veggie broth instead of fish broth. i absolutely love it.

soft tofu, that is. i have not found any really good recipes for hard tofu yet. i just don't like its chewy consistence, that's why i also ignore seitan and tempeh. they are often recommended as substitute for meat for this reason, but i found it easier to just forget about meat altogether, be done with it. you get used to it sooner than you might think. not only that, you will develop aversion to it, which is just nice.

tofu is also good in tempura (or similar fried covering), but this is really hard to do with soft tofu because it has very little adherence and breaks up too easily. i failed many attempts but when you get it right it's delicious too, very good with (thai) curry.

if you want a healthy quick snack, remember falafel wraps. it's basically chickpeas with coriander, easy to do, delicious and convenient.

what else? lots of legumes (in stew or in salad) and rice. veggie "paella" is a staple meal for me: some green beans, sliced artichokes, sweet paprika, onion, garlic, tomato is my preferred kit, but any vegetables will work. spice up with some pepper. i discovered that a teaspoon of japanese 'miso' (fermented rice paste, can be stored in the fridge for ages) added to the cooking water adds a lot of flavor and is also very convenient for any sort of quick broth you need. you can of course also use veggie broth. but hey, plain water is also fine.

and discover the rich and immense world of pasta!

as for killing hunger ... i smoke! :D but, yeah, fresh fruit and nuts is good. but it also is a matter of changing habits. remember it's for your own good, it's only hard at the start and it will get a lot easier as you go.

now ... this is personal, might not apply to everyone, but works very well for me: don't be a hero. be practical. if i'm out for lunch with other people i eat vegan if there is, and if not i don't make a fuss and just go with the 'veganest' option available, there is always something acceptable. i still eat cheese now and then. and a couple of good natural eggs once a month, for b12. i've been preying on animals all my life, this isn't going to change, it's better to reduce that 95% than aim for 100% and fail. the impression that film made on you will fade, changing lifelong habits is hard enough and if you end up contemplating food as a sacrifice that will not work. food is something to enjoy, you do not have to save the world all by yourself.

bon appetit!
 

lysan

lysan
Avago Ero said:
I've just become a Vegan. It's been on my mind for a long time. I watched a film. I won't describe it as it's too disturbing (I can't unsee it).

I'm looking for some recipe ideas. I have a good Indian cookery book, so a curry is on the horizon.

Anyone got any Vegan recipes you think I should try (Spock jokes aside). I do meant free of all animal produce.

And this isn't to be a righteous thread. Each to their own. I was eating everything until today.

Also advice at keeping hunger at bay. My body is very used to animal fat. I tried vegetarian diet before, but ended up going through packets of biscuits. In the end I ran to the supermarket and made myself sick, gutting out on roast pork. Does that pass, or do I need to adjust my eating times?

Cheers in advance.
Click to expand...

As you mention, Indians are in some states 100 % vegan, and the Indian cuisine is well known for vegan food recipes.

And how far will you go? because there are vegans and then there are VEGANS!....
 

Deleted member 110222

D
Some meat producers have had to talk with anti-terroism authorities over death threats from vegan extremists.

I've got no problem with someone else not eating animal products. I think it's daft, but I'm not going to get in your way.

So it's rather disappointing that a small group of extremists think they have the right to tell me what I can and cannot eat.

What I eat is my business. If that means a cow is killed... Well I'm sorry, but biologically us humans are predators.
 

lysan

lysan
Un1k0rn said:
Some meat producers have had to talk with anti-terroism authorities over death threats from vegan extremists.

I've got no problem with someone else not eating animal products. I think it's daft, but I'm not going to get in your way.

So it's rather disappointing that a small group of extremists think they have the right to tell me what I can and cannot eat.

What I eat is my business. If that means a cow is killed... Well I'm sorry, but biologically us humans are predators.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is telling you what to eat? I know in some countries they actually do, but I'm all about freedom as long as it's not harming other people.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
Lysander lysan said:
I don't think anyone is telling you what to eat? I know in some countries they actually do, but I'm all about freedom as long as it's not harming other people.
Click to expand...

I'm referring to the death threats that meat farmers have been receiving.

I am not telling anyone what they should eat, and I know nobody in this thread is telling me what I can eat.

However, there is a real problem with a small percentage of vegans thinking they are arbiters over non-vegan's food choices.

This minority needs to be educated that they have no say over what someone else eats.

Read the news. Farmers shouldn't have to fear for their lives providing a basic and essential service to the human race.
 

Jenner

I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
Jenner
Un1k0rn said:
I'm referring to the death threats that meat farmers have been receiving.

I am not telling anyone what they should eat, and I know nobody in this thread is telling me what I can eat.

However, there is a real problem with a small percentage of vegans thinking they are arbiters over non-vegan's food choices.

This minority needs to be educated that they have no say over what someone else eats.

Read the news. Farmers shouldn't have to fear for their lives providing a basic and essential service to the human race.
Click to expand...

That may be, but it's not the topic of this thread. Let's not derail the subject with such a pivot. Thanks.
 

Necronaught

Necronaught
With a Crass logo I thought you already were vegan. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jos-Vegan-Nosh-97-mouth-watering-vegan-recipes-/222656065425

This is a recipe book of a dear friend who sadly died of cancer back in 2013. The book is a kind of fund raiser for activist groups like Hunt Sabs etc. I have been vegan since 1997, had a few slip ups on the way, but overall I feel great. Check this book out it's only a fiver :) Good job mate you won't regret this choice.

Oh and bananas I eat 10 -15 a day. Helps to rid hunger and give you boundless energy. 6 pack is en route. Remember they are made in the kitchen.
 
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Hessfire

H
@OP

Congrats on your lifestyle decision - it may be difficult right now but I am sure that you will be happier long-term.

While I am a lifetime carnivore (please don't pre-judge me [smile]) my wife has been a vegetarian since about 6 months before we met - almost three decades ago. Back in the beginning there were very few cookbooks/products/ etc that could be used to satisfy the "no food that had a face" rules that existed in our cupboards, pantry, kitchen, or fridge/freezer. Since I loved her (and remember we were BOTH new to this lifestyle) I took it upon myself to seek out and try JUST ABOUT ANYTHING I thought might help us both sit down to a guilt free meal (plus it got harder and harder to have my friends sneak me roast "across the neutral zone" as it were)

Over the years I have seen many products come and go, but there are quite a few out there that could help. Seitan is a wheat-gluten product that is used to provide protein, fiber, and textural clues bringing it in closer to meat-like meals - particularly works well as a pulled pork product cooking suggestion. Several manufacturers offer Veggie Crumbles which can be used to make Sheppard's Pie (as a sub out for Ground Beef), or manwich. Some good product producers that I know and have personally preferred as Tofurky, Worthington, Morningstar Farms - I will ask my wife for more later.

As far as cuisines we have found that Indian and Asian cuisines provide a lot of choices, but as others have said beware of fish sauce (prevalent in a LOT of Thai cuisine). Middle Eastern and African cuisines also provide some choice. Hummus is your friend, when paired with pits chips it provides good protein, fiber, and satiates hunger with a minimum of fuss.

As I said I will post more later after consulting with my spouse - Good luck on your new journey and know that there are and do exist tons more options today that existed for those that came before

Fly Safe CMDR o7
 

YinYin

YinYin
Legumes, all of them.
Beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, peanuts, ...

Also seeds and nuts.
Cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, ...

If you don't have a blender yet, get one.
Cashews soaked in hot water blend into a very good sauce cream for example.

Hummus is real easy to whip up yourself as well and you can add about anything for flavour you like.
I personally just go with spicy tomato paste most of the time.
Works as part of a dish, straight on bread or a dip for crackers or whatever.

And about umami ... anything fried or roasted well will taste good :)
 
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