Topic: Vegetarian/Vegan recipes for everyone

[TepidT2O]

From the general food thread…

I accidentally made some nice vegan food

Crispy fried tofu bau buns with pickled cucumber

1. Use a peeler to peel strips of cucumber into white wine vinegar with a pinch of salt and sugar.  Leave to cure for a few minutes.

2. Get firm tofu.  Press with towel to remove water.  Cut into 2cm cubes

3. Prepare batter.  6 spoons of corn flour, 3 of oil and 3 of soy. Mix until you get a thickish batter (still runny though).

4. Heat a pan with some vegetable oil to medium high heat.  Toss the tofu inthe batter until it is coated, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Transfer to pan, a minute or two on each side until it goes crispy.

5. Zap bau buns in microwave for a minute

6. Put chopped spring onion, coriander, and your pickled cucumber in the buns, add the crispy tofu. Drizzle with sweet chilli sauce.

7 a squeeze of lime juice.

Wallop. Done.

[redbyrdz]

What I've realised having started this thread is that I don't have many of the staples needed in my larder.

With that in mind what would you all recommend me getting as a basic starter kit?

I'll always have cumin, corriander, garlic, ginger, paprika, cayenne pepper, tumeric in stock but not things like coconut milk, tamarind, masala, nuts etc.

I have never had those things in my house (apart from nuts), and I've been a veggie for over 20 years.


I don't know what a starter kit would be. Just don't put meat in

Maybe some veggie stock cubes instead of chicken ones.

I honestly think I make very similar food to what I'd eat with meat, just without. I do eat tofu or quorn stuff now and then, but I don't think its essential.

(Tesco but also Lidl have tofu in the chilled section. Most of the supermarkets have quorn and other meat substitude foods in the freezer section).

[reddebs]

You can buy it in Tesco,they usually have a couple of different types.

It's about £2.50 per pack.

That's more like it 👍

[Boston always unofficial]

I just had a look at The CO-OP site,https://www.coop.co.uk/products/vegan/gro. I'm jealous of that selection and the prices!

[redgriffin73]

I'm a recent convert to koshari, and as a side note this website I'm linking to has some great other recipes, I've signed up to their mailing list and get sent emails 2 or 3 times a week with recipe ideas.

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/egyptian-koshari-recipe/

[Claire.]

Are there any Asian supermarkets near you?  They are the best place to stock up on the stuff you need and usually cheaper.  You will also find a much better variety of lentils, beans etc.  The spices tend to be a lot cheaper as well.

You also get better prices on spices (and much larger bags) in the world food aisle in supermarkets (deffo sains), can get a big bag of say turmeric or garam masala for usually cheaper than the tiny jars. For any harder to find stuff I use http://souschef.co.uk, https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk and https://www.mexgrocer.co.uk

[reddebs]

I just had a look at The CO-OP site,https://www.coop.co.uk/products/vegan/gro. I'm jealous of that selection and the prices!

Well you learn something new everyday!

I use the co-op for my weekly top up shop as it's closer than any other and I never knew they did any of that but then I've never looked for it.

It's only a small store though and pretty rubbish trying to get stuff like herbs, spices or things for Chinese meals or curries.

I'll definitely have a look though next time I'm there so thanks for the info 👍

[Millie]

You also get better prices on spices (and much larger bags) in the world food aisle in supermarkets (deffo sains), can get a big bag of say turmeric or garam masala for usually cheaper than the tiny jars. For any harder to find stuff I use http://souschef.co.uk, https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk and https://www.mexgrocer.co.uk

I used to use the World Food aisle when I lived in Liverpool, at Tesco in Park Road.  Over here in Wirral, the local Sainsburys doesn't really have one, well nothing like the ones I used to find In Liverpool supermarkets.  Don't have anywhere near as many Asian Supermarkets over here either.  There's a Thai supermarket in Prenton which also stocks typical Indian spices.  There used to be a store at Birkenhead Market, but haven't been for ages, so don't know if that's still there.  I usually stock up when back over your side, visiting my daughter.

[reddebs]

I'm a recent convert to koshari, and as a side note this website I'm linking to has some great other recipes, I've signed up to their mailing list and get sent emails 2 or 3 times a week with recipe ideas.

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/egyptian-koshari-recipe/

Now I do like North African and Middle Eastern food more than Indian and Asian as it's generally not as spicy so I'll have a look at that site thanks 👍

[reddebs]

You also get better prices on spices (and much larger bags) in the world food aisle in supermarkets (deffo sains), can get a big bag of say turmeric or garam masala for usually cheaper than the tiny jars. For any harder to find stuff I use http://souschef.co.uk, https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk and https://www.mexgrocer.co.uk

Thanks for those links Claire.

I'll have to ask my Algerian client where she and her husband get their spices from as the food they serve when I'm visiting is fabulous.

[duvva 💅]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/vegetarian_pie

Some more veggie recipes off the bbc website

[reddebs]

I'm a big fan of this chickpea curry. I do it in the slow cooker unlike the recipe.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/kadala-curry

I've made this for tea tonight minus the chilli and I can't eat it as it's far too spicy for me.

Ah well at least I've tried it 😔

[Elmo!]

I've made this for tea tonight minus the chilli and I can't eat it as it's far too spicy for me.

Ah well at least I've tried it 😔

Ah sorry Debs! I didn't realise you weren't into spicy food, though I have to say I don't find it spicy at all, even with the chilli in it.

[reddebs]

Ah sorry Debs! I didn't realise you weren't into spicy food, though I have to say I don't find it spicy at all, even with the chilli in it.

Hey don't worry about it mate sometimes I'm ok with spicy but I have to be careful or it makes me ill.  I'll be able to adjust it in future now I know 👍

[Bioluminescence]

I make vegan smoothies regularly - about a third of a pack of silken tofu (softer in consistency), frozen fruit, nuts and seeds, some spirulina powder, and some vegan milk to thin it. I sometimes don't add any milk so it's just like a yoghurt. It works very well for me. I used to make it with Greek yoghurt but it didn't work for me (too sharp) - this is more creamy.

I also use the silken tofu to make scrambled tofu instead of scrambled eggs. That's probably more of an acquired taste but I enjoy it as long as I add plenty of veggies.

[MrGrumpy]

One of my girls is vegetarian, the rest of us are not huge meat eaters.

The recipe below is super easy and cheap.

https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/slow-cooker-butternut-squash-lentil-curry/

[ToneLa]

Hash browns.