Versatile cauliflower can take center stage for dinner!
Try these seasoned “steaks” for a dramatic supper .
(Serves 4-5)
2 Tablespoons vegan margarine, melted
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Salt, to taste
1 head cauliflower
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment
paper.
In a small bowl,
combine melted vegan margarine, olive oil, and all spices. Stir until well
mixed, the texture will be like a paste.
Remove exterior
leaves from cauliflower. Slice through the entire cauliflower vertically,
making it into 6 steaks, each about 1 inch thick. Smear cauliflower slices with
spice paste, coating both sides of each slice evenly. Place on prepared sheet
pan.
Bake 12-15
minutes per side, flipping once during baking. Finished cauliflower should be
tender and lightly browned. Serve warm with your preferred vegan side dishes or
sauce.
This luscious risotto was made with vegan margarine, shallots, garlic, vegetable stock, white wine, arborio rice, peas, sliced almonds, and fresh parsley. To prepare, warm 3 cups of vegetable stock in a small pot. In a large pot, melt a spoon of vegan margarine and quickly sauté 1 chopped shallot and 2 cloves garlic until wilted. Add 1 cup of arborio rice. Gradually add stock 1/2 cup at a time. Stir frequently and continue until all absorbed, about 30 minutes. Towards the end of cooking, add ¼ cup vegan white wine and 1 cup peas, and stir until wine is absorbed (or use 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar). Serve warm topped with chopped fresh parsley and sliced almonds. Photo by Rissa Miller.
By Chef Nancy
Berkoff, RD, EdD
For a creamy,
luxurious risotto, use Arborio or caranoli rice. The risotto method allows the
rice to become creamy and custardy. Here is the risotto method, usually done
with Arborio rice, but can be done with any short-grained rice, or barley,
quinoa, or buckwheat:
Bring liquid, usually vegetable or
mushroom stock, to a simmer; set aside and keep warm.
Chop and sauté onions, shallots or
garlic with a small amount of oil or vegetable oil spray in heavy saucepan. Do
not brown.
Stir in rice until all the grains
are coated with oil. Continue to quickly stir to coat rice, but do not toast
the rice.
Slowly add stock, about ½ cup at a
time. This is where culinary patience comes in. Stock must be added very slowly
and stirred until completely absorbed. This may take up to 20-30 minutes.
Stir in flavoring and ingredients,
such as olive oil, minced mushrooms, soaked saffron, blanched peas, minced
smoked tofu, walnuts, or pine nuts as soon as risotto is creamy and soft.
Serve immediately.
Here are some risotto variations to serve as an entrée or as accompaniment dishes.
Milanese: dry white wine, saffron, and vegan Parmesan cheese (such as Follow Your Heart or Violife)
Risotto with peas and toasted almonds
Risotto with asparagus tips
Traditional risotto with radicchio and olive oil
Smoked tempeh or mushroom risotto with chopped parsley
Pesto risotto with pine nuts
Mediterranean risotto with raisins and almonds
New World Risotto with pecans and orange zest
Risotto with toasted pumpkin seeds, white wine, thyme, and garlic
Due to the generosity of an
anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college
scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted
veganism/vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not
eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal
products such as dairy or eggs.
One award of $10,000 and two awards
of $5,000 will be given. Entries may only be sent by students
graduating from high school in spring 2021. Deadline is February
20, 2021. We will accept applications postmarked on or before February
20, 2021. Early submission is encouraged!
Applicants will be judged on having
shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful
world through a vegan/vegetarian diet/lifestyle. Payment will be made to the
student’s college (U.S. based only). Winners of the scholarships give
permission to release their names to the media. Applications and essays become
property of The Vegetarian Resource Group. We may ask finalists for more
information. Scholarship winners are contacted by e-mail or telephone. Please
look at your e-mail.
The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to
Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA
and Canada.
Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found
here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php
To support the
updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate
Here are some new
additions to VRG’s guide (Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many are doing take-out
and/or delivery now):
Daikon Vegan Sushi & More, Whole
Foods, 7210 W. Lake Mead Blvd. #1, Las Vegas, NV 89128
Daikon Vegan Sushi
& More describes their fare as “plant-based Asian fusion fast-food
cuisine.” They have a huge selection of delicious sounding takes on traditional
sushi and sushi related foods. Many items are gluten-free as well. They serve
appetizers; sushi rolls and nigari; entrees; combo plates; and desserts.
Exposed Vegan, City West Commons,
1540 West Blvd., Ste. 112, Charlotte, NC 28208
Their menu includes
a large variety of juices and smoothies; soups and bowls; and for desert,
Chocolate Chip Cookies. The owners have chosen a location in the food desert of
the West Boulevard corridor of Charlotte in order to give back to the community
by providing healthy vegan food.
Grass VBQ Joint, 5385 Five Forks
Trickum Rd. SW, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Grass VBQ Joint is a
vegan BBQ restaurant, aiming to “provide traditional southern Q, without the
guilt” by serving in-house made mock meats, all smoked for 5 hours. Dishes
include their Fried Green Tomato PBLT, Jerk Wings, Smoked Brat, and Nashville
Hot Chicken sandwich.
Louie’s Luncheonette, 233 Eagle St.,
Brooklyn, NY 11222
At this vegan
Brooklyn deli, sandwich options include the Ham, Egg, and Cheese, the Cubano,
and their Chicken Salad Sandwich. Or choose to order any of their plant-based
meats – ham, chicken, turkey, or pepperoni – and have it delivered to your
doorstep by the pound.
Naughty Buddha Burger Bar, 707 S.
24th St., Omaha, NE 68102
In downtown Omaha
Naughty Buddha Burger Bar offers a healthy, vegan take on a burger bar, serving
Impossible faux beef. They don’t just stop at burgers, though, offering drinks
and sides like mac “n” cheese and Broken Bamboo Seaweed Salad. Customers will
also find bright decor, with hanging plants and lights.
Nopalito, 3723 A, Boul. St-Laurent,
Montreal, QC H2X 2V7 Canada
This vegan take-out
restaurant specializing in Mexican tortas is named “little cactus,” an
ingredient used in several of their signature dishes. Tortas, wraps, sides, and
drinks can be viewed and ordered through their website, which also features appetizing
images of dishes like “Torta ‘la Llorona,’” Nopalito’s torta with vegan
chorizo, potatoes, feta “cheese,” and more!
The Vreamery, Paso Market Walk, 1803
Spring St., Paso Robles, CA 93446
Located at Paso
Market Walk, The Vreamery is the first vegan cheese shop in San Luis Obispo County.
Cheeses include parmesan, smoky cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack. Flavored
butter, creams, and dressings are also available. Shop online for delivered
cheeses and cheeseboards, perfect for entertaining!
Ward of Health, Broad Street Market,
1233 North Third St., Harrisburg, PA 17102
Created to promote
the health benefits of eating healthy, Ward of Health is a fully vegan
restaurant located in Broad Street Market. Their online menu highlights their
Triple Bean Dream Burger, WOH Mein, and Crunch Wrap as their most popular
options, which all help reemphasize Ward of Health’s motto: “Health is Wealth.”
WOH also offers catering and meal prep services.
Winter Park Biscuit Co., East End
Market, 3201 Corrine Dr., Winter Park, FL 32789
Located in the East
End Food Market, Winter Park Biscuit Co. is a delicious, quick stop for lunch
or dinner. Main dishes include Kale Caesar Salad, the Fried Chik Sandwich, and
their signature WPBC Box, including 3 “Chik” strips and a buttermilk biscuit.
Don’t forget to try a dessert – such as the Greenery Creamery Ice Cream
Sandwich or the Banana Pudding – on the way on out!
How often have you wanted to make a gift in honor of a loved
one or friend but weren’t sure which charities are vegan-friendly,
pro-environmental, or pro-animal rights? Please remember The Vegetarian
Resource Group. You can make a gift in memory of a loved one or as a living
tribute to honor someone you care about on a special occasion, such as a
wedding or birth. We’ll send an acknowledgment to you and to the recipient(s)
you choose. Your gift will support educational programs and help promote
veganism.
Make checks payable to The Vegetarian Resource Group and mail to PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203, or donate at vrg.org/donate.
Long grain brown rice pilaf shown with vegan chickpea-sweet potato curry and vegan naan bread. This rice was made by sautéing 1 cup rice with 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet for about 2 minutes. Two cups of vegetable broth were added, the skillet covered, and it was cooked over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes. Fresh chopped cilantro was added to serve. Photo by Rissa Miller.
By Chef Nancy Berkoff, RD, EdD
Pilafs originated in Persia, traveled
through the Middle East and the Mediterranean and made it to the New World via
the Caribbean. It is the preferred method of rice cooking in many parts of the
world. Pilafs are most popular with long-grained rice, but they can be done
with any rice, grain, or vegetable (such as mushrooms) that can stand up to
heat and liquid.
This is the basic technique:
Sauté the rice (or barley, quinoa,
mushrooms, couscous, etc.) stirring constantly, in a small amount of vegetable
oil or vegan margarine, until all grains are coated and mildly toasted
Simmer, covered, in just enough liquid
to allow the grain to become tender.
You can add fresh or dried herbs,
minced garlic or vegetables, saffron threads, or a favorite seasoning mix. To
serve about 5 people as a side dish, use 1 cup of rice (or grains) and about 2
cups of heated water (or vegetable stock). Spray some vegetable oil in a pot,
add rice and sauté for about 2 minutes or until most of oil is absorbed and the
grains are coated. Pour the heated liquid over the rice and allow it to simmer
until it is soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Some people like to cook the rice on the
stove until it is just soupy and then bake it, covered, until it is dry and
fluffy.
Perfect Pilaf tips:
It is better to make a pilaf in a wide
pan than a tall pot. The surface area aids in better absorption of liquid.
If using onion, dry it on a paper
towel after its cut, so there’s not a lot of extra moisture added to the pilaf.
To prevent sticking, stir as little as
possible during the simmering phase.
If you have to stir when the pilaf is
simmering, use a fork. This incorporates more air and makes for fluffier pilaf.
If adding vegetables to pilaf, cut
them up as small as possible. This ensures consistent cooking.
You can prepare pilaf up to two days
ahead of time and just reheat as needed.
If you like, you can make a “dry”
pilaf, simply toasting the rice (or grain) in a hot pan, without the addition
of oil. When the rice grains are toasted, add the liquid and proceed as
described above.
At the beginning of each year, a lot of people go on a weight loss diet. If
you, a friend, or family member fall into that category, here’s a vegan weight
loss article from Vegetarian Journal including recipes and a sample
menu that might be helpful: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue1/2006_issue1_weight.php
This article was written to provide suggestions for vegans, or people who
are interested in following a vegan diet, who want to lose weight. The weight
loss plan is designed for non-pregnant adults. If you have a medical condition
such as kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, please
consult your health care professional to make sure these ideas will work for
you.
Recipes you’ll find in this article are:
•Spinach-Onion Dip
•Spicy Creamy Sauce
•Oven-Roasted Salsa Tofu
•Tofu and Snow Pea Stir-Fry
•Seitan L’Orange
•Tempeh Cacciatore
•Baked Pears
•Glazed Pineapple
•Pineapple Cake
•Banana-Almond Shake
•Orange-Vanilla Smoothie
•Cool Rice Cream with Fruit
Vegetarian
Journal Senior Editor Rissa Miller has written a creative recipe piece
highlighting dishes made from jackfruit in the most recent issue. Enjoy these
recipes: Spiced Breakfast Bars; BBQ Jackfruit and Biscuit Casserole; Sweet and
Tangy Jackfruit Meatless Balls; Curry Jackfruit Stew; French Dip Sandwiches;
Italian Herb Stuffed Peppers; and Orange Cherry Jackfruit Cake with Pudding
Layer.
During these hard times, vegan restaurant Land of Kush is giving vegan meals to various food programs in Baltimore. Each meal is $5 to $15. Once they reach a goal of $500 they can distribute a minimum of 50 meals. This supports a vegan restaurant and those in need during these hard times, as well as promotes healthy and ethical vegan diets to new audiences. You can donate at vrg.org/donate and write in the comments section For Land of Kush Vegan Food Program. We’ll then pass on all the money and sponsor a vegan community meal.
The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on veganism and the interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, ethics, and world hunger. We have been helping health professionals, food services, businesses, educators, students, vegans, and vegetarians since 1982. In addition to publishing the Vegan Journal, VRG produces and sells a number of books.
Sign up for our newsletter to receive recipes, ingredient information, reviews of new products, announcements of new books, free samples of products, and other VRG materials.