Question for Vegans

[Xicano]

I am a 43 year meat eater and my favorite foods are beef enchiladas, pork tamales, tacos al pastor, roast beef & gravy with mashed potatoes, barbeque ribs, ox tail soup, chicken and dumplings, lima beans & ham hocks with corn bread, beef steak grilled with barbeque sauce with mashed potatoes, chili quiles made with ground beef, and spaghetti and meatballs with buttered garlic bread.

My question is: I really want to switch to a animal protein free diet and was wondering what are some foods, if any, which have shown to be effective for retraining the taste buds of meat lovers like myself?

P.S. I am the type person who would hide his vegetables in his mashed potatoes to avoid eating them. LOL

Any suggestions would very much be appreciated.




Peace,
Xicano

[UndertheOcean]

1. "ox tail soup" , That doesn't sound very appealing.

[Xicano]

3. Oh, its very delicious.

The meat is very tasty. Here's an image of it.

[shanti]

41. i concur!

oxtails, yumm:) i pressure cook mine and the meat is fall off the bone tender.

[BlueCaliDem]

42. Ox tail soup is mmm... mmm... good! eom

[Sal Minella]

67. mmmm . . . with barley . . . mmmm . . . and carrots . . . mmmmm. . .n/t

[tridim]

72. Try some at a Vietnamese Pho restaurant.

It's cheap, and you wont be disappointed. I wouldn't start with the tripe or the tendon versions though. :)

I think I know what I'm having for lunch today.

[Renew Deal]

94. It's quite good, but have you had any pig tail?

Very interesting!

[bos1]

2. so many options

the supermarkets are full of tofu that mimics hamburgers, sausage, grillable steaks, etc. Give it a try

[Xicano]

6. I was wondering about tofu.

I've never had any myself. How does one cook with it? I mean would you cook with it pretty much the same way one would use meat in the above foods I mentioned?

I am sorry for my ignorance. I really have no experience with tofu.


Thanks bos1

[StarfarerBill]

27. No reason to be sorry about something with which you have no experience. :)

A then-partner introduced me to tofu, and while I don't cook much for myself now I still love it in Chinese and Thai restaurant dishes.

For cooking, we found the best way was to drain it well (it usually comes in a little plastic tub of water), cut it into cubes, and fry it with vegetable or olive oil; once it gets nicely brown, you'll know it's done.

[Maraya1969]

61. There are really good sausage type things in the frozen section and I also

got some corn dogs made of something other than meat.

I used to cut up a bunch of vegetables like a stir fry and add hard tofu squares, about 1 inch, add Tamari sauce or soy sauce and it is great. Although I did hear you say that you did not like vegetables.

If you saute' broccoli in a frying pan until they are crispy and then sprinkle them with parmigiana cheese they are great. And you can do the same with hard tofu. Just cut it into the size of a McDonald's hash brown and brown it on both sides. You can add parmigiana cheese or soy sauce.

[CrispyQ]

78. I bake it.

You can season it how you want & you have control over the consistency. You can bake it a little so it's squishy - kind of like scrambled eggs, or you can bake it longer so it's chewy, like ... well, meat. If you'd like my baked tofu instructions, PM me.

A few weeks ago I went to a pot luck. I took baked tofu crumbles seasoned with Bragg's Amino Liquid & vegan parmesan. Some pieces were kind of crispy/crunchy & the rest was nice & chewy. While we were eating, someone stood up & asked who brought the wonderful chicken pieces. Since I didn't bring chicken, I knew it wasn't me. When we were leaving, my friend saw me retrieve my dish & said, "You're the one who brought that great chicken!" I looked at her & said, "No. I'm a vegetarian, remember?" She laughed & said, "Oh hell, don't tell me that was tofu!" I just smiled & nodded.

And don't believe the myth that if you marinade your tofu it will absorb the flavor of the marinade. That only works if the tofu is sliced very, very thinly. I've found baking is the best way to flavor tofu, & even then, the flavor sits on the tofu & doesn't get in it - if that makes sense.

TOFU ANECDOTE

A man was grocery shopping & saw a woman put a tub of tofu in her cart. "Excuse me," he said, "How do you prepare the tofu?" She replied, "When I get home I drain the tofu & put it in a plastic bowl with fresh water. Then every day I drain & replace the water with fresh. In about two weeks, when the tofu is bad, I throw it away." The man smiled sadly & said, "That's the same recipe my wife has. I hoped you had a different one!"

[druidity33]

88. the trick to tofu

is freezing it. It comes in a little plastic tub, so it won't explode. Freeze it until it's a solid brick, then defrost (8-12 hours on the counter, 24 hours in the fridge). Squeeze ALL/AS MUCH OF the water out as possible. There is actually such a thing as a tofu press, but you don't need that. Just cut it in half and squeeze each half over the sink between both palms. Chop into fingers, cubes, slabs, whatever and soak in a marinade. Because it has been frozen, the water that was inside the block expanded, leaving little holes that serve as capillaries... they suck up the marinade. Bake at 350 degrees until chewy on the edges (about 20 minutes for cubes, 25 for slabs). You can use barbecue sauce, vinaigrette, teriyaki, whatever...

if yu try this, you'll never prepare tofu any other way.

[bos1]

81. yum

well there are ready to cook or eat products made out of tofu, that resemble hamburger or sausage or whatever. Those are easy.

Raw tofu you can cook like chicken but use more spices since it has little flavor on its own. I buy only the firmest kind and grill it, fry it, bake it, anything and everything.

If you are serious let me know I will give you a few recipes.

Of course, a lot depends why you are switching to tofu.

[LWolf]

71. What are the options without soy?

For a diet high in fiber, low in carbs, type II diabetes managed by diet alone.

[druidity33]

89. try Quorn

a delightful product made of mycoprotein. It comes in pattie, nugget, roast and cutlet form. Tastes more like chicken than you can possibly imagine.

:)

[LWolf]

91. Sounds fascinating...

fungus protein?

I'll look for it. Any suggestions about where to find it?

[druidity33]

93. A food co-op or natural foods store...

they have it in my local grocery store, but i live in a "liberal" area.

They have a website with a store locator.

http://www.quorn.us/



btw, enjoying steel cut oatmeal with blueberries and creme right now.... yum.

:)

[bos1]

96. i dunno, really. if it were me...

i would eat lots of beans, nuts, mushrooms, etc. along with the usual (rice, veggies, fruit, soups etc). Wouldn't be too hard.

[Kali]

4. you know there IS a vegetarian/vegan group on DU

I suspect there is plenty of exactly that kind of info there if you spend 5 minutes looking.

That way you won't be accused of starting some kind of flame war.:hi:

[Sinti]

5. Start with wheat meat

You can read about it here
http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vjseitan.htm

There are also various meat-like soy products you can buy to mimic meat in your food. Seitan is the most like meat, though. Lentils and similar legumes will begin to fill that void over time - besides being hearty and delicious. Start by cutting back - you're going to have to learn to like vegetables :) Good luck

[Xicano]

8. Thanks Sinti

And thanks for the link.

:hi:

[ZombieHorde]

7. I used to be vegan and my main sources of protein were vegetables and

Odwalla drinks. Odwalla can be expensive, so if you are motivated, you may do well to invest in a juicer and make your own protein shakes.

[Xicano]

13. Thanks ZombieHorde

Actually I have a Jack LaLanne juicer. A little bit of a hassle to clean, but, I enjoy using it. Never tried Odwalla drinks before. I'll give them a try to see how they are.


:hi:

[Fridays Child]

9. Saute...

...some great big portabello mushroom caps in butter and garlic. Teriyaki sauce is good, too. Anyway, I think they're a good alternative, because they taste very "meaty."

[Xicano]

12. Thanks Fridays Child

Any particular type of mushroom? Too bad it couldn't be psilocybe types.

Seriously though, just the regular ones you most often see at the grocery stores in those little plastic containers strawberries are sold in?

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Portobello mushrooms are those very large ones.

You can find them in any supermarket. They can be marinated and grilled, instead of a hamburger, or sliced and used in all kinds of things, like pasta sauce or lasagna. Cremini mushrooms are "baby" (small) portobellos... The ones you see in plastic are probably white (or button) mushrooms. They're fine, but portobellos are said to be "meaty". :-)



Portobello Mushroom Burgers
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/portobello-mushroom-burgers/detail.aspx

[Xicano]

32. Excellent. Thanks Rhiannon

That's something I am gonna try out. Also, come to think of it, I do remember seeing mushrooms that look just like those in the pic at the grocery stores.

Thanks again Rhiannon.

:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

36. You're more than welcome.

You can use mushrooms in all kinds of things, rather than meat, but it's advisable to saute (brown) them first. Also, you need to clean off the dirt, but you need to use a brush or cloth or very little water. Drenching them in water makes them tough. You can also usually find packages of already cleaned ones (including portobellos) in most grocery stores. :hi:

[Fridays Child]

40. I think the regular ones are good, too, but the ones I'm talking about look like this...

Some of these large mushrooms are almost the diameter of a hamburger bun. Just about every grocery store carries them.



You can see how big they are, compared to the regular-sized ones.

http://thumb9.shutterstock.com.edgesuite.net/display_pic_with_logo/113263/113263,1199724243,1/stock-photo-closeup-of-mushrooms-large-portabello-mushrooms-arranged-on-a-wooden-cutting-board-with-smaller-8327752.jpg

You don't need to slice them or anything. Just wipe them down with a damp paper towel and pull off the stems, before sauteing. Another vegetable that can be prepared something like meat is eggplant--as in Eggplant Parmigiana.



Remember, as you warm up to veggies, eat lots of dark green ones, like spinach (which is better raw, in my opinion), and brightly-colored ones, too--tomatoes, red bell pepper (sweet as candy), and yams or sweet potatoes, for example. Bake a yam or sweet potato just like you would a white potato. Then, mash up the insides with butter and brown sugar. It's not only delicious but one of the most nutrient-dense veggies in the world.

Oh, and the best book I ever read on protein complementarity (combining non-meat foods to create complete proteins) is right out of the "old days:"



:)

[omega minimo]

10. Since you don't cook anyway, start in the healthy frozen food section at COOP, health food store, TJ

[Xicano]

11. Actually I do cook.

Every one of the dishes I mentioned I cook with the exception of the tacos, enchiladas and tamales, and, only because we have a good mexican restaurant near by that delivers.

:)

[omega minimo]

14. All of your OPs dishes appeal to taste buds without meat.

You just need to give up the need to gnaw on flesh. Meats not really there for flavor or taste.

[Lisa0825]

15. I am not vegatarian or vegan but have been cutting down on meat, and

I find it much easier to just cut meat out of a dish I already like, rather than use fake meat. So I make a veggie stew instead of beef stew, for example.

I don't think I could possibly go vegan however.... I like dairy too much, and often sub a cheesy dish for a meaty one.

[tabbycat31]

17. ditto

Just the concept of "meat substitutes" (any any product substitute) grosses me out. I was meat-free this month except for Thanksgiving (not enough side dishes to fill me up so I had turkey) and now I am going to try and go meatless until xmas.

Right now I have a broccoli and cauliflower cheese dish in the oven right now and candied carrots as a side dish.

To the OP-- start with trying to eat meatless once a week, then see how long you can go without meat. I'd start with vegetarian before vegan though.

[Xicano]

21. Thanks for your reply omega minimo

I really do appreciate everyone's input.

:hi:

[omega minimo]

26. The above are really good replies. It's hard to find a good "fake meat" and to give up cheese!!

Esp. in a lot of the Mexican dishes you like.

Fake meat often tastes -- just tries to reproduce the texture of meat, kinda gross.

You might experiment with tofu -- blending into other sauces, fillings -- so it's there for protein, don't need to use chunks of it if you don't want.

Rice and beans are a complete protein, so veggies have eaten a lot of Mexican dishes forever.

[Warpy]

16. What meat lovers seem to miss most of all is texture

there are vegan meatlike products out there that can satisfy the Jones while you're making a transition. Quorn makes great poultry substitutes. Smart Foods makes fake steak strips that are great in stir fries and cubed into soups and stews. You can get that meaty taste with Vegemite or other hydrolyzed yeast spread used as a flavoring base for gravies. For those backyard grills on the fourth of July, there's the wonderful Boca Burger.

Breakfasts are good with Morningstar Farms sausages. Yes, there's better living through chemistry in them, but this is transition food. Tofu scrambled with veggies aren't eggs, but if you use the right veggies, lovely for breakfast.

None of these things taste exactly like meat, but they give the same bite and they'll definitely help the transition while you're getting used to plant based loaves, stews, soups, sandwiches, burritos, and other fare.

The meat substitutes come in very handy while you're making the transition because you're not going to like everything you try and it's nice to have something to look forward to that you won't have to eat with long teeth.

There's a Vegetarian Group here on DU. I don't bother posting there because I'm not a strict veg head any more. I found I missed seafood after 15 years and eat the sustainable stuff like pollock except on holidays, when it gets a bit fancier.

The amazing thing is making the transition and finding out you not only don't miss the meat, the thought of eating it makes you a little queasy.

[Xicano]

22. I like these ideas Warpy

Thanks for posting this information. When I say I am ignorant on this subject, I mean I really am quite ignorant as to what products are out there. Thanks again for posting.


:hi:

[Warpy]

35. You can find all of it in whole foods stores

and a lot of the better urban supermarkets have picked them up.

[omega minimo]

28. Yes! Scrambled tofu is very good with turmeric or pesto for flavor.

[Warpy]

34. I find a mirepoix does the best job

although sometimes it's scallions and red pepper.

I rarely use turmeric, not nuts about the flavor.

[omega minimo]

56. Mirepoix?

Could google but I'll ask for the others not familiar with that term. :hi:

[Warpy]

77. Holy trinity of French cooking

Finely chopped onion, celery and carrot.

Sofrito would also do, onion, tomato, bell pepper and garlic simmered for hours and frozen in ice cube trays.

Tofu is bland by itself, with a very mild flavor that can pick up just about anything you throw at it.

I make a kickass tofu chocolate mousse. I don't eat it for breakfast, though.

[omega minimo]

87. Good idea! "simmered for hours and frozen in ice cube trays." n/t

[cali]

18. as you're such a meat eater, why not start with cutting down on meat

and transitioning to being a vegan? Introduce new meatless dishes to your diet. Get a good vegetarian cookbook and a good vegan cookbook. Make stir fried dishes using tofu instead of meat. Make chili with brown rice instead of meat. Pasta dishes, etc.

[Xicano]

23. Thanks cali

I think I'm gonna try the brown rice in place of meat when I make chili.

:hi:

[AldebTX]

19. My Grocery Store

My Grocery store carries a line called AMY'S

They have buffalo chicken wings, corn dogs, sausage, veggie meat etc....they also do a line of prepared TV dinners.

Besides tasting great they have the added benefit of less calories.

I have served these to family and friends and they had no idea they were eating meat free products.

[Xicano]

25. Another post with good info - thanks AldebTX

I am definitely going to look into that line of groceries.


:hi:

[aikoaiko]

20. I made the mistake of looking for substitutes when I tried to go vegetarian

There is not substitute for the glory of meat. In the end I think its best to treat it as a new cuisine with its own culinary joys.

Of course I gave up on the meatless diet. But good luck to you.

[StarfarerBill]

24. I'm no longer a vegan, just a vegetarian; but...

...I'd recommend meat analogues, made from soy, rice, corn, other beans, etc. They come in a variety of flavors and textures: burgers, hot dogs, sausages, ribs, chicken, and more. Amy's, Health Valley, Morningstar Farms, Boca, and many others make tasty, satisfying meals.

Then there are countless recipes for vegetarian/vegan dishes, either found in books or online. With the right spices and sauces, you'll never notice the veggies in chilis, soups, pastas, etc.

Alternatively, you could try cuisines that have many veggie choices, such as Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, and Korean.

And of course, there are some really marvelous sweet items, such as soy or rice ice creams, dark chocolate, or carob.

The Vegetarian Resource Group is a great place to find lots of information on vegetarian/vegan diets, foods, and recipes: http://www.vrg.org/

Finally, good for you for wanting to switch to a meat-free diet! :yourock:

[Xicano]

29. Thanks StarfarerBill

I really appreciate the info you provided. Lots of what seems like good ideas from you and other DU'ers. I am glad I can ask such a question and get these responses from fellow DU'ers.

Thanks again StarfarerBill and everyone else.

:hi:

[StarfarerBill]

37. I really appreciate helping someone trying to cut out meat from their diet...

as I do it for ethical reasons, myself. :)

Good luck, Xicano, and feel free to e-mail me if there's anything else I can help you with. :)

[flvegan]

31. Hi, Xicano. I'm a vegan

Most of all, it's in the prep. As someone else mentioned, a lot of it is in the texture. Some of the things you've listed can't be veganized, but some of them can. For example, for ribs you can try Gardenburger's Riblets product. Any ground beef meal can be duped by using products like Boca Burgers Crumbles. Spaghetti and meatballs with buttered garlic bread? That's easy. Spaghetti with a non-meat based sauce (tons available). There are 4 or 5 vegan meatball products available at either the grocery or a store like Whole Foods. Butter? Find some Earth Balance (better than butter if you ask me).

If you like to cook, there are a LOT of great vegan cookbooks out there. I think the transition is relatively easy. The tough part for most folks is getting past cheese/dairy.

Also, there's a veggie forum here at DU so please feel free to visit us.

Good luck with your switch! :hi:

[Xicano]

33. Thank you very much flvegan

I am happy to hear the opinion that "the tough part for most folks is getting past cheese/dairy." Reason is because I don't have a diet for cheese or dairy. I don't eat eggs, I don't drink milk, only use cheese in cooking enchiladas or cheese burgers and its only as added flavoring, and, butter isn't that big of a deal either.

Thanks for the product info, I really do appreciate everyone's help.


:hi:



P.S. Now only if they have vegan friendly icecream. I don't eat the stuff very often, but, sometimes icecream is a nice treat.

:)

[flvegan]

44. Oh, my friend, but they do!

Soy Delicious Purely Decadent ice cream. You will NOT know the difference.

My favorite flavor:

[RadiationTherapy]

46. Have you tried the soy/dairy free coconut milk stuff?

Of heaven:

[flvegan]

48. Most certainly!

I can't keep that in the house lest I need bigger pants.

[CrispyQ]

80. It's heaven!

:9

[GoCubsGo]

82. Does that stuff taste like coconut, or is that flavor covered up?

I love coconut ice cream, but it's difficult to come by around here. I saw that in the grocery store, and don't want to spend the money if it just tastes like ice cream. It's pricey, even with a coupon.

[LeftyMom]

63. Temptation is even better if you can get it.

[queenjane]

95. Giving up cheese was the hardest

Kept me from being completely vegan for a long time, though I am now.

There are several vegan cheeses that are okay, but don't kid yourself that they taste like dairy cheese. You'll find that, once you stop eating meat & dairy, you won't miss it, and if you "fall off the wagon", your body may react in unpleasant ways. Think of it as a cleansing.

Congratulations for wanting to take this step to a kinder and healthier life. I thought about giving up animal products for years before I actually did it, and I've never felt better, or better about myself.

If you love sweets, I recommend the cookbook "The Joy of Vegan Baking". Everything I've tried is fantastic and no one knows the stuff's vegan till I tell them.

[Warpy]

38. A few substitutes are better than the real thing

For instance, "Better Than Cream Chease" is really a superior bagel spread, with a tartness the real thing lacks. Add a paper thin slice of red onion for a taste of paradise.

Unfortunately, it's also expensive so I'm stuck with the real thing unless there's a sale.

I also like Quorn products better than real chicken.

[StarfarerBill]

39. Gardenburgers! I forgot about them, and I had their black bean-chipotle burgers for dinner.

Mind like a sieve, I tell you...;)

Good call, flvegan. :)

[JanMichael]

43. My advice is probably going to be different:

We found it easier to drop red meat (hamburger) first--- then steaks were pretty easy. After that, we stopped eating ham...then chicken...

It happened gradually for us, and we still eat yard eggs and drink milk from a local farm.

So here's my advice-- don't try to go cold turkey. So many people that do that feel crummy and hate it. Take it slow, know your reasons for quitting, and just drop one thing at a time. Don't beat yourself up if it takes a couple of years while you slowly eliminate meat-

And do NOT get attached to the "fake meat" products like tofurkey. Only buy that stuff as "treats." They are made from wheat gluten primarily and that can cause it's own problems: I had skin problem flair ups, and Stephanie had stomach cramps.

Take it slow. Don't let yourself get consumed by your food; it's supposed to be healthy and good for the planet, not stress inducing!

[flvegan]

This can be excellent advice.

Of all the vegans I know, very few went cold tofurkey.

Even I did so gradually, sort of like you did. Red meat was easy, and I didn't really eat pork/ham to begin with. Then I was vegetarian for a year or so, then vegan since.

[demosincebirth]

45. Your choice of foods is great. I would add some Chile Verde (pork).

And of course, a few vegetables

[HuckleB]

47. I'd go with moderation.

I don't see why every food choice has to be so black and white.

[juno jones]

49. My ex used to do an incredible 'beef stew' with

shittake and porobello mushrooms.

Vegetarian food can be as hearty and succulent as meat-based, but it takes a bit of knowledge and time.

Mushrooms can imitate beef in some foods.

TVP (texturised veg protien) simulates hamburger nicely, just add water with taco seasoning, italian saugage seasoning, etc and you can do just about anything ground beef or pork can.

[leftstreet]

50. I can't believe you eat lima beans

:puke:

:hi:

[Zoeisright]

60. Hey! Lima beans are pillowy and soft and people should stop saying mean things

about them.

My favorite Laurie Colwin quote ever.

[Wakingupnow]

51. GOIN' MEATLESS

The first 43 years of my life i was like you--a serious meat eater--8 oz got me started-, or a half of chicken. now i eat only a couple of fish/seafood meals a week and NO OTHER ANIMALS (a few organic eggs and a little organic milk but the rest is plant-based). I agree with those suggesting not going cold turkey all at once. if you're a meatlover it'll seem like deprivation and trigger a potential fallback. go with a couple of days of meatfree dining a week for starters. try boca crumbles (or quorn crumbles if you're cautious about soy)) that are great replacements for ground beef. a package (12oz) is probably equivalent to 1 lb of ground beef after it's cooked and the fat has been drained. we use some pam spray, 4-8 or more oz of the crumbles, saute', add a couple oz of water, simmer and add some garlic powder, chili powder, and some chipotle powder and you have taco meat, great for tacos, taco salad, nachos, etc. season with garlic and some thyme or basil for making italian spaghetti or lasagna.

smartlife makes "chik'n" or beef strips hat make fine substitutes for chicken for chicken salad, chicken noodle soup with noodles and frontier makes a chicken flavored broth powder. a tbs or 2 makes a nice flavor addition. these steak strips make a good substitute for beef stroganoff, hungarian ghoulash. the tofurky deli slices are really good for deli sandwiches and all these substitutes are far lower in fat. by moving GRADUALLY in this direction you are creating better health for yourself, reducing your risk for heart disease or colon cancer, doing your part to reduce the use of 25% of all our grain to raise sick animals that are slaughtered inhumanely to produce meat that has higher risks for e-coli infection, etc.

have you seen the chik-fil-a adds with the black cow-looking spots and the motto "eat mor chik-n?" i would like to see some cartoon chickens putting up a billboard with the slogan "eat more soy!" go for it. you'll feel better and actually help to mitigate climate change in a small way too. good luck in your quest.

waking up

[Blue_Tires]

54. welcome to the site!

[omega minimo]

57. Great contribution to all our knowledge. Welcome to DU!

:toast: :party: :bounce:

[beac]

52. Do make sure you do your research and talk to your doctor about

which supplements you should be adding to your diet. B12 is one I, and many vegetarians, take.

I second Warpy's enthusiasm for Quorn products. We had their "turkey" for Thanksgiving and even the meat-eaters said it tasted just like the real thing. Store locater here:http://www.quorn.us/cmpage.aspx?pageid=475

Good luck in your transition! :hi:

[Maru Kitteh]

53. Quorn! Oh how I love that stuff.

They have all kinds of fake meats that taste WAY better than the real thing. They have that texture and mouthfeel you're looking for.

Now I'm hungry.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

55. Baby steps

You need to get a good cookbook (Laurel's Kitchen is a terrific one to start the transition) and websites (vegweb.com is a great one). You could also head over to the Cooking & Baking group for specific help. Start by just trying to replace one meal a week. As you become more familiar with the alternatives and products out there, you'll find yourself getting hungry for things that happen to not have meat.

I have mixed feelings about "meat substitutes." On one hand, these are things that are good enough to be enjoyed by themselves, so why make them masquerade as meat? OTOH, if that's what it takes to make them appetizing for you, knock yourself out.

Lots of good suggestions already--seitan, tofu, portobello. Another thing you might try is tempeh, which is made from whole soybeans.

I've served chili with TVP and lasagne with tofu to hard-core carnivores and they request invitations for more, so those might be a good place to start.

[1]

58. vegans eat grass. and weeds. and lord over meat eaters. that is what they do...

the most important part of a vegan diet is to lord over the meat eaters.

being vegan is easy. if you like to lord over people...

[flvegan]

65. Being a stupid douchebag is easy..

IF one has the fuckwittery to do so, to go along with their lack of nutritional knowledge. And their whining. Oh, the whining.

[imdjh]

73. Those are the political vegans. The dietary vegans are much easier to get along with..

... and usually find a way to TACTFULLY ask what is being served before committing to a dinner.

[Codeine]

90. I don't lord it over anybody, douchenozzle.

My dietary choices are mine and your choices yours.

[Zoeisright]

59. Eat mushrooms, especially the big portabellas.

They have a meaty taste and texture. They're really good grilled as a hamburger substitute.

And look into the fake hamburger, sausage, and chicken products from Morningstar Farms. They fool me, and I'm a confirmed meat eater. Texture is exactly the same, and taste is pretty close.

http://morningstarfarms.com/

[Wakingupnow]

68. grilled veggie sandwich/veggie "philly cheese" sandwich options

grilled veggie sandwich:
takes a little prep time, but it is worth it. takes a grill, some veggies and fixins.
1 zucchini, cut in thin long slabs about 1/4" thick
1 red pepper, seeded, cut in slabs
1 large onion cut in 1/4" slices
1 portabella mushroom, stem removed, scoop out the dark gills with a spoon after grilling slice into 1/4" slices
brush with olive oil/balsamic vinegar and grill until lightly browned and soft, onions translucent
allow to cool (can be done day before.
get some fresh mozzarella and slice into 1/4" sices
Aoli--2-3 tbs lite mayo + 2-3 cloves minced garlic + oil-marinated sundried tomatoes fine dice.
mix well and, if you have a "hand blender, blend. if not, smash with a spoon until well blended.
Assemble the sandwich: split a crusty roll, spread with aoli, layer with sliced veggies, tomato slices fresh basil leaves and a fresh mozzarella cheese slices.
cut in half and serve with multiple napkins.

veggie philly cheese sandwich
tofurky "philly cheese" deli slices, crosscut slices and separated
red pepper--cut into 1/2" slices
1 onion coarse dice
banana pepper slices or jalapeno slices
shredded cheddar cheese or habanero jack cheese.
in a heavy skillet, heat olive oil (1-2 tbs) and saute' onions and red pepper until soft and onion translucent.
move veggies to sides of skillet, add "meat" and saute', mixing in veggies, then hot pepper pieces.
move to side of skillet, top with shredded cheese, fold into veggie/meat mix
slice 2/3 through a crusty roll; pull out some of soft center of roll, fill in with meat/veggie/cheese.
slice in half and serve, again, with multiple napkins.

both of these can please meat-eaters. once again--healthy, tasty and not terribly costly:9 :9

[InaVanDownByTheRiver]

62. Meat Substitutes

I would start off with food items that are most like what you are used to eating. A good place to start is with Morning Star Farms' "Chick Patties," and sausage substitutes. I have fooled many a carnivorous friend with these items. They were surprised to learn they were not the real thing. A lot of the veggie burgers are pretty interesting. I have found that the seasonings of the meat foods I used to eat are really what I liked, not the meat itself. On the few occasions eating out over the 20+ yrs. I have been a vegetarian, when I have had meat accidentally enter my food chain, I have known it right away. I find meat to be extremely chewy, like chomping gum, shoe leather, or a tire. :puke: Strange, but true.

Good luck on your vegetarian hunt!

[GoCubsGo]

83. Morningstar Farms...

I concur on their chick patties and sausages, especially the sausage "crumbles"--if you can find them. My local Kroger is the only one in town that carries them. It's very close to Italian sausage, so it works really well on pizza, and in whatever else you might use Italian sausage. I also HIGHLY recommend their Tomato Basil Burgers. Not vegan, but delicious anyway.

Boca also makes good "chicken" burgers.

[LeftyMom]

64. Seitan is the best thing ever.

I make my own and it's more addictive than drugs. Seriously. Properly seasoned and prepared seitan can fill in in most any of those dishes with no problem at all.

edit: and for any cheese stuff: Daiya is the best vegan cheese on the planet. I just had a grilled cheese made with it and it had the mouth feel and stretch and everything. Wasn't quite greasy enough to be mistaken for the real thing, but it was otherwise perfect.

[WVRICK13]

66. Try Fresh Herbs and Spices

A well cooked meal of any item can be quite tasty, with or without meat. I bought a cookbook titled the Flexitarian Cook Book. It gives you delicious meat recipes and then gives you the same recipe made without meat and the recipes I have tried are very good. The idea is not to retrain your taste buds but to not even notice you have changed your diet. I tend to be vegetarian rather than vegan because it is so hard to balance the proteins and amino acids otherwise. If it were easier I would be vegan. I know if I took the time to research and plant the nutrition knowledge in my mind it would be much easier to be vegan. After a while it becomes second nature according to a vegan friend. Good luck with your diet changes.

[Bryn]

69. Try this Mexican Chef Salad (Vegetarian)

I read somewhere that you should go easy on your body because meat has been fed into you by your parents, others & yourself too long. Start to eat just chicken and fish then become vegetarian then vegan.

For Mexican Chef Salad which is very delicious and is very popular

In a big bowl (largest you can find)

Whole lettuce, shredded
Minced tomatoes (3 medium or 4 small ones)
One onion, chopped
One large cucumber, diced
One large can of red kidney beans or two small cans of same
2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
One large bag of tortilla chips, crushed before you add it to salad.
One bag of Morning Star "ground beef" (no cooking necessary). Do not try Boca "ground beef", it didn't taste good for that salad when I tried it. Be sure the brand name is Morning Star.

All mixed in same bowl. Mix well!

Use Kraft Catalina Salad dressing, it is best for this salad. In addition you can use hot pepper sauce.

Yummy! It's very popular for both vegetarians and meat eaters. It isn't Vegan because of cheese. I imagine that for vegans they can leave out cheese or use cheese substitute.

I am my mother's caretaker. She's 80 and a meat eater yet she loves this salad and would eat it for two days straight!

[Bryn]

75. In place of ground beef

It's too late for me to edit my post so I'd like to add this to make sure I am correct rather than just "Morning Star".

Morningstar Farms® Meal Starters™ Grillers® Recipe Crumbles™
Recipe-ready! Use instead of cooked ground beef.

[rucky]

70. I love tempeh

it's got the meat-like texture and it's fermented soy, so there's the health benefits there, too. Get creative with the seasonings, and you won't miss meat as much.

[RufusTFirefly]

74. Hickory smoked tempeh strips are kind of bacon-like

But I concur on seitan (aka "wheat meat") I cut it in thin strips and marinate it in soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. I prefer a seitan-and-vegetable stir fry, but you could use it to make a variety of things, including "beef" stroganoff.

Textured vegetable protein (TVP) has a similar consistency to ground beef. Cook it and season it just the way you would with ground beef. (Add your own E coli if you're feeling nostalgic for the real thing.)

And you'd be surprised how delicious and substantial concoctions with black beans can be. Including black bean burgers, which are delicious.

Be careful when you're buying tofu though. There are a lot of different kinds out there -- from soft to extra firm. From my own experience (and to some degree it still holds true) extra firm (sometimes called Chinese style) is the best "entry-level" tofu. Another fun thing you can do with tofu is freeze it first. Thaw it before you cook with it, and you'll find that you have something that is now much denser and chewier. Another good gateway tofu for refugees from the meat-eating world.

[YesGirl]

76. Kicking meat and dairy are easier than you may think!

Until you try some very tasty vegan meals, you won't know how delicious and satisfying living without meat and dairy products can be. I always thought I despised beans, until I learned how to cook with them and prepare exquisitely delicious dishes that are hearty, filling, and tantalizing to the taste buds. I don't know if you cook, but if you do, I highly recommend you get your hands on a couple of really great (and I mean great!) cookbooks like Veganomicon, Vegan Brunch, and The McDougall Quick and Easy Cookbook (or get them for the person who does the cooking at your house). You may be surprised to find that you can make very convincing facsimiles of things like omelettes without eggs and Sloppy Joes without meat. I make a vegan meat sauce for pasta that my hardcore carnivore mother says is the best meat sauce she's ever eaten!

Some very delicious products that make eating vegan easy and delicious are:

Gardein Chicken and Beef Analogs http://www.gardein.com/
Purely Decadent Made with Coconut Milk Ice Cream. (Better than dairy, imho.)
So Delicious Coconut Milk beverages, kefir, and coffee creamer. (You can get $1-off coupons for both So Delicious and Purely Decadent here: http://turtlemountain.com/products/coupon.html
Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternatives http://www.followyourheart.com/product-family.php?id=2 and Dr. Cow Tree Nut Cheeses http://www.dr-cow.com/
Soyatoo Whipped Topping http://www.soyatoo.de/us/?home

I encourage you to explore all of the delicious meat- and dairy-free alternatives out there and enjoy them!

[CrispyQ]

79. Here you go:

The recipe thread from the DU veg forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=231&topic_id=497&mesg_id=497

Here is another great veg recipe site: http://vegweb.com/

There are lots of meat replacement products that are amazingly meat like & quite good. However, most of these products are highly processed. I don't consider them whole food & we eat them only on occasion.

[GoCubsGo]

84. Black bean burgers--make your own

Since you seem to like Tex-Mex style, you might enjoy black bean burgers. My friend gave me this recipe. Her 10-year-old loves them, and you know how picky kids can be: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homemade-Black-Bean-Veggie-Burgers/Detail.aspx

There are tons of other bean and chickpea burger recipes on the net. You might also enjoy falafel, which is deep-fried chickpea balls. (There are also baked versions out there.) They're one of my most favorite dishes ever, as long as I don't think of Bill "Falafel/Loofah" O'Reilly.



On edit: Read the comments for variations on the bean burger recipe.

[GoCubsGo]

85. Also check out Dr. Dean Ornish...

Dr. Ornish's recipes are all vegetarian. Many are vegan. You could probably find a copy of his book "Eat More. Weigh Less" in a used book store. It's loaded with recipes. He has an associated cook book out called "Every Day Cooking." Google his name. There are a ton of web sites that have samples of some of his recipes.

[roughsatori]

86. I've been a strict vegetarian, not a Vegan most of my life.

I stopped eating all meat, fish, chicken,(and any food with their stock in them, etc.) as a child, against my parents wishes. They responded with anger and taunting. But I stuck it, I do not judge anyone who eats meat. My, one time partner lived with me for 7 years, he lived on steak and hamburgers: I just bought 2 sets of cookware. I don't like my spoons or pots to touch dead flesh.

I do think that Morning-Star fake soy Hot-dogs are the best tasting ones. They do taste just like I remember the real thing at age 8. (They are ridiculously expensive.)

There are a few brands of faux meatballs that are delicious, and some are fairly priced, if you look in the big grocery store--health-food stores are rip-offs as a whole.

I do love vanilla soy milk, almost any brand. Rice milk is too thin.

The fake slices of ham, baloney,etc. are awful.

Soy-curd when cubed and spiced and fried is very good.

I do love all the vegetarian hamburgers, but they don't really taste "just like" a hamburger. The Super-Thriftway around here even has a generic, cheap brand, that I eat as a side dish to my potatoes and veggies.

I love Tofurkey, overpriced as hell. But they make very good gravy. Read the labels in the supermarkets, they have packages of "Turkey" and "Beef" gravy. You will find a few that do not have a single meat, fish, chicken, by product.

Its actually really easy. Some of my best friends don't realize I am a vegetarian I never mention it--when they select a restaurant, I just go, and then order sides of potatoes, salad, etc. I don't get into grilling the waiter about ingredients, I use common sense. If anyone mentions it, I say I just am trying to lower fat intake, or lower cholesterol. If you tell the truth it turns into a hideously dull conversation, or they will berate you.

I have never had a desire to eat meat, fish, chicken since I stopped. That is unusual. But the idea of killing animals to eat grossed me out as a child and still does.

PS: Protein-combining ( combining foods with different combinations of amino-acid to make a higher protein content is very easy), don't let them fool you. Any idiot can remember to eat a peanut-butter sandwich with a glass of milk or soy-milk; or to mix rice with beans):But start easy, with the above kind of stuff.

Good-Luck. And if you have to have some meat once in a while that is fine, it's a start. Just never mention PETA or being a vegetarian as DU, the other DUers will have hate and distain for you than they do for the fact that we are in 2 unjustified wars that are bankrupting our country, as we give our tax dollars to the Bankers.

[OnyxCollie]

92. Praise Seitan.

I used to bake a seitan roll. It came out like salami.

[nemo137]

97. Seitan shreds like meat

One of the greatest things I've ever had is a barbecued seitan sandwich from the Palomino Grill in Milwaukee, and I'm not even veg. Seitan shreds the same way that pork does, making is a great substitute for things like tamale filling or tacos.

My other bit of advice is to not expect things to taste "just like meat." There are a bunch of great things to kind of get the texture, and a bunch of things that kind of get the taste, but really be prepared for different flavors and experiences.

Also, whoever suggested using vegemite as a flavor base was spot on.