Let's talk Vegan Cooking
The Main Course
Allow plenty of time when preparing vegan meals, as it is of the essence. This is particularly true when preparing the main course for a substantial dinner meal. As with anything, more time will be required for "newbie" vegans who are not as familiar the prep methods for the exotic foods. Remember, there is a margin of error and a learning curve - you will probably mess the recipes up at first, and that's OK!
vegan casserole
While some vegan casseroles can take up to two and a half hours to prepare, the average time is about an hour and 15 minutes. Casseroles are great because you can make them ahead of time and freeze them for quick and easy access later and you will have plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day. A soy-based meat substitute like tempeh is a common ingredient in vegan casseroles and other vegan main dishes. Tempeh is a firmer and more flavorful soy product than tofu and it packs more protein, dietary fiber and vitamins.
tempeh - Meat Substitute
With its nutty, yet meaty flavor, tempeh can be used in breakfast dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches and stir-fry dishes, just to name a few. It is a versatile product that is usually prepared by dicing, then soaking it in a brine solution before pan-frying it. Tempeh is also very conducive to freezing, which works well with the vegan casserole idea.
Tempeh and Grilled Veggie Fajitas
tofu
Tofu, made of coagulated soy milk, is another popular staple in vegan meals. It is not to be confused with seitan, also called wheat gluten, which looks a bit like tofu when cooked.
pasta aficionados
For pasta aficionados, a wide variety of vegan pasta dishes are available, with olive oil and garlic heavily into many such recipes. There are also a host of bread recipes to compliment such dishes - for instance, the sun-dried tomato olive bread, which incorporates such spices as basil, oregano, parsley and garlic.
vegan meal planning
Although vegan meal planning takes a lot more time and can run up a considerably higher grocery bill, it is a fun process. Quality takes time and our bodies reflect the care we do - or do not - take with our diets. An investment of time and research into developing a healthy, balanced meal plan will bring long-term rewards of a better body and more positive overall outlook on life.
