Vegan meal

[dessiato]

If you're doing a Thai curry, just chek that none of the stuff includes fish - AFAIK Thai curry paste often includes prawns or shrimps. The other thing you may need to come up with is a substitute for nam pla.

I hadn't thought of that! Better check.

 

[alsoknownas]

I quite like that they've started writing FISH in capitals in Thai produce ingredient lists.

 

[JimW]

If you have a Chinese shop you could do a veg version of homestyle tofu: http://www.chinasichuanfood.com/home-style-tofu-tofu-stir-fry-recipe/ then rice and a couple of veg dishes, garlic fried greens of some sort is good.

 

[dessiato]

If you have a Chinese shop you could do a veg version of homestyle tofu: http://www.chinasichuanfood.com/home-style-tofu-tofu-stir-fry-recipe/ then rice and a couple of veg dishes, garlic fried greens of some sort is good.

That's another good idea. Trouble is the two hour round trip to go to the Chinese shop. But we have a Carrefour which just might have some.

 

[Greebo]

I hadn't thought of that! Better check.

I only just realised that most people aren't as used to checking the ingredients on food as I am.

FWIW if you had to do the base of the Thai curry from scratch, you could probably get away with using sweated onions (like you use for the base of a lot of Indian food) instead of the fish bit, as it seems to be there to give a sweetish-savoury note.

 

[Poot]

I only just realised that most people aren't as used to checking the ingredients on food as I am.

FWIW if you had to do the base of the Thai curry from scratch, you could probably get away with using sweated onions (like you use for the base of a lot of Indian food) instead of the fish bit, as it seems to be there to give a sweetish-savoury note.

Weirdly, a spoonful of brown sugar is great for balancing the flavour when you use coconut milk. But you also have to add plenty of soy sauce, I've found.

 

[Greebo]

Weirdly, a spoonful of brown sugar is great for balancing the flavour when you use coconut milk. But you also have to add plenty of soy sauce, I've found.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[ddraig]

Bumping the thread

A friend has just announced that he is now vegan. Before knowing this we'd invited him out for a meal as a thank you. What we are now thinking is to invite him for dinner, and to cook. We haven't got any veg or anything so will need to buy whatever is needed.

I love meat.

Any suggestions for a menu that will satisfy?

why do you feel the need to say you love meat on a thread about a vegan meal?
is your imagination that bad you can't picture or think of a meal without meat?

rice or rice noodles and roasted veg
pasta with veg
simple

i'm not vegan but tonight making rice with aubergine, squash, courgette, yellow pepper, red onion, spring onion and garlic

 

[gaijingirl]

I make vegan/veggy Thai curry very often (obviously without fish sauce) - but I do make the curry paste from scratch. I've never had a non-veggy one so I can't compare but i've not had any complaints from the omnivores eating it. It's really very easy, but it does take quite a few ingredients. I have lots of recipes here I could post up but i'm sure there will be some online too.

 

[Cid]

Another excuse to show off what I cooked for new years:

 

[gaijingirl]

I think you're in Spain no? Is your friend Spanish? If not you could do a lovely paella (I don't think I'd be brave enough to cook a paella for a Spanish person). If they are, then obviously something not Spanish would be more fun.

 

[ViolentPanda]

If you're doing a Thai curry, just chek that none of the stuff includes fish - AFAIK Thai curry paste often includes prawns or shrimps. The other thing you may need to come up with is a substitute for nam pla.

You can work in a substitute to nam pla by using two different grades of soy sauce in the cooking. Using a Thai soy sauce and a light Chinese soy sauce works.

 

[gaijingirl]

Cid - that looks lush.

 

[Cid]

Cid - that looks lush.

Indeed it was. I should probably post the recipes one day.

 

[Greebo]

why do you feel the need to say you love meat on a thread about a vegan meal?
is your imagination that bad you can't picture or think of a meal without meat?

<snip>i'm not vegan but tonight making rice with aubergine, squash, courgette, yellow pepper, red onion, spring onion and garlic

Funny you should say that - I was asked to do some cakes and other snacks at the weekend and accidentally came up with a small but reasonable choice of vegetarian things (one of which was also vegan) just by thinking about what might be wanted in warm and muggy weather.

 

[gaijingirl]

Indeed it was. I should probably post the recipes one day.

It looks very mezze like. This is one of my favourite things to make for guests (I always cook vegetarian/vegan) but I have to put aside a whole afternoon really for it. Usually a mixture of Ottolenghi and Honey & Co recipes (which Ms T put me on to - some really lovely recipes in that).

 

[Cid]

It looks very mezze like. This is one of my favourite things to make for guests (I always cook vegetarian/vegan) but I have to put aside a whole afternoon really for it. Usually a mixture of Ottolenghi and Honey & Co recipes (which Ms T put me on to - some really lovely recipes in that).

Yep, Ottolenghi and Claudia Roden based. I like this way of eating, tasting different stuff, passing it around etc. Masses of prep though.

 

[Greebo]

<snip>I like this way of eating, tasting different stuff, passing it around etc. Masses of prep though.

Worth it for special occasions though, or if you can rope in enough people to do the different bits.

 

[Poot]

I can't offer any advice because I'm off to Cid 's house for tea. Sorry Cid.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

In Spain? Maybe make a paella but substitute the meat for artichoke hearts and piquante peppers.

Or maybe Spanish stew made with chickpeas, artichoke hearts (instead of chicken) and thinly sliced smoked paprika roasted aubergine (instead of chorizo) - served with saffron rice.