What a month, Travellers. Macca’s put out a plant-based burger here in Victoria that could be veganised just by taking off a couple of toppings. However, according to much commentary, the plant-based burgers are apparently cooked on the same grill as non-vegan ingredients. No wonder some people are thinking the burgers taste so authentic.
I admit, Macca’s is trying their best but I think more needs to be done. Macca’s needs to consider using vegan mayo and cheese and allocating as separate grill to cooking plant-based burgers. There may also be other ethical issues Macca’s needs to address.
I stopped eating Macca’s in my mid-20’s; way before I became vegan. Would I eat it now? No. Why? Cross-contamination issues, lack of vegan coeliac options, seriously low prices that – in my view – may come at a price for the rest of its supply chain and workers, excessive rubbish and packaging, potential animal welfare issues…What’s your view on the subject?
On a brighter note or two, here’s the latest round-up on vegan and veganised food and travel news from around the internet.
Yes, you know you want the broccoli stems
I heard something quite disturbing this month about broccoli. Yes, the broccoli price has gone up here in Australia but there was something a little more disturbing. People at the supermarkets are snapping the stems right off and just paying for the florets. What is this world coming to? Seriously…?
All you need to do is chop off the raggedy end then slice the stem into strips and you’re good to for a stir-fry. Or, you just slice the florets with longer stems and you have yourself imitation broccolini ready for your steamer! These are two ways I like to do it.
If you want some other ways which are just as yum and quick, then check out this round-up by SBS Food. If you come across anything that’s not vegan, just veganise it. Trust yourself, you know how. And you can already cook with broccoli stems.
They go perfectly with their cruciferous friend, the cauliflower
There’s a delicious recipe for Vegan Sweet & Sour Cauliflower with Fried Brown Rice over at Mindfood right now. No veganising is required here, but just replace the snake beans with broccoli stems. Simple!
Tempeh is getting the attention it deserves this month, too.
I was getting pretty hungry when I read about the many benefits of tempeh this month over at Wellbeing. I was also pining over vegan travel past, especially during my time in Indonesia. If you ever want to eat the best tempeh you have ever tasted, then head to Indonesia. The locals know what they’re doing, particularly in Bali.
You can also read about my vegan experience at Manik Organik in Bali here.
Level up your backpack snacks with this nut and seed bar
We all know that hiking can be hungry business, especially when you’re out on the trails for hours. But are you getting tired of the same bars and snacks? Why not make your own? The smart cookies over at eat.live.escape have delivered a delectable treat that you can pack in your backpack.
This recipe is packed with energy-fuelling ingredients and topped with a smearing of dark chocolate decadence. Dried fruits complete the look and the taste factor. Just make sure your chocolate is vegan because the rest of the ingredients list is.
Or, why not turn your hike into a barbecue session
If you go to a picnic ground with epic hiking trails, then why not pack a barbecue lunch? Just make some chickpea burgers in advance and pack the rest of your bag with burger essentials – lettuce, tomato, vegan cheese, vegan burger sauce, vegan buns…
Take the guesswork and risk of cross-contamination out of the equation and just do it yourself. Your ethics will thank you for it, too. Thanks to The Daily Good for pointing to A Couple of Cooks’ ‘best chickpea burgers’ recipe.
Wanna travel vegan O.S? Here’s where!
Borders are opening up and travellers are itching to get out there in the wider world. So, if you need to travel vegan, or ever wanted to, then head over to Matador Network.
The website has curated a list of places to go and vegan foods to try. They recommend you head to their top 5:
- India
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Vietnam
- Israel
The article does lean towards vegetarians so make sure you do your vegan travel research before you book those flights.
