My dad was a chef in the Navy which means he travelled a lot. During his tours in south-east Asia and north-east towards Hong Kong, he discovered many delights that were not known or popular in Australia at the time. One of these was tofu. I remember he used to cook tofu and bean curd when I was little, and he could only find it in one shop in the city we lived in.
In this month’s Vegan View, I have found loads of veggie-based delights that are now making headway in the Australian mainstream. Here are some of my favourites.
Make it crispy, salty, and peppery!
My love affair with tofu stems to some of the crispiest versions around. And nothing beats a good salt and pepper tofu recipe. I love ordering salt and pepper tofu when I can at restaurants, but Mindfood’s recipe with pickled cucumber will surely keep the cravings at bay in between.
Minimise food waste when you’re shopping for fresh produce.
Is it too hard? Is it too soft? Does it have to be that wrinkly? Buying fresh produce can be a precarious process when you don’t know what to look for in a piece of fruit or bunch of veg. ABC Everyday decided to get Thanh the Fruit Nerd on to the case for you. In the article, you can learn how to pick the best produce and some tasty alternatives to traditional breeds.
Step aside breakfast burrito! Make way for vegan breakfast tacos.
What I love about WellBeing’s recipe for Vegan Breakfast Tacos is that it features brekkie faves like avocado, plus you can get soft taco shells in the supermarket that are also gluten-free. Such a protein-packed breakfast to fuel up your day, and it gives you a little spice kick.
There’s another chef that’s putting veg on the map.
Yes, Jamie Oliver has never been shy when it comes to featuring veggies. In his new series on SBS – Jamie’s Ultimate Veg – he sets off to parts of the world for the best veggie recipes across cuisines. I do hope he adds some vegan recipes to the repertoire.
For the home cooks who don’t know what to do at Christmas
People sometimes freak out when they need to cook for a vegan, especially when it’s Christmas time. Home cooks can now elevate their vegan options with this article from ABC. There is a range of recipes that will cover every course on the day, and more!
Keep the festive vegan dinner celebrations going.
SBs Food sure knows how to throw a party. If you’re looking for ideas in the lead-up to the festive season, then this article will take you around the world with drool-worthy meal options. You won’t even have to leave the house (except for the ingredients shopping).
A party isn’t a party without chocolate.
Speaking of favourite foods, who couldn’t forget chocolate? The warmer months are fast approaching which means you need a decent ice cream recipes to satisfy the chocoholics. Why not try a vegan chocolate ginger ice cream that will go perfect with a side of summer berries.
If you’re still hungry, take a tour of Melbourne’s best vegan restaurants!
Time Out did well with this list of 10 of Melbourne’s best. It features some of my all-vegan time favourites like Ballard’s, Shu, and Red Sparrow. There are also some I’m yet to drive to like Maha. I suggest booking out a few weekends and try all of them.
