Whether due to dietary restrictions or political reasons, some people love good meat alternatives. In some cases, a doctor has placed an individual on a diet, others prefer to eat vegan or vegetarian due to political beliefs. Whatever the case, there are both store bought and homemade versions of garden veggie patties and other items.
As with traditional foods, some recipes are better than others. In all cases, there is a base mixture and a binder. Once this mixture has been made, individuals can add a variety of sauce and spice for more flavor. By using a binder such as an egg or egg alternative in the mix, these burgers and steaks often fry up beautifully without falling apart.
The main ingredients for these homemade burgers include equal parts of lentils, oats and rice and a binder such as eggs or egg based alternatives. Individuals can then add other vegetables such as bell peppers, onions and greens as desired. If desiring a veggie chicken fried steak, simply leave out the vegetables, freeze the patties for 24 hours, then dredge in flour and fry in a shallow non-stick skillet with a small amount of cooking oil. As with traditional versions, the left over oil can then be used to make a brown or country style gravy.
Most grocery stores and markets sell a variety of meat alternatives. Whereas, most health food stores now offer several vegetable seafood alternatives. As these seafood alternatives are far more difficult to recreate than veggie burgers or chicken alternatives, most prefer to purchase rather than recreate these items.
For those who can afford to buy these store bought versions, it is often easier and takes far less time to prepare. Others, who can not afford many of these high priced alternatives may want to attempt making these and other items at home. When it comes to sausage, the recipe is basically the same as home made vegetable burgers, just add a touch of black pepper and about two tablespoons of sage to the mix.
When it comes to chicken alternatives, these items can be used in more than just sandwiches. For example, to make a faux fried chicken salad, simply cut up one or two patties into cubes, then add to a garden or other lettuce based salad. One can also make lettuce wraps with these and other ingredients simply by crumbling the cooked patties then adding condiments and vegetables as desired.
A number of individuals prefer to use different spices when making these alternative foods. In addition, spices should be based on the type of food being recreated. For example, when creating veggie sausage, it is often good to use spices such as sage, thyme and coriander. Whereas, when making veggie steaks, it can be good to use liquid smoke, steak sauce or maple spice.
Storage and freezing are an important part of the process. For, while the patties can be cooked right away, it is less likely each will fall apart if fried while frozen. Many home chefs now use store-bought containers left over from other items to store these meat alternatives. One of the most important aspects of a container is that it is air tight once sealed to avoid freezer burn.
As with traditional foods, some recipes are better than others. In all cases, there is a base mixture and a binder. Once this mixture has been made, individuals can add a variety of sauce and spice for more flavor. By using a binder such as an egg or egg alternative in the mix, these burgers and steaks often fry up beautifully without falling apart.
The main ingredients for these homemade burgers include equal parts of lentils, oats and rice and a binder such as eggs or egg based alternatives. Individuals can then add other vegetables such as bell peppers, onions and greens as desired. If desiring a veggie chicken fried steak, simply leave out the vegetables, freeze the patties for 24 hours, then dredge in flour and fry in a shallow non-stick skillet with a small amount of cooking oil. As with traditional versions, the left over oil can then be used to make a brown or country style gravy.
Most grocery stores and markets sell a variety of meat alternatives. Whereas, most health food stores now offer several vegetable seafood alternatives. As these seafood alternatives are far more difficult to recreate than veggie burgers or chicken alternatives, most prefer to purchase rather than recreate these items.
For those who can afford to buy these store bought versions, it is often easier and takes far less time to prepare. Others, who can not afford many of these high priced alternatives may want to attempt making these and other items at home. When it comes to sausage, the recipe is basically the same as home made vegetable burgers, just add a touch of black pepper and about two tablespoons of sage to the mix.
When it comes to chicken alternatives, these items can be used in more than just sandwiches. For example, to make a faux fried chicken salad, simply cut up one or two patties into cubes, then add to a garden or other lettuce based salad. One can also make lettuce wraps with these and other ingredients simply by crumbling the cooked patties then adding condiments and vegetables as desired.
A number of individuals prefer to use different spices when making these alternative foods. In addition, spices should be based on the type of food being recreated. For example, when creating veggie sausage, it is often good to use spices such as sage, thyme and coriander. Whereas, when making veggie steaks, it can be good to use liquid smoke, steak sauce or maple spice.
Storage and freezing are an important part of the process. For, while the patties can be cooked right away, it is less likely each will fall apart if fried while frozen. Many home chefs now use store-bought containers left over from other items to store these meat alternatives. One of the most important aspects of a container is that it is air tight once sealed to avoid freezer burn.
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