plantbasedrebel

[plantbasedrebel]

Discovering New Ingredients on a Plant Based Diet

Ok, so I was ready to start cooking. Looking through recipes there were plenty of foods I recognised and others I didn't know about yet. There were things like pasta, potatoes and pitta breads. Some of the lovely carbs that I know well. I have been a keen cook for most of my life but I was learning there was so much more to the plant based pantry. I intend to break down my findings for you, in a not-too-factual sounding way.

When I thought about plant based meals I had visions of lots of porridge and many things with chickpeas in them. Yes there are oats and also the chickpeas but let me tell you a bit about what else I have discovered.

We'll start with one of the absolute basics and a favourite in our home: the humble Tofu. Made from soybeans it is a source of complete protein, rich in calcium and magnesium and low in calories. Reasonably priced and available almost everywhere it is a very useful ingredient. Tofu doesn't have a strong flavour of its own so we can go to town and dress it up with our favourite herb and spice mixes, simple soy sauce or a mouthwatering marinade. Used in stir fries and curries it holds it shape and texture really nicely. It can be fried, baked, scrambled, grilled, breaded, crumbled and sautéed but don't let these suggestions limit you. It really is as simple as opening the pack, giving it a little rinse and patting it dry with some kitchen paper or a clean dry towel and you are good to go. It does not need much cooking, just a warming through, so it can be added closer to the end of the making of a curry for example and for this I would chop it into bite size chunks.

I would encourage you to try cooking a dish using Tofu as your source of protein and see how you get on. Adapt a recipe and give it a go. A personal favourite of mine is to scramble the Tofu (crush the bite sized chunks with the back of a fork), add mixed dried herbs and a pinch or two of turmeric, sauté in a pan with a little sunflower oil and serve on some hot buttered (I use Flora plant-based) wholemeal toast for a tasty weekend breakfast.

My main aim with this blog is to demystify the Plant Based diet and I'm looking forward to sharing more with you next time.

[plantbasedrebel]

Getting started with a Plant Based diet

I looked at ingredients in local heath food shops, searched online, and found some new accounts to follow on Instagram... all for some new food and recipe inspiration. Luckily there was a lot of information out there, but maybe just a little bit too much. I found it hard to trawl through the myriad of curries, stews and chillies using all these new ingredients such as TVP, Seitan and Plant Based Aminos (Don't worry if you don't recognise these either... I'm here to demystify if you'll remember my mission statement from my first blog post).

One of the first things I did was think about the foods and flavours I already enjoyed and decided to make plant based versions. I started with something from my childhood which was Shepherd's pie. This was a traditional dish in our household and it is a comforting and filling meal. I listed the ingredients the original recipe called for and I only needed to make some simple swaps to make this a fully plant based recipe. I replaced the meat element with green lentils to create the rich and hearty stew. The rest of a Shepherd's pie is already plant based (potato, carrots, ) It was the simple introduction of lentils and dairy free butter that completed the .As with all cooking and baking the right blend of herbs and spices can make or break a meal. I stick to the traditional flavours because we are so attached to them

[plantbasedrebel]

Getting Started on a Plant Based Journey

I was excited. I looked at ingredients in my local grocery stores, searched through various websites, watched YouTube videos, and followed some very nice looking accounts on Instagram... all for some new food and recipe inspiration. Luckily there was a lot of information out there, but maybe just a little bit too much to digest in one sitting.

I found it hard to trawl through the myriad of curries, stews and chillies using unfamiliar ingredients such as TVP, Seitan and Nutritional Yeast. I did not know what they were, or where to buy them, let alone have them to hand in my kitchen. With all this new information to take in, I felt slightly confused. How can I eat a balanced and healthy diet relying solely on plants and unusual sounding new ingredients? I needed this to be simplified.

I began to think about the foods and flavours I already enjoyed. I decided to make plant based versions of those. I got started with a Shepherd's pie. This is a dish I grew up with and is a comforting and hearty meal everyone in the family can enjoy. I realised that very few changes were needed to make this a fully plant based recipe. Green lentils became the star of the show as they have a good texture, are filling and nutritious. The rest of the recipe was already plant based (potato, carrots, peas, vegetable stock, garlic and herbs). It was the simple introduction of lentils and dairy free butter for the creamy mash that completed the dish. It was a success.

Now that I had created a delicious meal that was similar to one I already knew, things started to feel much more achievable. Never satisfied with the status quo, I wanted to know what all these new and unusual sounding ingredients were all about, what they tasted like and how to use them.

[plantbasedrebel]

What is a Plant-Based diet?

This blog is about my journey and experiences cooking and eating healthy food with my family.

I’m a passionate cook and I aim to take the mystery out of what a plant based diet means. If you are interested I'd like to show you how to do it too.

The Plant Based diet is made up of a variety of grains such as oats, barley, quinoa, bulgar wheat, buckwheat, and rice, legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils, vegetables, fruit, dairy-free versions of milk, cheese and yoghurt, pasta, bread, nuts, seeds and much more. 

I would also like to mention the benefits I have experienced are a noticeable increase in energy levels and all round well-being since committing to eating this way. *Please enter a little disclaimer here about how I can't promise everyone will feel this way.

We simply need to know what to look out for and where, plan ahead and ensure we are reaching our nutritional needs. This goes for any food based plan we follow. It doesn't take long to source all your favourite ingredients based on price, availability and personal choices. We are creatures of habit and usually settle on a series of dishes we enjoy that may vary throughout the seasons. I think of soups and stews more in the winter and lighter meals in the summer. It would be interesting for you to take a look in your kitchen cupboards and fridge right now to see what kind of variety you are currently eating. 

The foods that I choose not to consume are ones that are made from or contain animal products. The "why" is not very important here as I feel everyone will have their own personal reasons for not consuming animal products. I focus on what we can eat instead of what we cannot.