Great vegan recipe wanted

[Celebration]

My daughter is getting married and wants a choice between chicken and vegetarian dish for the reception. The caterer is having problems with the vegetarian part. I am thinking we need some sort of vegan bean dish, going ALL OUT, just for my nephew's wife. I was thinking of actually getting a recipe from her, but I know we would have to add salt, LOL, and she's a bit of a control freak.

I suggested lentil stew to the caterer, who thought that was too "hot" for July. She is probably right. This is really a pretty tiny wedding. There may be as many as four or five vegetarians, and one vegan there. I told the caterer I might make the vegan meal. Unfortunately, lentil stew is my only vegan recipe. Suggestions, please????

[davsand]

1. I rarely do vegan, however I do want to give you a link to a vegan chef site:

http://www.veganchef.com/

She has several different recipes on there that look pretty good to me--they don't look bland or boring (which is the biggest beef I have had with some of the vegan stuff I have had at potlucks...)

In any event, I'm betting you can find something on there that will fill the bill for you or the caterer.

One recipe I do want to point out, is she shows a recipe for Baja Black Bean Cakes with Spicy Sweet Potato sauce that sounds quite nice:

Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce:

2 cups sweet potato, peeled, and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup tomato juice
1/4 cup Red Chile Sauce
2 T. lime juice
1/4 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. cinnamon
2 T. freshly chopped cilantro
salt, to taste

Black Bean Cakes:

1 - 15 oz. can black beans, drained, and rinsed
1 t. chili powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1 cup red pepper, destemmed, deseeded, and finely diced
1/2 cup green onion, thinly sliced
2 T. jalapeno pepper, destemmed, deseeded, and finely diced
3 T. freshly chopped cilantro
2 T. lime juice
1/2 cup unbleached flour, divided
2 T. cornmeal
dash of chili powder
safflower oil
1 recipe of Green Chiles and Almond Cream


Begin by preparing the Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce: place the cubed sweet potatoes in a steamer basket and steam them for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Allow the sweet potatoes to cool for 10 minutes. Transfer them to a food processor or blender, add the tomato juice, Red Chile Sauce, lime juice, cumin, and cinnamon, and process until smooth. Transfer the sauce to a small saucepan, add the cilantro, season to taste with salt, and stir well to combine. Warm the sauce over low heat while preparing the Baja Black Bean Cakes.

In a medium bowl, place the black beans, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Using a potato masher or fork, roughly mash the mixture to combine. Add the red pepper, green onion, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, and lime juice, and stir well to combine. On a plate, place 1/4 cups flour, cornmeal, and dash of chili powder, stir well to combine, and set aside. Add the remaining flour to the black bean mixture and stir well to combine. Using a 1/4 cups measuring cup, portion the mixture into 8 patties, and place them on a large plate. Chill the bean cakes for 30 minutes or more in the refrigerator.

Lightly oil a non-stick cookie sheet with a little safflower oil and set aside. Coat the chilled cakes in the reserved flour/cornmeal mixture and place them on the cookie sheet. Brush a little safflower oil on the tops of each bean cake. Bake them at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp on the outside. Top individual servings of the bean cakes with some of the Spicy Sweet Potato Sauce and a dollop of the Green Chiles and Almond Cream.

*Note: the Baja Black Bean Cakes can also be served with a little Red Chile Sauce drizzled over the bean cake and then topped with a spoonfuls of Avocado, Black Bean, and Tomato Salsa.

Yield: 8 bean cakes or 3-4 servings



Good luck!

Laura

[Celebration]

3. Thanks!

That is a good start

:hi:

[northernlights]

8. omg that looks delicious!!!!!

Fruit soups can make a nice addition in July. Use local fruits in season, such as blueberries, or strawberries, or peaches...or some nice combination. Mix them in blender with soymilk and ice, season with cinnamon and nutmeg (brown sugar if you're using raspberries). Delicious on the side.

Or for a savory side soup, steam or sautee summer squash and onions or leeks with olive oil, season with just salt and pepper, and mix in the blender with some ice.

[MagickMuffin]

2. Here's some ideas

I'm a vegetarian, but not a vegan.

I use a lot of soy products like soy "chicken" and soy "ground meat" and make all kinds on dishes.

One dish that is relatively easy is soy chicken pot pie. I have done this a one big pie, and I have also used the filling as mini pies.

Peel and cube potatoes, carrots, peas and cook in water until tender.

Saute onion, bell pepper, and whatever spices you like, along with the chicken in butter, add a few Tablespoons of flour and coat everything in the pan. Add milk to pan, and then the cooked veggies.

While everything is cooling down, cut out biscuit size pie dough ( I usually buy the pie dough ) after you have a few cook out add the filling, top with the top crust, be sure to moisten the bottom crust, so the top will stick to it. Add slits to the top and bake until golden brown.


I also made a soy chicken and dumplings that turned out really well.

Here's a thread from C&B forum Indian cooking with Manjula link for videos. Manjula is a vegetarian cook.


Let me know if you would like other ideas.


Congratulations to your daughter.

[davsand]

10. I have never tried the veggie chicken up to now.

I had not talked to anyone that has used it, nor have I tasted it. I'm thinking I'll have to give it a try now.

I have, however, used soy burgers and the veggie crumbles in any number or dishes with really good success. The only thing I find different about cooking with that is the need for additional spicing. (Veggie crumbles make AWESOME chili if you ever find yourself in a pinch for a veg meal, BTW. I have even used and served that veggie chili at a chili cook-off!)

I had wondered about suggesting a dish for the wedding that used the soy burger--but I keep coming back to the idea that I probably would not serve ground meat at am upscale meal--why would I suggest the veg version for anything as special as a wedding? (I suppose you COULD use it in some sort of veg Italian dish--but personally, if it was me, I'd probably do some sort of savory squash stuffed ravioli in a light roasted red pepper /(soy) cream sauce rather than do anything like a faux meat sauce--ya know?)

I love food (probably explains why my butt is as big as it is...) and planning a menu for any sort of catered affair poses a real challenge for me because often catered food just can't match the stuff you do at home and serve immediately.

Thanks for the suggestion on the veggie chicken!


Laura

[MagickMuffin]

14. Veggie chicken is pretty darn good

Some things to consider.

When I make "chicken & dumplings" I let it sit and thaw out so that it is easier to cut into smaller pieces. I also do this when making pot pie.

I have also made fried chicken strips. I make an egg and milk bath, first coat it in flour, dredge it in bath then back in the flour. It's really good with gravy and mashed potatoes.

We make Mexican, Asian, Italian, and Indian dishes. Well everything that you make with traditional chicken dishes, you can use soy chicken.

One last thing it does come with added seasoning, however, I still add my own.



Yep, Crumbles makes excellent Chili. Our local Dem Party had a Chili Cook Off. I made Ba-Rocking vegetarian chili. I didn't win, but another vegetarian chili did.

I make a wonderful Shepard's pie and have served it to meat eaters and they are always very impressed that it isn't real meat. I have also used Crumbles in stuffed Poblano peppers, and top it off with a cilantro cream sauce. I also had rave reviews with this dish among my friends.

Glad I was able to give you some additional ideas. If you want any of my recipes just let me know, I love sharing :hi:

[Kind of Blue]

4. Hey, about checking out the vegetarian, vegan group?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=231
My 15year old step daughter just became a vegetarian and I've been checking out the group for ideas and how to handle the switch. I'm sure they'll have some great ideas.
And congratulations on the upcoming wedding. How exciting!

[Why Syzygy]

5. Just a note..

Awhile back I read a thread in the Lounge written by a vegan who had attended a business function.
They had ordered him a vegan meal, grilled vegetables. But, the grill had also been used to grill meat.
So, he wouldn't eat it. If the caterer is going to do the preparation, and she is a strict vegan,
he'll have to make sure that it's prepared completely separate from anything that has had contact with
non-vegan foods.

Good luck!

[elleng]

6. Oy, like Kosher!

.

[LaurenG]

7. I agree , check the veg forum. Here is the link to the recipe thread.

There are many recipes that can be altered to be vegan, try substituting vegan ingredients, like soy milk for milk, earth balance margarine for butter and egg replacements for eggs. Silk makes yogurt now so there is soy yogurt to use as well.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=231&topic_id=497&mesg_id=497

http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=recipecategories - I've had good luck with the most of the recipes I've made from here as well.

Oh and I saw this show the other day on PBS, the chef is vegan. http://www.christinacooks.com/myshow.html

Also, you could PM "leftymom" she's been vegan for a while and has some great ideas and knows where to find all things vegan.

:hi:

[Celebration]

9. Thanks everyone!!

It sort of came to me that I might need to get Whole Foods to make something, and just get the caterer to serve it. Anyway, we have to order the invitations, and I think I will put Vegetarian TBA as the choice, leaving open the option of vegetarian and not vegan (but probably not). I doubt if any more than four or five people order it, so I am not going to stress over it.

Lots of great ideas here. I hadn't even thought about a vegan group!

For the rehearsal dinner the vegetarians will get to order a vege burger, LOL.

[MagickMuffin]

15. I noticed I left out the link in my previous post about Indian dishes (videos) in the C&B forum

:blush:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=236&topic_id=46322

[WhiteTara]

11. the cooking forum is where you might

want to ask this question. Some incredible cooks there.

[Coyote_Bandit]

12. Don't forget

if you do appetizers to include a vegan alternative. Maybe some roasted red pepper hummus dip with raw veggies .....

[Celebration]

18. vegetarian spring rolls

Is what the caterer offered. We're going with that, but I doubt seriously if my niece in law will eat it. She rarely eats anything where she doesn't interview the cook. That's why I am thinking of going the Whole Foods route.

[dynasaw]

13. Quinoa Salad

http://almostfit.com/2008/06/13/gluten-free-summer-quinoa-salad/

Quinoa is delicious, high in protean but gluten free.

[Matariki]

16. Definitely check the vegetarian/vegan forum

also an internet search will yield lots of good recipes. Eggplant is a good choice, or portobello mushroom steaks, or something made with seitan.

[Celebration]

17. Eggplant parmesan

Without the parmesan

:rofl:

Seriously, my daughter was going to go with eggplant parmesan but we need to vegan I think, just for this one night.

[Why Syzygy]

19. Could you ask her for suggestions? (n-i-l) nt

[Celebration]

20. she would love it

but it would be too bland for any of the other vegetarians there, and believe me, she would notice if we changed anything.

One problem is that planning stuff like this is way out of my skill set and I occasionally enter freak out mode.

Thanks, everyone, for putting up with this thread here!! I promise not to post off topic for another month or so, at least.

[Matariki]

21. Both eggplant and portobello mushrooms can be prepared very 'meat-like'

Here, some of these recipes look really good: http://vegweb.com/index.php/board,451.0.html

Crunchy Eggplant with Spicy Sauce
Eggplant Rolls
and yes, even a vegan Eggplant 'Parmesan' ;-)


I just did a google search for vegan eggplant recipes...

[crikkett]

22. The vegetarian entree at my wedding was stuffed bell peppers

and it was a good thing that my husband made 2x as many as our vegetarian guests because they were snatched up by the omnivores too.

[Celebration]

23. aha, that sound like something the caterer could make!!

Thanks! You could easily stuff bell peppers with vegan stuff. I like it!!

I already ordered the invitations and just put vegetarian entree as the selection. Once we pick it we can put it on the website, though.