I recently read a fabulous article which was very reflective of my approach to vegetarian cooking. Seek satisfaction at all costs!
Seriously, though. If you can keep your taste buds happy and get enough of the right kind of calories then you'll be a much more successful vegetarian. Make delicious meals that appeal to your palate and hunger level and you will come away from the table feeling truly satisfied and like you're not missing a thing!
Read the article below for some wonderful insight into umami, which is the largely unknown fifth taste identified by the Japanese, after bitter, salty, sour and sweet. It is found in a variety of foods such as dried mushrooms, ripe tomatoes, aged cheese, seaweed, fish and meats and can be described as mouthwateringly savory. Familiarizing yourself with its sources and focusing on incorporating those foods into your recipes will help you a great deal when you're first becoming vegetarian or vegan. And for those of you who've been cooking veg for years, adding some umami elements to the dishes you love to make will surprise you in new and amazing ways. I've been experimenting with my Thai dishes, which I've always felt have been a little weak due to the absence of seafood. I'll post some recipes when they're completed. For now, try out some of the recipes in the article or experiment on your own. And by all means, share the love if you create something that makes you swoon.
The Secret Life of Veggies by Eric Gower: http://www.breakawaycook.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/yoga-journal-article.pdf
It looks like this this mysterious umami is the ingredient of satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteI like the word itself: u-mami which almost sounds like u-mamy which means "at mum's".