Bryanna Clark Grogan’s Vegan Feast Kitchen/ 23rd Century Table

BRYANNA'S "FRIED CHICKEN" SALAD

12 oz. reconstituted Soy Curls® (use the largest ones you have) (4 oz. dry, soaked in hot chicken-style vegetarian broth),  (See butlerfoods.com for where to buy or order Soy Curls in your area. See Cooking Tips, below, for more info.)

IF YOU HAVE NO SOY CURLS®, use 4 cups slices of "chicken" seitan
whole wheat flour for dredging
1/2 cup soy or nut milk curdled with 1/2 Tbs. vinegar or lemon juice

Panko Breading: (mix well)
1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 tsp garlic granules
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
freshly-ground black pepper to taste

Salad:
6 cups organic baby greens
2 cups sliced roasted beets
1/2 cup "Blue Cheese" Sheese, crumbled (an alternative would be Tofu Feta from the Jun/Jul 05 VF)

Vegan "Honey"-Mustard Dressing:

(3/4 cup Eggless Low-fat Mayonnaise
http://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.com/2006/09/modernvegan-blt-sandwich-heaven.html
or Tofu Mayonnaise)
http://www.bryannaclarkgrogan.com/page/page/661699.htm #august18,2003
(or use Vegannaise, if you don't mind the calories!)
1/4 cup agave nectar
2 Tbs smooth Dijon mustard

 PANKO BREADCRUMBS:
Panko are Japanese breadcrumbs noted for their crunchy texture, which is lighter and crispier than regular breadcrumbs. You can find them in most supermarkets now (look near the fish department in
some stores), or Asian grocery stores. Or but online from many online Asian grocery outlets, such as
http://www.mingspantry.com/

WHOLEWHEAT PANKO BREAD CRUMBS ARE AVAILABLE:
Look for Ian's Whole Wheat Panko Breadcrumbs. Amazon is one venue that sells them online.

TO MAKE YOUR OWN PANKO, see Cooking Tips below.

 To cook the Soy Curls®:
Set up shallow bowls with the whole wheat flour, curdled soymilk, and Panko Breading
mixture in a line on your counter (see picture). Dredge the Soy Curls® in flour, then dip
in the curdled soymilk, and then roll in the Panko Breading mixture. Place each piece on
a cookie sheet, not touching the others. Oct/Nov/Dec 07 Vegan Feast 48

 Now you can pan-fry the pieces in a little hot oil in a nonstick skillet, cooking until
golden brown on all sides, and draining them on paper towels,
OR you can bake them on dark cookie sheets, sprayed with oil from a pump sprayer (and
spray the top of the Soy Curl® pieces, too), at 500° F for about 10 minutes on each side,
or until golden brown and crispy.

While they cook, assemble the salads, dividing the greens between 4 salad bowls, and
distributing the beets and Sheese evenly around the edges of the bowls. Pile the hot Soy
Curls® in the center of each salad.

Whisk the Dressing ingredients together well and drizzle over the salad. Serve
immediately.
Serves 4

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 362.8 calories; 30% calories from fat; 12.5g total fat; 0.0mg
cholesterol; 898.0mg sodium; 512.7mg potassium; 48.9g carbohydrates; 7.6g fiber; 23.8g
sugar; 41.3g net carbs; 18.3g protein; 7.5 points.

If you used wholewheat panko, the Nutrition Facts are:
366.4 calories; 30% calories from fat; 12.7g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 881.7mg
sodium; 512.7mg potassium; 49.6g carbohydrates; 8.5g fiber; 24.1g sugar; 41.1g net
carbs; 19.0g protein; 7.6 points.

SOME VARIED SHELF-STABLE VEGAN PROTEIN SOURCES

nutritional yeast flakes
sprouted grain breads (See my recipe for making your own at home.)
textured soy protein (TVP)-- granules, chunks or slices that can be rehydrated in broth.

Here's my recipe for making burgers, burger crumbles or "meatballs" with TVP. And here's another vegan "meatball" recipe made with TVP that can be made in quantity and frozen. (They are purposely dry, so that you can cook them in a sauce or broth, where they "plump up" nicely.) 

Butler Soy Curls (Used instead of meat or chicken. I rehydrate Soy Curls in a hot vegan broth before using.) List of Soy Curls Recipes and Soy Curls Info

Mori-Nu Silken Tofu in asceptic (UHT) boxes (firm, medium-firm, and extra-firm)
(Unfortunately not available in Canada anymore!)

Here are some tofu, tempeh, and simple seitan recipes I developed for Alive magazine.

soymilk or other vegan milks in 1 quart or 1 Litre asceptic or UHT (ultra heat treated) boxes. 
"How long does unopened shelf-stable soy milk last at room temperature? Properly stored, unopened shelf-stable soy milk will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 4 weeks after the date on the package when stored at room temperature."  
From https://www.stilltasty.com/Fooditems/index/19077
(NOTE: Soymilk contains far more protein than almost all other plant-based milks, except pea milk-- see https://www.livekindly.co/which-vegan-milk-has-the-most-protein/)

One more:
Vital Wheat Gluten: This is what you need to make seitan or "wheat meat". Do not make the mistake of buying something called "Gluten flour".  It sometimes is the same as vital wheat gluten, but sometimes it is gluten flour mixed with ordinary wheat flour.)

NOTE: Most vegans make use of tofu and seitan (made from high-protein vital wheat gluten), as well as beans and grains, but there are many more vegan sources of protein. Here's a good link: https://www.jessicagavin.com/vegan-protein-sources/ 



                                            WHOLE GRAINS

To go along with your vegan proteins, for breakfast, or to add to soups, some of the best staples are whole grains, which are generally inexpensive. Here is a list of the ones I keep in my pantry:

Must-Haves:
rolled oats (These are the most versatile, but you may prefer quick oats or Scotch oats for a hot cereal. All can be ground into flour in a dry blender.)
cornmeal;  corn grits; Italian polenta
bulgur wheat (medium is the most versatile)
pearl barley, which is quick-cooking, and/or pot barley, which takes longer 
(Barley is great in soups and can be ground into a flour in your blender.)

Various kinds of rice are a must in my house:
converted (parboiled) rice, (Here's an article about the health benefits of converted rice.)
Basmati rice (you may be able to find a converted variety, as well, which is very good.)
Brown rice-- short grain, long grain, Jasmine and Basmati

A few more specialty rice varieties for the gourmet in you:

If you like making risotto, you'll need some Arborio rice or Carnaroli rice
Jasmine rice-- a fragrant white long-grain Thai variety
Red rice (See https://food.ndtv.com/news/healthy-rice-here-s-a-complete-guide-to-red-rice-benefits-recipes-and-more-2161315 for all the varieties of this healthful rice.)
Black rice--"There are various varieties and names for this medium-grain rice, including forbidden rice, Thai black rice, Nerone black rice and Venere black rice. All are high in fibre and have a mild, nutty taste. The grains are very high in antioxidants, containing as much or more than the levels found in blueberries..." From: https://www.foodrepublic.com/2017/03/15/all-types-of-rice/
Japanese short-grain glutinous rice or sweet rice, or "Sushi rice" 
Thai or Chinese glutinous rice or "Thai sticky rice"

Other grain possibilities: 
(P.S: you can easily grind any of these 3 into flour in a dry blender.)

millet
buckwheat
masa harina (special fine cornmeal for making tortillas) 
quinoa (I just keep the white variety most of the time, but red and black versions are available.) 
Note: Quinoa (technically a seed) is expensive, but is very nutritious and high in protein. 
I like to cook it 1/2 & 1/2 with medium bulgur wheat. (1 cup of each with 3 cups of vegan broth-- bring to a boil, turn down to Low, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Leftovers can be frozen in portions for future meals.)

For extra nutrition and fiber, you might like to keep the following for adding to hot cereals, muffins, etc.:

oat bran
wheat bran
wheat germ

If you like to make your own flour and have a home flour mill or heavy-duty blender for grinding, stock up on:
whole hard wheat kernels
spelt kernels



                                                      PASTA

Pasta made with Durham Semolina (whether it is whole grain or not) is not only vegan (no eggs!), but is high in protein. It is essential in our household!
1 cup of cooked durham semolina pasta contains 6 to 7 grams protein and 2 grams of fiber. So, if your main dish consists of 2 cups cooked durham semolina pasta mixed with vegetables and a light sauce, you have an inexpensive and protein-rich  full-meal-deal.

See https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-shape-glossary for the most comprehensive photo gallery of Italian dried pasta shapes I've ever seen!  Pick your faves and always keep a few packages in your pantry for quick vegan meals. Here is the proper way to cook dry Italian pasta: https://www.livestrong.com/article/554257-how-to-cook-durum-wheat-semolina-pasta/

And, by the way: "The way the carbohydrates and protein in pasta are bound means that pasta has a lower glycemic index, or GI, meaning it is digested more slowly than other refined carbohydrates, according to researchers at the University of Sydney and the University of Toronto. Therefore, it might keep you full and release blood sugar (glucose) into your body more gradually, which could help with weight loss. Cold pasta is also a source of resistant starch, which may also help you lose weight." From https://www.consumerreports.org/pasta-noodles/is-pasta-healthy/



What about Asian noodles?  By all means, if you are a fan, keep some dried Asian noodles on hand for quick and tasty meals, especially when mixed with stir-fried vegetables and some vegan protein, such as grilled or fried tofu. But not all are winners in the nutrition department.  Read this article for the characteristics, uses, and nutrition facts for 6 types of Asian noodles:
https://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food/article/6-asian-noodles-try



                                                NUTS & SEEDS

Nuts and seeds are very nutritious-- full of protein, fiber and healthy fats.  But they can be expensive. Vegans should have a few varieties of nuts & seeds in the freezer and eat a couple of tablespoons a day, if possible. (Those 2 tablespoons can be mixed in with other foods, or used in recipes.)

If money is tight, your best bet is to look for bargains in bulk buy stores, big box stores, co-op stores, discount stores and even dollar stores, and then store your purchases in jars in your refrigerator or freezer. Here is a good article on the pluses and minuses, and the dollars and cents of nuts and seeds! http://sweetspotnutrition.ca/cost-nuts-seeds/

Here is one quote: "Enjoy peanuts and sunflower seeds if you like them. I think people tend to look down on them because they’re commonly available and typically less expensive (under a dollar per 100g at nearly every store I checked). But peanuts have been linked to the same heart and longevity benefits as pricer nuts and sunflower seeds are a good source of antioxidants like vitamin E and selenium. They’re a veritable heart health bargain."

I always keep the following in my refrigerator or freezer-- most are reasonably affordable:
peanuts
walnuts
pecans
shelled raw sunflower seeds
shelled raw pumpkin seeds
sesame seeds
poppy seeds
flax seeds (brown and golden)-- 1 T. ground mixed with 3 T. water makes a great egg sub in baking.
Other options:
chia seeds
almonds

I wrote this blog post on replacing expensive nuts, and nuts that are not eco-friendly (or not animal-friendly): 
http://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.com/2018/01/how-to-replace-expensive-sometimes.html

So, how can you make rich-tasting, creamy vegan dishes even on a tight budget and while trying your best to avoid humanitarian and ecological pitfalls? Peanuts and seeds!  They are inexpensive, easy to find, grown in North America, and chock full of nutrition and good fats. 

My three staples, often used in combination, to replace nuts (especially cashews) in cooking are:
raw hulled white sesame seeds
shelled raw sunflower seeds
unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

Nut and seed butters, such as peanut butter, and tahini, are also staples that can be stored for quite a long time and I always have them in my kitchen. (Yes, I know that peanuts are actually legumes, but they are used like nuts!) 

Besides peanut butter sandwiches, peanut butter can be used in delicious spicy vegan West African stews and soups. (Just Google it and lots of recipes will come up. If necessary, you can substitute non-dairy milks for the dairy version, vegan broth for the other kind, and  seitan strips or Soy Curls™ instead of meat or chicken.)  (PS: I rehydrate Soy Curls in a hot vegan broth before using.)

Tahini (sesame seed paste) is, of course, used in hummus, but also in Middle Eastern sauces and in salad dressings. See this link for lots of ideas: 
https://www.cookingchanneltv.com/devour/2013/08/25-ways-to-use-tahini  (The list is not for vegans only, but you can ignore the non-vegan recipes [or "veganize" them!] and there will still be plenty to tempt you.)


                                         FLOURS & STARCHES:

unbleached white flour
whole wheat flour
spelt flour (both whole grain and "white" or "light")
(You may also want to have some ordinary cake flour, pastry flour and bread flour.)
chickpea flour (high protein and GF)
yellow pea flour (high protein and GF)
potato flour (GF) (NOT to be confused with potato starch!)
coconut flour (use carefully-- it absorbs liquid quickly)

As I mentioned above, you can grind some of your own flours from other nutritious and inexpensive grains, such as oats, millet, buckwheat, and sorghum, as well as quinoa (more expensive) (all GF), and from seeds, in a good blender, which will save both money and freshness. 
For those of you who need to eat a gluten-free diet, or a low-glycemic diet (or both), you don't have to depend on starchy white GF flour mixes. I bake muffins, cakes and quick breads with a combination of 2/3rds oat flour and 1/3 chickpea flour, with good results.

Starches (GF) for thickening:
cornstarch
tapioca starch (Note: If you are diabetic, note that this is very high-glycemic)
wheat starch
arrowroot flour
potato starch (NOT to be confused with potato flour! Potato starch, BTW, contains resistant starch, which can help lower blood sugar, but potato starch does not. See:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/resistant-starch-101 )



                 CANNED,  JARRED & PACKAGED  STAPLES

instant baking yeast
baking powder
baking soda
salt (table salt and kosher salt)
guar gum and/or xanthan gum
agar agar powder
powdered egg replacer (Orgran "No-Egg" or Ener-G Egg Replacer)
(Here's a recipe for crispy meringues made with powdered egg replacer.)
psyllium husk (Can be used in vegan cheeses, smoothies and to thicken salad dressings.)
***See this article for how to use high-fiber psyllium husk or psyllium husk powder in cooking and baking:
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/psyllium-husk-powder-health-benefits-uses-supplements-recipe

Olive oil
Chinese (dark) sesame oil (a little goes a long way-- has a smoky flavor)
your favorite vegetable oil for cooking 
coconut oil (use sparingly, as it is high in saturated fat, but is essential when you need a more solid fat)

Good brand of soy sauce or tamari
Chinese mushroom soy sauce
Vegan broth paste, powder, and/or cubes
Marmite (adds  "beefy" taste to stews, soups, etc.)
vegan gravy browner (for color)
dried mushrooms
liquid smoke
lemon and lime juice in bottles
Japanese rice vinegar
cider vinegar
balsamic vinegar (Kirkland brand from Costco is by far the best affordable brand!)

canned tomatoes (whole, diced, pureed)
canned tomato paste
canned beans of your choice
canned pumpkin
canned fruit of your choice (pineapple comes in handy for baking)
unsweetened applesauce
sauerkraut in jars

POPCORN!
shredded coconut
panko breadcrumbs
dried dulse flakes
sheets of Japanese nori seaweed

sugars and/or other sweeteners of your choice
maple syrup
agave nectar (dark and light)
molasses (both "fancy" and blackstrap)
brown rice syrup
dark cocoa powder for baking
dairy-free chocolate chips
dark baking chocolate
dried fruits, such as dates, prunes, raisin, cranberries, apricots, apples, figs, etc. 
vanilla extract
lemon and other extracts of your choice

Herbs & spices of your choice
pepper
chilies and chili flakes
garlic granules (better than the powdered version)
onion flakes (These can be ground in a small electric spice/coffee grinder to make onion powder-- it's much tastier than buying stale old commercial onion powder!)
teas and coffee

Not essential, but helpful for tasty vegan meals:
canned jackfruit
canned vegetables of your choice
canned and packaged soups of your choice
canned Chinese vegetarian "Peking Roast Duck" (Mun-Cha'i-Ya)
canned Chinese fried gluten pieces ("Braised Gluten Tidbits" or Cha'i-Pow-Yu)
(The 2 items just above, usually available as  Companion brand, are widely available in Asian markets and in many large North American supermarkets. They are delicious!)

***I always have wine in the cupboard, even though drinking alcohol gives me a headache!  But, I grew up in a California winery and my mom was a genius at cooking with wine.  Just a little wine can boost some recipes from the "good" to the "great"!  

*****************************************************************
LIST #2:  "COLD-STORED" PRODUCE; FROZEN & REFRIGERATED FOODS; CONDIMENTS  


        FRESH VEGETABLES & FRUITS THAT STORE WELL

Fresh fruits and vegetables are important for a healthy diet, but, for storage purposes, you need to rely on produce that will not deteriorate in a short time.

***This is a great article help you store your produce more efficiently:
"Fruits and veggies can rot quickly because of a pesky gas called ethylene. Here are the items you should never store together."businessinsider.com/what-foods-you-shouldnt-store-next-to-each-other-2016-8
***Here is another excellent article about produce storage from Cook's Illustrated magazine: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/1561-how-to-store-fruits-and-vegetables

***NOTE about celery: Celery is a must-have in the kitchen, adding flavor to broths, soups and stews (the leaves are particularly flavorful), and used raw for dipping or for filling with spreads. I have just discovered that the best way to store celery for a longer time is to simply wrap it tightly in aluminum foil! Evidently, when you store celery this way, it will stay crisp for over a month. 
See this article: https://food52.com/blog/14672-the-surprising-way-you-should-be-storing-celery
From the article: "Aluminum foil isn’t the most eco-friendly way to store produce, but it might be worth it in the name of preventing food waste. Plus, the aluminum foil could be reused multiple times to store a few rounds of celery if you’re carefully wrapping and unwrapping it. Then, once it starts to shred too much for wrapping celery, you can either recycle it or put it to use elsewhere, like cleaning your grill for winter storage."

Refrigerated items to eat first:
lettuce
green onions
tender greens such as spinach and chard
bean sprouts
snow peas
melons
berries
grapes

Later, eat these:
avocados ("Ripening of the avocado is slowed down greatly by refrigeration, so it is usually a good idea to let the avocado ripen fully at room temperature. Once it is ripe, it can be stored in the refrigerator for at least a week. This way, it is ready to use whenever you want it. See https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/18917/will-avocado-stay-fresh-longer-if-stored-in-the-refrigerator)
asparagus
tomatoes
Bell peppers
fresh mushrooms
Brussels sprouts
green beans
eggplant
zucchini
kale
cauliflower
cabbage (green, red and Savoy)
celery (see Note about celery above)
apples (See https://appleforthat.stemilt.com/theres-an-apple-for/long-storage/  )
 for how to store apples and which varieties are suited to longer storage.)

Longer storage produce:
sundried tomatoes
cucumbers (unlike most veggies, they will actually rot faster in the fridge)
potatoes
onions
garlic
sweet potatoes (these can be orange or purple)
beets
carrots
winter squash and pumpkin
turnips and rutabagas
daikon
parsnips
Jerusalem artichokes
yams (the flesh of these is usually whitish)
apples (See https://appleforthat.stemilt.com/theres-an-apple-for/long-storage/  )
 for how to store apples and which varieties are suited to longer storage.)oranges
lemons
limes
grapefruit
                             

                    
                                             FROZEN FOODS:

homemade & commercial vegan meat alternatives (vegan burgers, frankfurters, sausages, cutlets)
frozen corn
frozen green beans
frozen peas and/or peas and carrots
frozen edamame (green soybeans), both shelled and in the pods
frozen spinach and other greens
frozen berries and other favorite fruits
your favorite breads, buns, rolls, etc., storebought and/or homemade  (sprouted grain breads are excellent)
tortillas and flatbreads (wheat, sprouted grain, ancient grains, and/or corn)
cooked grains and beans
homemade soups and broths
frozen cubes of aquafaba (chickpea broth) for baking and cooking-- See:
https://www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/blog/20-amazing-things-you-can-do-aquafaba
frozen cubes of cooked, pureed yellow split peas for use in baking as a fat substitute-- See
https://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.com/2017/01/first-adventures-with-yellow-split-pea.html
and
https://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.com/2019/05/new-moist-very-chocolate-y-low-fat-oat.html


                                                 
REFRIGERATOR STAPLES, CONDIMENTS, FLAVORINGS, ETC.

homemade and commercial vegan meat alternatives
soymilk (which contains far more protein than almost all other plant-based milks, except pea milk-- see https://www.livekindly.co/which-vegan-milk-has-the-most-protein/)
other preferred plant-based milks

vegan cheeses and spreads
vegan butter substitute of your choice
(If you want to make your own vegan butter, try this easy and delicious recipe .)

vegan mayonnaise (here's my favorite homemade recipe-- low in fat!)
vegan yogurt (Here's my homemade soy yogurt InstantPot recipe.)
Your favorite tofu and tofu products
Packaged Asian deep-fried tofu squares (Great for quick stir-fries and can be frozen, and they actually are very low in fat!)
olives
marinated artichoke hearts

Miso-- see varieties here https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-miso-p2-3376832
NOTE: If you are looking for a vegan alternative to anchovies or anchovy paste in Italian recipes, or the fish sauce in many Asian recipes, light miso is an excellent substitute! You can add dulse or nori seaweed flakes for more flavor, too.

hot sauces (such as Sriracha, or see  this link for info on hot sauces world wide: https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/the-worlds-most-important-hot-sauces-by-continent
chutneys
jams and jellies of your choice
pickles of your choice
ketchup
barbecue sauces
A1 Steak Sauce (It's vegan! This flavorful sauce contains tomato purée, raisin paste, vinegar, sugar, salt, orange purée, and a blend of spices. Try it on grilled veggies.)salad dressings (storebought and/or homemade)
sweet Thai chili sauce
Gochujang (Korean sweet red chile paste)-- Google "vegan gochujang recipes" for ideas.

Chinese cooking sauces and condiments:(See more at   https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/chinese-sauces/ )
Hoisin sauce
Chinese chili oil
Chinese vegetarian "oyster" sauce (made from mushrooms)
Chinese fermented black beans (Dou-chi)
Chinese black bean paste or sauce (Here's a homemade recipe: 
https://omnivorescookbook.com/homemade-black-bean-sauce/
Chinese broad bean paste (Doubanjiang)
Chinese brown bean paste
vegan Chinese "fish" sauce"-- See this recipe for a homemade version: 
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/vegan-fish-sauce/
P.S.: I use a medium sherry in place of Chinese cooking wine.

That's all, Folks!

All the best during this trying time!

I grew up in California, most of that time in San Francisco, within walking distance to Fisherman’s Wharf. The majority of the rest of my life has been spent on the West Coast of British Columbia (pre-and-post-vegan). My father was Peruvian, with an Italian mother. These facts alone might explain why I have seafood cravings to this day, 25 years after becoming vegan.

Some vegans, the ones who turn up their noses at any sort of replication of animal proteins, might say “get over it and eat some nori seaweed” (which I do from time to time), but inventing dishes is my craft, if you will. I can’t help being inspired by memories of the delicious meals of my past. I have a keen memory for outstanding meals—the tastes, smells and textures of certain dishes.

Don’t get me wrong—I love beans and grains, nuts and vegetables, and we eat them regularly and enthusiastically. But certain dishes of one’s culture, family background, holiday customs, and where we grew up stick with us, conjure up wonderful memories and feelings of comfort and pleasure. To deny these feelings, especially those of another vegan, out of some effort to be “pure”, even when no animal is harmed, seems misguided to me.

BACK IN TIME

Interestingly, (considering the “purity” angle), fine vegetarian cuisine developed first in Buddhist monasteries. The importation of Buddhism from India during the Han Dynasty (C.E. 58-75) influenced the development of a sophisticated vegetarian cuisine, since one of the five abstentions of orthodox Buddhism is an injunction against taking life. According to Hsiang Ju Lin and Tsuifeng Lin in their book "Chinese Gastronomy" (Hastings House, NY, 1969):

Wealthy ladies would make pilgrimages to the city temples, having ordered a vegetarian lunch in advance. (This was apparently one of the few occasions on which wealthy women could go out by themselves.) The authors continue:

The pious Buddhist Emperor Wu (Wudi) of the Liang dynasty (also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty, C.E. 502-557), who donned monk’s robes several times throughout his reign, wrote an essay entitled "Forsake Alcohol and Meat", in which he urged Buddhists to become vegetarians. He modelled much of his rule after the Indian Buddhist Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty (273 -32 B.C.E), establishing Buddhism as the state religion of China, and prohibiting monks from drinking wine and killing animals. From that time on, vegetarianism in China was linked with the Buddhist prohibition against taking life. To this day, many Chinese and Japanese Buddhists sects prohibit eating meat.

Although tofu and other Chinese soy products are strongly associated with Chinese vegetarian cuisine, it is less well-known that wheat gluten may have been introduced into Chinese cuisine as early as during the reign of Emperor Wu (see paragraph above). The making of a sort of proto-gluten is described in the Chhi MinYao Shu ("Notes on Miscellaneous Affairs"; C.E .544[Liang Dynasty]).

Eventually, wheat gluten was called mien chin, meaning “the sinew of flour”, and was a well-established term by the Sung period (C.E. 969-1279), mentioned in writings of the time. A passage about iron and steel from Shên Kua’s Mêng Chhi Pi Than ("Dream Pool Essays", C.E. 1086) reads: “Steel is to iron as mien chin (gluten) is to mien (flour). It is only after thoroughly washing the dough that gluten is revealed.”

Gluten was mentioned over the centuries by many writers and scholars, even in novels, such as Hsi Yu Chi ("Journey to the West", C.E. 1570) and Ju Lin Wai Shi ("The Unofficial History of the Literati"— C.E. 1740.). This indicates that gluten was accepted outside of the circle of Buddhist ascetics. Recipes for cooking gluten are found in the major culinary works of the Yuan to the Qing (Chhing) Dynasties (C.E. 1279- 1912).

Over the centuries, Chinese chefs devised ever more elaborate recipes for meatless “meats”, “seafood”, and “poultry”. Stella Lau Fessler, in her book "Chinese Meatless Cooking", wrote: “To a Chinese cook, imitating certain meat dishes with non-meat ingredients is not simply a matter of replacing the meat. It is instead an effort to show off the great culinary art of China, to make the impossible possible.”

So, this is nothing new, obviously, and we vegan cooks who devise modern homemade meat and seafood substitutes have a great example and proud lineage to follow.

IT’S ALL IN THE NAME

What do we call these products, anyway? “Meat analog” or “meat alternative” or “meat substitute” sound dull and unappetizing, and “gluten”? Well, I’ll let my friend David Lee, founder of the Field Roast Co. from Seattle, explain why he coined another term for it: “You know, gluten, the word for wheat protein, is kind of an odd word. I think it’s kind of an unfortunate word. I wish it wasn’t called gluten because gluten is kind of—you know, ‘glue-tahn’—it’s just kind of an ‘uhh’-sounding word. It’s a word that I actually try to avoid.”

As you probably know, David calls his products “grain meat”. He explained to me: “…meat wasn’t exclusively associated with animal meats, or animal flesh. As a matter of fact, I think you can find in any dictionary that the word ‘meat’ used to mean  ‘food’ or ‘meal’, and also meant ‘substance’ (as in ‘the meat of the story’ or ‘the meat of the matter’). Think also of the word ‘nutmeat’ and how soy was called ‘the meat of the field’ in China.”

He also points out how milk is not exclusively dairy-based anymore—there are bean milks, like soy; grain milks, like oat and rice; seed milks, like quinoa, hemp and flax; and nut milks, such as almond, cashew, coconut and hazelnut. Soy why not “grain meat”, “nut meat”, soy meat”, etc.?

IN THE KITCHEN AGAIN

Delicious modern gluten/seitan/grain meat-based recipes abound on the Internet these days (often with the addition of other grain and legume flours), and in the pages of vegan cookbooks, but it’s difficult to find good recipes to satisfy those seafood cravings I was mentioning before. There are fewer seafood sub recipes online, and there are commercial products that I’ve read about, but they never seem to be available where I live. So I have had to devise my own recipes. There’s a “salmon” recipe in my bookWorld Vegan Feast (Vegan Heritage Press, 2011), but what I miss the most is shellfish—not only the taste, but the texture. The basic recipe I’m going to share with you below is satisfying to me, versatile, inexpensive, freeze-able and relatively easy to make. (I’m also including some favorite recipes using the basic product.) I hope you will enjoy these homemade products as much as I do, and devise your own recipes for using them.

Printable Copy
BRYANNA’S GRAIN SEA-MEAT

INGREDIENTS:
Mushroom/Kombu Broth: (Make this first and cool thoroughly.)
5 1/2 cups boiling water
10 medium-sized dried shiitake mushrooms or Chinese dried black forest mushrooms
1/3 cup dried boletus, mixed wild, or porcini mushrooms (or, if necessary, use about 16 shiitakes or Chinese mushrooms and omit the boletus or porcini)
1/2 oz dried kombu seaweed
Dry mix:
2 cup pure gluten powder (vital wheat gluten) (See this link for how to tell if you have the right product)
1/2 cup chickpea flour, white bean flour, soy flour, or urad dal flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
Wet Mix:
1 1/2 cups cold Mushroom/Kombu Broth (see above)
12 oz extra-firm regular (NOT silken) tofu, broken up
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon salt
Cooking Broth:
3 1/4 cups hot Mushroom/Kombu Broth (see above at top of ingredient list)
1 tablespoon vegetarian “oyster” sauce (see recipe and info for commercial brands below)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic granules

DIRECTIONS:

Mushroom/Kombu Broth (Make this first and cool thoroughly):
Soak the mushrooms and kombu in the boiling water, covered, for about 30 minutes, then strain. Freeze the mushrooms for future use in recipes, if you have no use for them right away. Discard the kombu.

To cool off the broth quickly, place it in a shallow dish or bowl and place in the freezer until cool. DO NOT use hot broth in the Wet Mix! Hot liquid will make the seitan stringy.

For the Wet Mix, blend all of the ingredients until very smooth in a blender or food processor.

Mix the Dry Mix ingredients in the bowl of your electric mixer with dough hook attachment, or place them in the bread machine in the order given. Add the cooled Wet Mix and knead for about 10 minutes. (If your bread machine has a dough cycle-two kneads with a long rest in between, use that cycle. Otherwise, just run it through the kneading part and then unplug it and let it rest in the covered container, then plug it in again for another knead, then remove it.) Let rest for about 1 hour, covered.


Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each one out on a clean countertop with a rolling pin to make a rectangle about 3/4-inch thick. Cut each rectangle into 4 squares (more or less). Roll the squares out to about 3/8″-thick. The pieces will be thicker after cooking. Repeat until you have rolled all the dough out this way:

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Place the seitan squares in 2 oiled 9×13″ baking pans. The squares can overlap a bit. Pour half of the Cooking Broth over the seitan in each pan. Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Turn the cutlets over, cover and cook 15-30 minutes more. (You just want to let the cutlets absorb all of the broth, not really brown them, so keep an eye on them.) Separate them carefully. Cool them before proceeding. (You can place them on a platter and cool them quickly in the freezer, if you wish.)

To cut the Sea-Meat Scallops:

Cut as many rounds as possible out of the cooled seitan squares with a 1″ wide or slightly smaller round cookie cutter. (I had to buy a set of round cookie cutters in order to obtain one of this size).

Nutrition (per serving): 98.3 calories; 22% calories from fat; 2.6g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 140.0mg sodium; 73.8mg potassium; 5.3g carbohydrates; 0.5g fiber; 1.3g sugar; 14.1g protein; 2.1 points.

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White "Clam" sauce using ground "Sea-Meat"

HOMEMADE VEGAN “SEAFOOD” SATISFIES SOME NOSTALGIC CRAVINGS

BRYANNA’S ITALIAN VEGAN PASTA WITH WHITE “CLAM” SAUCE

Serves 5

This is a “veganization” of an old favorite from my childhood. I cut the olive oil down as far as I could, but you MUST have some in this sauce! You can serve this with a vegan parmesan substitute, but this type of dish is normally eaten without cheese.

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb linguine, spaghetti or other pasta of choice (I used farfalle or bowtie pasta in the photo)
1/4 cup good extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
6 cloves garlic, minced
Optional: a few pinches of dried oregano or basil
1 cup Vegan “Sea Stock” (see recipe below)
1/2 cup dry white wine or white vermouth (can be non-alcoholic)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (loosely packed) Chopped Sea-Meat (see this link)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Optional: freshly-ground black pepper to taste, or pinch of red chile pepper flakes

 DIRECTIONS:

Place a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta.

Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the onion, stirring, until starting to be golden, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, and optional herbs, if using. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Stir in the Vegan “Sea Stock” and wine, and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes.

Cook the pasta in the pot of boiling salted water until al dente, then drain in a colander.

While pasta is cooking, stir the Chopped Sea-Meat into the sauce and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Taste for salt.

Immediately add the drained pasta to the sauce along with the parsley, then toss until combined well. Add optional pepper, if desired. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 551.0 calories; 22% calories from fat; 14.3g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 440.0mg sodium; 338.0mg potassium; 77.9g carbohydrates; 3.5g fiber; 4.3g sugar; 23.8g protein; 11.5 points.

Printable Recipe
BRYANNA’S VEGAN “SEA STOCK” © 2019 Bryanna Clark Grogan. All Rights Reserved.
Yield: 4 cups

This is a handy recipe for vegan “sea-meat” recipes.

6 cups hot water
10 medium dried shiitake or Chinese black forest mushrooms
1/2 oz dried kombu seaweed
2 teaspoons light miso
1 1/2 teaspoons vegetarian “oyster” sauce (see recipe and info on commercial brands below)
1 teaspoon salt

 Simmer the mushrooms and kombu, covered, in the water for 30 minutes. Strain in a colander. Save the mushrooms for another dish, if you like. Discard the kombu. Stir in the miso, vegetarian “oyster” sauce, and salt. Dissolve thoroughly. Strain through a fine sieve. Refrigerate.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per 1/2 cup): 18.6 calories; 6% calories from fat; 0.2g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 318.5mg sodium; 75.3mg potassium; 4.3g carbohydrates; 0.6g fiber; 1.5g sugar; 0.7g protein ; 0.3 points.

Printable Recipe
BRYANNA’S ANGEL HAIR PASTA WITH VEGAN “SCALLOPS” AND EDAMAME 
Servings: 6

This is deliciously simple Italian way to showcase your Sea-Meat Scallops. If you want a more “fishy” flavor, add a tablespoon or so of dulse or nori flakes to the sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

12 oz. Capelli d’Angelo (Angel Hair pasta– can be whole grain)
2 cups frozen or fresh shelled edamamé (green soybeans)
2 tablespoons good extra virgin olive oil
32 Sea-Meat Scallops (see recipe above)
1/4 cup Seasoned Flour (see recipe below)
2 green onions, chopped
4 teaspoon minced garlic (depending on your taste!)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 1/2 cups Vegan “Sea Stock” (see recipe above)
1 1/2 cups dry white wine or white vermouth (can be non-alcoholic)
Optional:1 tablespoon vegetarian mushroom-based “Oyster sauce” (see recipe and info on commercial brands below) salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste)
Serve with:  
lemon wedges
vegan parmesan  

DIRECTIONS:

Place a large pot of water on to boil. When it boils, add the pasta and the thawed edamamé to the water and set the timer for 4 minutes. In a bowl, mix the Seasoned Flour with the Scallops until they are all coated.

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. When hot, add the Scallops, green onion, and the garlic and quickly stir-fry over high heat until the Scallops are slightly seared. Add the Vegan “Sea Stock”, wine, herbs and salt and pepper to taste (and the “Oyster” Sauce and seaweed flakes, if using) to the skillet. Cook briefly at high heat.

Drain the pasta and edamamé when done and add to the skillet. With a large spoon and a pasta rake, toss the contents of the skillet while it cooks. You want the pasta to absorb most of the sauce, with just enough left so that it isn’t dry. Quickly divide the pasta evenly into 6 warm pasta bowls. Serve with salt, pepper, lemon wedges, and vegan parmesan substitute.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 478.0 calories; 20% calories from fat; 11.2g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 338.8mg sodium; 602.4mg potassium; 61.2g carbohydrates; 5.5g fiber; 3.7g sugar; 55.7g net carbs; 25.5g protein; 9.7 points.

BRYANNA’S SEASONED FLOUR
Yield: 2 1/4 cups

Have some of this in your refrigerator at all times for costing vegetarian proteins before browning– it adds great flavor!

2 cups whole wheat, or other wholegrain, flour
1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1 teaspoon salt
OPTIONAL: 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic granules and freshly-ground black pepper to taste. Other spices can be used, according to the type of recipe you are making.

 Mix together the flour, nutritional yeast flakes, salt, and, optional onion powder and black pepper, if using. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

Printable Recipe
BRYANNA’S FRIED SEA-MEAT “SCALLOPS” ON ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON-GARLIC SAUCE
Serves 4
This recipe goes quickly, so make the sauce first and keep it warm, and have the asparagus steaming while you fry the “Scallops”.

INGREDIENTS:
Lemon-Garlic “Butter” Sauce:
4 teaspoons vegan butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups light vegetarian “chicken” broth (do not use a very salty type because you have to reduce it—try using 1/2 as much powder or paste as you would normally)
2 medium organic lemons, grated zest and juice
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with
1 tablespoon water
Optional Finish:
4 teaspoons vegan butter
Additional:
2 lbs. fresh asparagus, trimmed and steamed until tender, but not mushy
Fried “Scallops”:
32 Sea-Meat Scallops (see recipe above)
whole wheat flour for dredging
1 cup plain soy, hemp, or nut milk mixed with
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumb– look for Ian’s Whole Wheat Panko Breadcrumbs, if you prefer whole grain. Amazon carries them.)
oil for frying

DIRECTIONS:
To make the Lemon-Garlic “Butter” Sauce: Heat the first 4 teaspoons of vegan butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir with a wooden spoon JUST until the garlic begins to turn golden. Add the broth and the zest and juice of the lemons. Bring to a boil over high heat.

Turn down to a high simmer and cook it down to 1 1/4 cups (important!). Stir in the cornstarch mixture and stir until thickened. Stir in the remaining 4 teaspoons of vegan butter, if using. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

To fry the “Scallops”: While the asparagus is steaming, set up shallow bowls with the whole wheat flour, the milk and lemon juice mixture, and the panko breadcrumbs in a line on your counter. Dredge the “Scallops” in the flour, then the curdled milk, and then coat all over with the panko. Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, not touching.

Heat an inch or so of oil in a large heavy skillet. When hot, add the coated scallops, turn the heat to medium-high, and fry until crispy on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

To Serve: Distribute the steamed asparagus on 4 plates. Pile 8 fried “Scallops” over each pile of asparagus. Drizzle warm Lemon-Garlic “Butter” Sauce over each serving, and serve more on the side.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 321.4 calories; 14% calories from fat; 5.3g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 601.4mg sodium; 741.8mg potassium; 61.0g carbohydrates; 9.9g fiber; 11.7g sugar; 13.3g protein; 6.1 points.


Printable Recipe
VEGETARIAN “OYSTER” SAUCE:

You can find commercial vegetarian versions, made with mushrooms, in some Asian groceries and large supermarkets (and online, including at amazon). Sometimes it is labeled “vegetarian oyster sauce” or “mushroom oyster sauce”. It is also marketed as “vegetarian stir-fry sauce” (Lee Kum Kee brand). It keeps for a long time in the refrigerator. However, it can be difficult for people in some areas to find, so I am giving you a recipe for a homemade version.

BRYANNA’S HOMEMADE CHINESE VEGETARIAN MUSHROOM “OYSTER” SAUCE (ALSO KNOWN AS “VEGETARIAN STIR-FRY SAUCE”
Makes 18 liquid oz., or about the same as a commercial bottle

 (IMPORTANT: leave the plastic cap out of the center hole in the blender lid and cover it with a folded towel, so that the hot liquid doesn’t explode.) 

Pour into in a medium saucepan and heat to boiling over high heat. Add the dissolved cornstarch and stir until thickened. Cool and store in a covered jar or bottle in the refrigerator. Since it is quite salty and sweet, it should keep for several months.

NOTE: You can, alternatively, microwave the mixture, with the cornstarch, in a medium bowl and cook on 100% power for about 1 minute, then whisk. Repeat until thickened and store as above.

Enjoy!