I'm not really a fan of Chick-fil-a, for obvious reasons. But I always thought their advertising was kind of cute. I could kind of relate. Now I eat, and spell like a cow. For all my critics out there lets just let that one go.
Chicken was the first thing to go when I started going vegetarian. After killing a chicken there is no going back! But with all the blood and guts aside, chicken is a very tasty meat....minus the whole meat part. This recipe makes a great breaded chicken patty that any herbivore would be happy to eat.
Vegan Chik -fil-A
1 c cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 c cooked rice
1/2 c bread crumbs
2 vegan chicken or vegetable bullion cubes
1 clove garlic
2 tb soy sauce
1 pinch sage
1 pinch paprika
2 heaping tb vital wheat gluten
1/4 c oats
In your lovable food processor process the garbanzo beans, rice, and oats. You may need to add just enough water to make it creamy. Now in bowl mix the rest of the ingredients, adding the vital wheat gluten last. Knead into a dough. Roll out and cut into squres. cook in oil till golden on both sides.
So, Mexican food isn't that big here in Samoa. I don't know if it's the spicy flavors or if it's the whole bean thing but you can't really find Mexican food here. There was actually a Mexican restaurant that started in Leone which is the village down the road. We were very excited when we drove past and saw it. But the next time we drove by to check it out it was out of business.
So, with a lack of ready made ingredients I began to make my own. I found this great recipe for Enchilada Sauce and with a little tweaking with the ingredients that I had available it appeared at our table in this glorious form. So, as they say in those lame El Monte commercials...."lets eat"
Enchilada Sauce
1 tb oil
3 tb flour
2 bullion cubes crushed
1 tb garlic powder
1 tb onion powder
4 tb chili powder
2 tb dried cilantro
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can water
In a large sauce pan make a rue with the oil and flour. Add all the dry ingredients including the cilantro. Heat till very fragrant. Slowly add the tomatoes, stirring constantly to minimize lumps. Add water till it is the desired consistency.
The other day I left all my research up on the computer when Matthew came in to use it. From the other room I hear " um...hey hon - what's all this stuff about satan?" I must admit, I was a bit taken back. I thought for a moment and realized. " ah, it's pronounced se-tahn" Matthew was confused but relieved.
When I first started researching seitan I thought, "no way, anything pronounced satan can not be good and must be avoided at all costs." But now I know it's called that because it's so tempting!
Seitan is basically vital wheat gluten but Seitan sounds so much more rebellious and on the edge. My adventures with it have been less then successful, except when it comes to vegan spam.
Now, I know you're asking yourself, why would you want to eat something who's name sounds like satan and, if you're going to go vegan and take the time to make faux meat why on earth would you spend the time on SPAM? well, I'll tell you - MUSUBIES! I haven't met one I didn't love or met anyone else who didn't love them either. In fact, when I was doing research on vegan spam (yes, there are others like me out there) all of them wanted to make spam for the purpose of filling their musubie craving! One lady even made it with peanut butter in the shape of a can. That's so cool! I'm a little less adventurous.
In a state where seven million cans of spam are consumed every year (that's an average of 16 cans per person per year) and they even have a spam festival to celebrate this celebrity meat, "it wouldn't, it couldn't, it musn't, it wouldn't" be poly week without musubie.....
Vegan Spam
1/4 cup cooked pasta
1/4 c cooked rice
1/4 c oats
1/4 c soy sauce
1 bullion cube
1 tsp salt
1/2 c chopped celery
1/4 -1/2 c vital wheat gluten
1 tb water
Start a large pot of boiling water. In the food processor blend the pasta and celery with enough water to make it smooth. In a large bowl mush the rice with a fork till it's um, mushy. Now add everything else, adding the vital wheat gluten at the last. Now form your dough into a loaf and wrap it in tin foil. Add the tablespoon of water, wrap it up and put it in the pot of boiling water. Cover with a lid. The spam is finished when it has expanded to fill the tin foil (about 40 min).
Musubies
cooked rice
vegan spam
nori, or seaweed paper
Slice your vegan spam about 1/4 an inch thick. Saute it in a pan with EVOO till both sides are brown. Make a ball out of the cooked rice (having wet hands helps to keep the rice from sticking to you) keep kneading it till it sticks together. Place the spam on top of the rice and wrap in nori. This makes for a great portable lunch, just wrap in plastic wrap and go.
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