Not many people appear to know this but Parmesan isn't vegetarian.

[wee quinnie]

I have recently discovered that there is no such thing as Vegetarian parmesan, yet everywhere I look, I find recipe books with vegetarian recipes including parmesan, and restaurants/bars serving "veggie options" containing parmesan.

It's really bugging me - I realise of course that the reasons for becoming vegetarian are varied, but I really would have thought most vegetarians would want to avoid an ingredient that necessitated the death of an animal.

Anyway, just thought that I'd take this opportunity if you're thinking of whipping up your signature risotto with parmesan for your veggie chums.

Oh, and if you're looking for a substitute the only parmesan style cheese approved by the vegetarian society in the UK is "Not just a pasta cheese" by Bookhams (formerly known as Twineham Grange cheese).

[Ladymuck]

Are you talking about animal rennet wee quinnie?

If so, I think you'll find that Parmesan isn't the only "non-veggie" cheese...Gorgonzola and Grana Padano to name but a couple.

[giggirl]

Jelly is in the same boat. Although you can get vegie options more easily.

[Jah Lush]

wee quinnie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have recently discovered that there is no such

> thing as Vegetarian parmesan, yet everywhere I

> look, I find recipe books with vegetarian recipes

> including parmesan, and restaurants/bars serving

> "veggie options" containing parmesan.

>

> It's really bugging me - I realise of course that

> the reasons for becoming vegetarian are varied,

> but I really would have thought most vegetarians

> would want to avoid an ingredient that

> necessitated the death of an animal.

How so? It comes from milk. You don't kill a cow or a goat come to that just to get it's milk. So what's the problem? Unless of course you're a vegan and don't touch dairy products but you still wouldn't have to kill for it.

[wee quinnie]

Yes I am talking about the animal rennet, and I am aware of the situations with Gorgonzola and Grana Padano. The reason that I am bringing it up, is that parmesan seems to be a particularly popular ingredient in so-called vegetarian menus right now - esp. as risotto seems to be the offering of choice.

[annaj]

I'm sure they sell a veggie parmesan style cheese, that's very nice and a good substitute, in SMBS, or at least they used to. It might even be the approved one you mentioned.

['bout now]

Rennet is extracted from calves stomachs. Its the active ingredient for forming the curds.

[RosieH]

It's the rennet Jah, from an animal's stomach.

But then you have questions about vegetarian wine, and I don't know any vegetarians who actually bother about that either.

Edited to say I cross posted - holy cow (no pun) you guys are on fire today!

[wee quinnie]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> wee quinnie Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I have recently discovered that there is no

> such

> > thing as Vegetarian parmesan, yet everywhere I

> > look, I find recipe books with vegetarian

> recipes

> > including parmesan, and restaurants/bars

> serving

> > "veggie options" containing parmesan.

> >

> > It's really bugging me - I realise of course

> that

> > the reasons for becoming vegetarian are varied,

> > but I really would have thought most

> vegetarians

> > would want to avoid an ingredient that

> > necessitated the death of an animal.

>

>

> How so? It comes from milk. You don't kill a cow

> or a goat come to that just to get it's milk. So

> what's the problem? Unless of course you're a

> vegan and don't touch dairy products but you still

> wouldn't have to kill for it.

Calf rennet comes from calves stomaches - so the calves need to be slaughtered to obtain it.

[SeanMacGabhann]

it's the rennet Jah, not the cheese itself

But rennet is used in so many things.

What about red wine - how does that sit with vegetarians?

[SeanMacGabhann]

man - that's a lot of cross-posting!

[RosieH]

Yes it is.

And SNAP Sean. (the wine thing really bugs me when people get precious)

[woofmarkthedog]

Isinglass is collagen/gelatin which is gathered from the swim bladders of fish

It's used to clarify wine & commonly known a "Filings"

( & not a carrot in sight )

W**F

[katie1997]

I'm cross posting too ...

fish bladders used to make beers and wine ...

also in lots of other products, not all use the seaweed substitute so yes, animal gelatine too.

[wee quinnie]

Rosie, I think the problem is, a lot of people just aren't that aware of it. I was having a bit of a squizz on Jamie Oliver's site earlier on (was interested because he is bringing out a veggie cookbook), and I noted that there was a lot of confusion over the notion of parmesan - and what was meant by "vegetarian parmesan" - I guess many people out there just think cheese? wine? There's no meat in that....etc

[Brendan]

I went parmesan shooting on the weekend. There?s a brace of them hanging in the pantry.

[annaj]

I think wee quinnie has a fair point. If you're going to list something as vegetarian on a menu, or write a vegetarian cook book, it's not unreasonable for people to expect you to know what is and isn't actually vegetarian.

[wee quinnie]

On a related issue to my previous posting...

If you think the cheese thing is nitpicking, it's really awful when you get to someone's gaff and they serve you fish or something because that's "vegetarian"! In case you're wondering, when it has happened to me, I haven't told them, and just eaten it....

Obviously stupid of me to assume that people know what vegetarian means in the simplest form. Mind you, when I lived in Australia and told people I was veggie, quite commonly, the first question asked would be "Do you eat chicken?"!!!!

[wee quinnie]

annaj Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think wee quinnie has a fair point. If you're

> going to list something as vegetarian on a menu,

> or write a vegetarian cook book, it's not

> unreasonable for people to expect you to know what

> is and isn't actually vegetarian.

EXACTLY! Thank you Anna. Given that parmesan seems to pop up so frequently in this manner then leads you to question what else is actually really vegetarian?

[Brendan]

That reminds me, the chickens I planted in the spring are looking ripe and ready for harvesting.

[Jah Lush]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> it's the rennet Jah, not the cheese itself

>

> But rennet is used in so many things.

>

> What about red wine - how does that sit with

> vegetarians?

Talking of cross posting. I'm rather cross because I really had no idea. In wine you say too? Good grief! I shouldn't think a lot of veggies know about that. I wonder how many of them would stop drinking the stuff if they knew. Hmmmm......

[RosieH]

I agree wee quinnie. I remember laughing at the time, a few years ago, when it was discovered that Gordon Ramsay's soup deemed suitable for vegetarians contained chicken stock, but in reality it's shocking.

[RosieH]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > it's the rennet Jah, not the cheese itself

> >

> > But rennet is used in so many things.

> >

> > What about red wine - how does that sit with

> > vegetarians?

>

>

> Talking of cross posting. I'm rather cross because

> I really had no idea. In wine you say too? Good

> grief! I shouldn't think a lot of veggies know

> about that. I wonder how many of them would stop

> drinking the stuff if they knew. Hmmmm......

Oh fine, you'll take Sean's word for it, but not mine??? FINE. (that's what they do with the wine innit).

[SeanMacGabhann]

But there is no single definition of vegetarian is there? Not amongst the vegetarians I know.. I dare say WQ is the most correct but I know plenty who are less that fussy. They won't eat slabs of flesh but will happily shrug when told about wine production or rennet in cheeses. But they will insist they are vegetarian. I'd even guess that most vegetarians are relaxed about it enough to be the core audience for the Oliver book

[woofmarkthedog]

It's blinkin hard if you are a "strict" veggie rather than someone who "just" doesn't eat meat

( the new venture cafe at The Old Blue Brick site should be fun though )

A friend's dad used to be a champion sausage maker, he was most suprised when she turned her nose up at his latest veggie sausage ( with chicken in )

"What, veggies don't eat chicken"

W**F