So, vegetarians

[MadWorld74]

Because everywhere you go the only option in some places is sodding risooto, and that is just too bloody much time after time......I like it but dont want to HAVE TO eat it because there's nothing else.

[Cassius]

Oh I agree about eating out, but I thought this thread was about giving good ideas about what to cook/eat at home. I absolutely agree that it's about time chefs were a bit more original in their offerings.

[Strawbs]

I know this is about giving recipes and Ideas which I have already done but if any veggie wants a good restaurant, eat and two veg up at baker st is fantastic! cheap and great food with a very diner type feel to the restaurant..

[LuvPeckham]

Interesting post

I eat Meat and Vegtables, so have a good knowledge of both disciplins, and one of my personal favourites when I don't fancy meat is the Mushroom Wellington dish taken from The Cranks Bible (all vegetarian) (Great for Christmas day I have to say)

Wonderful

Serves 12-16 (Makes 2 and can be frozen)

500g Puff Pastry

60ml Vegtable oil

675g chopped onions

4 garlic cloves crushed

450g chestnut mushrooms left whole

2 tbsp fresh tarragon (chopped)

4 tpbl Soy Sauce

Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper

320g broken cashew pieces

175g freshly made breadcrumbs

320g fresh ground almonds

1 egg (for glazing)

Roll out the pastry and make 2 rectangles (30cmby23cm) and place in the fridge till required

Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and fry half the garlic and all the onions for at least 20 minutes until golden and soft

Remove the onions (reserving the oil)

add in half the tarragon the rest of the garlic and the mushrooms and cook on a high heat, half way through cooking add the soy sauce and continue (they are cooked when you cut one open and there is no white inside, about 10-15 minutes in total)

Remove the mushrooms and allow to cool, reserve the liquid from the pan

In a food processor (or blender) blend the cashews with the liquid to form a smooth paste (add more water if required or a drop of sherry if you wish)

Remove from the food processor

Blend the Onions into a paste and remove

Blend the mushrooms into a paste and remove

mix all the blended ingredents in a bowl, add the ground almonds, the rest of the tarragon and the bread crumbs

Remove the pastry from the fridge and place half of the filling into each rectangle to make a long rectangle shape (about 28cm long, 6cm wide and 5 cm tall)

Take a sharp knife and cut diagonal (45 degree) stripes about 2 cm apart in the pastry down the sides going away from longsides of the filling

Fold the end pieces over first then cris-cross the individal stripes all the way down the wellington, joining in the middle to cover all of the mixture

If freezing do now, otherwise glaze the pastry with the beaten up egg

Bake for 35-40 minutes on a baking tray at gas mark 7 (220C/425F)

Remove from oven, allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving in slices

:))

[Cassius]

Strawbs - do you mean the restaurant on Marylebone High Street? How long ago did you eat there, I went there last summer and was incredibly disappointed. Service was very slow, our red wine was WARM and I was not impressed by the food. It was a shame as I thought it had a great vibe and location.

[mattham]

I love the start of that last post; reminds me of a line in the Blues Brothers..."We've got both kinds of music; country and western."

But I love a good Wellington so I'll try that one thanks.

[Keef]

Vegetarian Bible

Mrs Keef loves it, which is cool, because I grabbed it having no idea what I was doing!

[elizlondon]

Just wanted to add another recommendation for a Christmas Day meal: Chestnut Bourguignon Pie. It's really delicious and has a good hearty consistency (and is quite boozy - well it certainly is when I make it!). I've had it for a couple of Christmas Day lunches and all the non-veggies always want some too.

Any other veggies have good suggestions for Christmas meals?

E

[PeckhamRose]

You BUY pastry?

[LuvPeckham]

PeckhamRose Wrote:

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

> You BUY pastry?

NO, I actually make it, I didn't want to put people off by adding that in as well to the Wellington....

Although I have in the past (when pushed for time) bought it

[Asset]

"all the non-veggies always want some too."

That's always the problem when there are two options on the table, the effing meat-eaters scran all the veggie option too, and obviously the veggie's can't retaliate.

I've done a couple of Burn's nights with a meat and a veggie haggis (I know I know, it's not really haggis but damn tasty) and the veggie one gets scoffed by the meat eaters.

as we say in our gaff "oo, can we have a bit of the veggie?" the answer - NO FECK OFF

[HonaloochieB]

Apparently Hitler was not actually a vegetarian.

Charles Manson was though.

[SteveT]

I've had vegetarian dishes and I didn't become a mass murderer, or serial killer,........I want a refund!

[HonaloochieB]

Obviously never tried a Wimpy beanburger though Steve, that's enough to make a man crack.

[pommie]

Which is precisely what made me go back to meat, after a brief period of trying out being veggie. So, so bored of the egg/cheese offerings, and not a fan of slimy roast peppers in a sarnie. There wasn't enough choice.

By choice I mean choice that worked for me: easily accessible and affordable. Yes I probably could have got up earlier and made stuff myself/spent more money/walked further. But in the end I chose to eat meat rather than do that. Meh.

CAN I ASK WHY YOU GAVE UP EATING MEAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

[Cassius]

CAN I ASK WHY YOU GAVE UP EATING MEAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

When I gave up meat there was no choice of organic or free range and I decided that I didn't want to eat food that came from animals that has suffered and were possibly pumped full of steriods and antibiotics.

Then I discovered that no meat meant little or no bloatedness or tiredness after a large meal, and a much better digestion (no more IBS) so although the reasons above are not as relevant, I don't want to take meat up again.

My partner dislikes the taste and texture of meat so a meat-free lifestyle works very well for us.