| To some people, the phrase "Vegan Cuisine" sounds | | | | combinations and delicate wheat-based starches. |
| like an oxymoron. To others, it sounds like the road | | | | One of the most uniquely vegan foods on the |
| of a hardcore food nutritionist. "Scary," was the word | | | | market, and the one that tends to scare the |
| used by my roommate when I announced I was | | | | layperson the most, is tofu. Tofu is basically a |
| going to try to become a vegan. What most people | | | | soybean curd with a sponge-like consistency and a |
| don't realize is that it's very possible, indeed even | | | | bland taste that absorbs whatever flavors are around |
| probable, for a creative chef to make vegan food | | | | it. Am I tempting you yet? |
| just as exciting and full of variety as any other type | | | | Wait. Let's try this. Imagine a dish of Italian stuffed |
| of cuisine. | | | | shells, loaded with tomato sauce and basil, garlic, and |
| What is veganism, first of all? Strictly put, veganism | | | | oregano. Now imagine that instead of cheese, the |
| is a diet which contains no animal byproducts. Not | | | | shells were stuffed with a mixture of soft tofu, |
| only do vegans not eat meat, like vegetarians, but | | | | blended with fresh spinach. The tofu absorbs the |
| they also do not consume any food created by | | | | Italian spices and has a delicate, creamy flavor all its |
| animals. No milk, no eggs, no dairy of any kind. No | | | | own. Would you notice the absence of the cheese? |
| pasta derived from eggs. No gelatin. When you stop | | | | Sure. Would you miss it? Not likely. |
| to think, it is surprising how much of the typical | | | | There are many recipes unique to vegan cuisine that |
| American diet is animal-derived. | | | | are truly surprising in their variety and tastiness. Curry |
| All of this, I admit, can sound rather scary to the | | | | is one of the darlings of vegan cuisine, and is available |
| typical meat and milk lover, and certainly to the | | | | in all forms and flavors. Other wonderful vegan dishes |
| typical American who is surrounded by fast-food | | | | include several types of stir-fry, swimming in soy |
| hamburgers and bologna sandwiches from a young | | | | sauces and fresh vegetables; salads overflowing with |
| age. But veganism is not as intimidating as it sounds. | | | | fresh beans and sweet oil dressings, and many spicy |
| In fact, when the right choices in recipe and menu | | | | and exciting side dishes and appetizers. Many people, |
| are made, it can be extraordinarily flavorful and | | | | for example, love the wonderful garlicky zing of |
| rewarding. | | | | hummus and do not realize that it's a distinctly vegan |
| Think of it this way: Vegan cuisine can't rely on | | | | food. |
| heavy, flavorful ingredients like meat and dairy to get | | | | Give vegan cuisine a try. Once you stop relying on |
| its flavor and substance. So what do they do | | | | meat and milk for your flavor and fullness, you might |
| instead? They replace those ingredients in a way that | | | | just discover a whole new world out there, where |
| makes you never even miss them- with fresh | | | | spices are abundant and soybean curd can be |
| vegetables, heady spices, wonderful texture | | | | delicious. |