Feck it in the Oven, S2E2 - Alright, Yez Vegan Bastards

[smarriveurr]

Today, we embark on an entirely new challenge here at Feck it in the Oven Kitchens. After some wheedling, and cajoling, our Scrap Iron Chef has produced a meal that involves:

A) No eggplant
B) No onions
C) No cheese
D) No meat

No animals were harmed in the making of this dinner. 1 We're dialing this baby up to vegan. Truly, a cause for

Comments

[smarriveurr]

I like to keep it real. None of the values used in my cooking are negative when squared.

[smarriveurr]

I've actually fried them up a bit with pork. I'm more a fan of flexible noodles on average, though.

And, yeah, when what you want is ramen, but you settle for something higher-grade.

[desh]

That's my kind of meal!

[smarriveurr]

Enjoy it while it lasts!

Admittedly, I do have a chickpea-sandwich-stuffing-and-pita recipe and a chickpea macaroni salad recipe waiting to be FiitOKized. So... I dunno. Maybe you should watch this space.

[smarriveurr]

Huh. I'm now informed Oriental Flavor may contain "stealth shrimp." I thought natural ingredients weren't allowed in the average Ramen plant. But I figure if there's a person I know who might know where to find out if a product contains shellfish, it's my ol' buddy desh.

I thought about looking it up on halakhaornot.com, but apparently no one has registered that domain... yet.

[desh]

As far as I know, Top Ramen Oriental is vegetarian. But I don't have a magic site like that or anything. I just google like the rest of the world. Or I look at a package for a hechsher (kosher mark), but even that isn't reliable for surprise ingredients that don't affect kashrut, like fish-based additives.

I think we're only a couple of years away from mandatory labeling of all non-vegan and potential allergen ingredients, in any quantities, on all packaged foods. And it couldn't come soon enough!

[akiko]

*If you want it vegetarian, leave out the shrimp-containing flavor packets from the oriental flavor, or choose a different flavor that doesn't have stealth animal in it.

An easy way to drain the tofu is to put it between two plates and set a can or jar on top. Periodically tip the apparatus into the sink. It'll take about half an hour.

[smarriveurr]

Damnit. Shrimp are animals too, now?

And there's something approaching real food in ramen flavor packets? I am shocked and appalled. I assumed it was 100% all unnatural.

[akiko]

Yup. Vegans in particular won't eat anything that moved of its own volition or came from such (eggs, milk, honey). I personally eat tuna periodically, and eel nigiri, because I like them, and I can make vague justifications about ocean predators. But mostly I like it.

I know, it's crazy. Ramen flavor packets contain something that's not purely synthetic. Wacky.

[smarriveurr]

Damnit. Eggs too. I was gonna say, there are at least kosher parve brands, they wouldn't have shellfish in 'em. Right. Ah, well.

[smarriveurr]

I just can't win... I swear.

I'll have to bust out the chickpea recipes again. They just weren't as inspiring as the tofu lo mein somehow.

[smarriveurr]

That's a thought - I hadn't been aware of tempeh before. Frankly, I was surprised to find tofu at our market. ;)