We have heard of jackfruit vegan curries, vegan burgers made of beetroot, and of course the wide range of soya and tofu related products. Now, the stage has been set to feature a new exciting vegan choice – banana blossom !
But what is banana blossom ? Is it a banana or it it a tasty exotic flower ?
Banana blossom is simply a purple-skinned flower which grows at the end of a banana fruit cluster. Grown in south-east Asia, it can be eaten either cooked or raw. When consumed, the experience has been described as having a chunky, fleshly texture that can be used as a substitute for meat. Some have described the blossom having similar texture specifically to fish and even lamb.
How can banana blossom be prepared ?
it is an excellent absorber of multiple seasonings
stir fry with other vegetables
it can be made as croquettes and dumplings
create a mince meat texture when diced small
It’s very interesting to see the rising interest of a plant based lifestyle. It is now believed that at least one in eight people in the UK are now either vegan or vegetarian.
It the above new to you ? Make a NEW START today. Your health is your wealth.
Can vegan milk be a tasty alternative to dairy milk for your hearty breakfast, midday lunch and evening tea ?
What is vegan milk ? Vegan milk is simply a plant based alternative that does not contain any ingredient that originates from an animal (i.e. cows milk, goats milk etc.).
What are common vegan milk examples ? Coconut milk, soya milk, rice milk, hazlenut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, hemp milk and even flax milk ! Vegan milk options are excellent for those who have allergies to animal milk or those who wish to consume healthier, cholesterol-free milk alternatives.
Most supermarkets and food shops stock a vegan milk type. You can even consume vegan milk with included natural sweeteners and calcium.
However, if you are adventurous, you may wish to follow a vegan milk recipe and create your own plant-based milk supply.
See a few vegan milk recipes below:
1) Soya Milk
Ingredients:
½ cup yellow soybeans (80 grams)
4 cups water (1 liter)
½ teaspoon of homemade vanilla extract or a piece of vanilla bean (optional)
4 dates (optional)
Soak the soybeans in water overnight for a minimum of 12 hours.
Drain the soybeans and remove the outer skins.
Blend the soybeans with 3 cups of water (750 milliliters) until well blended and almost smooth.
Strain the blended mixture using a cheesecloth, a napkin or a strainer.
Pour the mixture in a saucepan, add 1 cup of water (250 milliliters). Place the saucepan on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil. Stir and skim foam.
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
Let cool the soy milk. You can add other ingredients such as vanilla or dates. Blend the mixture if necessary.
Store the soy milk in a sealed container in the fridge for four or five days.
2) Rice Milk
Ingredients:
3/4 cup (150 g) uncooked long grain white rice*
4 cups (960 ml) water (use less water for thicker, creamier milk!)
Pinch salt
optional: 1 date, pitted, or 1 Tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup for sweetness
optional: 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
optional: 2 Tbsp (10 g) cocoa or cacao powder for “chocolate milk” or 1/4 cup fresh berries for “berry milk”
Soak rice in 2 cups very hot (not boiling water) for 2 hours. The rice should be soft but still very raw – you should be able to snap a piece in half with your fingernail without much effort. Drain and add to a high-speed blender.
Add water, salt, and any additional add-ins (optional). Top with lid and cover with a towel to ensure it doesn’t splash. Blend for about 1 minute until the date specks are very small and the mixture seems well combined. It doesn’t have to be 100% pulverized.
Scoop out a small sample with a spoon to test sweetness. If it’s not sweet enough, add more dates.
Pour the mixture over a large mixing bowl or pitcher covered with a thin towel or clean T-shirt. In my experience, it benefits from a double strain through a very fine towel. A nut milk bag lets too much residue through.
Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate. Will keep in the refrigerator up to 5 days (sometimes more). Great for use in things like smoothies, granola, vegan cheese sauces, and baked goods!
3) Coconut & oat milk:
Ingredients:
¾ cup rolled oats
¼ cup quinoa (cooked)
1½ cup coconut milk
½ cup water
¼ cup coconut flakes
1 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
If you already haven’t: Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the package
Add oats, coconut milk, water, vanilla, coconut flakes, coconut sugar and chia seeds to the pan and bring to a simmer on medium to low heat. Stir until the water is just absorbed and the porridge has thickened. Add oatmeal to a bowl and (if you like) add more coconut milk on top. Decorate with seasonal fruits or nut butter as you desire.
When the desire has come to consider a new healthy lifestyle including making changes to the diet, one of the most popular questions that arise when considering a vegan lifestyle is – “Is Quorn vegan ?”
Some who choose to adopt a plant-based lifestyle may opt to conduct dietary changes immediately from meat to plants (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains). However, many may choose more slower steps toward changing their diet that may take weeks or even months to make the complete healthier vegan change.
Quorn may be purchased from many food shops and supermarkets. In the past, all Quorn products contained dairy items including milk and eggs. However, more recently, Quorn has launched a new array of vegan, plant-based products.
Quorn have quoted on their website: “Our delicious selection of vegan Quorn products make great ingredients for really tasty vegan meals. Whether you are looking for a vegan lunchtime solution to create the ultimate sandwich, or dinner time meal inspiration with Quorn Vegan Pieces, Nuggets or our versatile Quorn Spicy Vegan Burgers. Explore our delicious vegan range and create all your favourite dishes.”
Some of the vegan Quorn products available include:
Quorn Vegan Nuggets
Quorn Vegan Fajita Strips
Vegan Breaded Fillet
Quorn Vegan Fillets
Quorn Vegan Ham Free Slices
Quorn Vegan Fishless Fingers
Quorn Vegan BBQ Strips
Quorn Vegan Hot & Spicy Burgers
Quorn Vegan Five Grain Fillets
Quorn Vegan Cumberland Sausages
Quorn Vegan Pieces
Quorn Vegan Burgers
Quorn Vegan Chicken Free Slices
See – https://www.quorn.co.uk/products/vegan – for more information.
In the meantime, please see a great list of vegan recipes that can incorporate your quorn product choices – Vegan recipes.
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