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Vegetarian and plant-based cooking can be intimidating to someone just starting out, but it doesn't need to be.
This is a simple, practical way to understand recipes. Recognize this pattern in new recipes, or identify the ingredients when you go out for a meal. As your understanding increases, your confidence increases. As your confidence increases, the fun increases!
Begin with a few ingredients you'd like to use and build it from there.
The Basic Recipe Formula:
1. Necessary (Main) Ingredients
2. Accessory Ingredients
3. Sauce
This applies to virtually any recipe. Here are some examples, to illustrate:
Salad
- Main ingredient: lettuce, kale or spinach
- Accessory ingredients: onions, peppers and tomatoes
- Sauce: oil and vinegar
Stew
- Main: tofu
- Accessory: carrots, onion, celery, and garlic
- Sauce: gravy
Asian Stir Fried Noodles
- Main: noodles
- Accessory: broccoli, mushrooms, and bean sprouts
- Sauce: ginger and tamari
Tacos
- Main: taco shells and beans
- Accessory: cabbage, jalapenos, and cilantro
- Sauce: salsa
Frittata
- Main: eggs
- Accessory: broccoli, herbs, and cheese
- Sauce: milk
Wraps
- Main: tortilla wraps
- Accessory: mushrooms, spinach, and eggplant
- Sauce: hummus
Sandwich
- Main: bread and cheese
- Accessory: tomato, avocado, and sprouts
- Sauce: mayonnaise
Muffins
- Main: flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda (dry ingredients)
- Accessory: nuts, fruit, flavorings, and spices
- Sauce: eggs, oil, sweeteners, and milk (wet ingredients)
Excerpted with permission from The Vegetarian Chef: Mastering the Art of Recipe-Free Cooking by Susan Crowther. Copyright 2015, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
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