Vegetable Lo Mein
white soba Japanese noodles (not buckwheat)
1 can water chestnuts
1 can baby corn
5-6 stalks of green onions/scallions
1-2 carrots
3 large handfuls of fresh bean sprouts
approx 3 tablespoon soy sauce
approx 1 tablespoon sesame oil
approx 1 cup sweet spicy chili sauce
optional: any other vegetables you enjoy! peppers, broccoli, etc! *note, if you are using
broccoli, it is best to blanche or steam first so they are not extremely crispy and
uncooked
olive oil or peanut oil (anything you prefer)
This recipe is very quick and requires little preparation, making it easy to make multiple entrees at once. I serve this with a homemade hoisin sauced baby bok choy side dish (have submitted the recipe as well).
*Sidenote: sweet chili sauce is spicy but is diffused nicely with the noodles. This product is found in a bottle in the sauces section of a grocery store (maybe in the ethnic section of yours). I purchase this at my local whole foods and have no problem finding different brands of the same product. You shouldn't have a problem finding it. It definitely makes the dish though. A must-ingredient! enjoy!
1. Boil japanese noodles for approximately 9 minutes, or until al dente.
2. Five minutes into the noodles being boiled, chop up your green onions and start sautéing them in a wok (or large pan) in your oil of choice.
3. Peel carrots and add the shavings to your pan, along with the water chestnuts (water drained), baby corn (water drained), and any other vegetables you are using (Note: not the bean sprouts).
4. When the lo mein is al dente, transfer the noodles to the stir fry pan.
5. Add sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and peanut oil. Mix well and simmer the dish for 5-10 minutes.
6. One minute before completion, add the bean sprouts. This ensures their crunchiness!
SO HOW'D IT GO?
Okay, now that I know it actually lists the ingredients, and aside from a bunch of lab rats getting diarrhea from the testing of curdlan gum (http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v44jec04.htm <-- fun read...), it doesn't appear that the vegan shrimp are guilty of anything other than looking very convincing, which they are designed to do.
Sorry for all the hooplah, I just like to be able to sleep at night without feeling that somehow we are being deceived into eating animal by-products in the guise of vegan-friendly fake seafood by the seedy clutches of our governments. Now that I realize that is not the case I am relieved. I just don't trust people on the subject, I've had friends' parents (when I was young) attempt (pretty sad attempts at that) to fool me into eating real meat by telling me it's fake. I am no fool, I always denied their faulty offerings, and was appalled that they would even try such a thing on me, knowing how strong of an animal rights advocate I always have been. Unfortunately, this has left me with a feeling of general distrust and suspicion when the subject of fake meat comes into play (especially convincing look-alikes).
Anywho, you are right Amy, there is no harm if its fake, I'm just the kind of person that likes to make sure.
I know how u feel... like all the "natural flavorings" and such that u don't really know what the "natural flavorings" really are... and it is kinda weird to see those shrimp looking things :( lotz of luv <3
I know... I was totally untrusting about the shrimp, even though the box said VEGAN. I went over the ingredients a bunch of times, and made my sister check, too. I wouldn't even get the shrimp, but my fiance LOVES any and all fake meat (he's only veggie because of me), especially seafood, as that was his favorite before giving up meat. So as long as they are vegan, and if it makes him happy, I'm all for it. =)
Okay, now that I know it actually lists the ingredients, and aside from a bunch of lab rats getting diarrhea from the testing of curdlan gum (http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v44jec04.htm <-- fun read...), it doesn't appear that the vegan shrimp are guilty of anything other than looking very convincing, which they are designed to do.
Sorry for all the hooplah, I just like to be able to sleep at night without feeling that somehow we are being deceived into eating animal by-products in the guise of vegan-friendly fake seafood by the seedy clutches of our governments. Now that I realize that is not the case I am relieved. I just don't trust people on the subject, I've had friends' parents (when I was young) attempt (pretty sad attempts at that) to fool me into eating real meat by telling me it's fake. I am no fool, I always denied their faulty offerings, and was appalled that they would even try such a thing on me, knowing how strong of an animal rights advocate I always have been. Unfortunately, this has left me with a feeling of general distrust and suspicion when the subject of fake meat comes into play (especially convincing look-alikes).
Anywho, you are right Amy, there is no harm if its fake, I'm just the kind of person that likes to make sure.
I know how u feel... like all the "natural flavorings" and such that u don't really know what the "natural flavorings" really are... and it is kinda weird to see those shrimp looking things :( lotz of luv <3
Okay, now that I know it actually lists the ingredients, and aside from a bunch of lab rats getting diarrhea from the testing of curdlan gum (http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v44jec04.htm <-- fun read...), it doesn't appear that the vegan shrimp are guilty of anything other than looking very convincing, which they are designed to do.
Sorry for all the hooplah, I just like to be able to sleep at night without feeling that somehow we are being deceived into eating animal by-products in the guise of vegan-friendly fake seafood by the seedy clutches of our governments. Now that I realize that is not the case I am relieved. I just don't trust people on the subject, I've had friends' parents (when I was young) attempt (pretty sad attempts at that) to fool me into eating real meat by telling me it's fake. I am no fool, I always denied their faulty offerings, and was appalled that they would even try such a thing on me, knowing how strong of an animal rights advocate I always have been. Unfortunately, this has left me with a feeling of general distrust and suspicion when the subject of fake meat comes into play (especially convincing look-alikes).
Anywho, you are right Amy, there is no harm if its fake, I'm just the kind of person that likes to make sure.
Seriously, Im not trying to sound like a big meanie, but vegan shrimp boggles the mind. I mean, do they list the ingredients? Is it *really* vegan (no added "flavouring" and such). I respect we all have the right to indulge in fake meat (or not), but something about these little curly objects posing as dead shellfish REALLY give me the heebie-jeebies (just like when I used to go to Chinatown in Vancouver and look at all the 'vegetarian' meat in their freezers and do a squiggly dance at the thought of 'vegetarian pork balls'). I mean seriously, doesn't their government have a shady policy about lying to the consumers? Our goverments lie to us all the time about food (and a bunch of other stuff), so why chance it? And if it really IS possible to make vegan shrimp, why aren't there any recipes for making it...
I apologize for not leaving this subject alone, but I feel haunted with the knowledge that somewhere... somehow... people are eating imitation sea creatures...
My sister once said to me, why eat something that is just like the real thing (in terms of meat) if it was given up in the first place. The answer: the meat is a poor dead animal. My immediate reaction to vegan shrimp is that my husband will be so happy for me to make *shrimp* scampi again and it won't have to involve real shrimp. I think there would be a major lawsuit if they discovered animal products in a vegan-labeled product.
Seriously, Im not trying to sound like a big meanie, but vegan shrimp boggles the mind. I mean, do they list the ingredients? Is it *really* vegan (no added "flavouring" and such). I respect we all have the right to indulge in fake meat (or not), but something about these little curly objects posing as dead shellfish REALLY give me the heebie-jeebies (just like when I used to go to Chinatown in Vancouver and look at all the 'vegetarian' meat in their freezers and do a squiggly dance at the thought of 'vegetarian pork balls'). I mean seriously, doesn't their government have a shady policy about lying to the consumers? Our goverments lie to us all the time about food (and a bunch of other stuff), so why chance it? And if it really IS possible to make vegan shrimp, why aren't there any recipes for making it...
I apologize for not leaving this subject alone, but I feel haunted with the knowledge that somewhere... somehow... people are eating imitation sea creatures...
The "shrimp" is vegan... the ingredients are: water, curdlan gum, refined konjac powder, modified tapioca starch, potato starch, raw can sugar, sea salt, white pepper powder, onion powder, garlic powder, yeast extract powder, seaweed extract, sesame oil, fermented rice vinegar, calcium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and oleoresin paprika....
I'm assuming the seaweed extract gives it a "fishy" taste... I just bought some after seeing the yummy looking photos... It may seem strange but it's not really meat so I don't see the harm in indulging once and awhile... I dunno... If it's fake I don't see the harm <3
Seriously, Im not trying to sound like a big meanie, but vegan shrimp boggles the mind. I mean, do they list the ingredients? Is it *really* vegan (no added "flavouring" and such). I respect we all have the right to indulge in fake meat (or not), but something about these little curly objects posing as dead shellfish REALLY give me the heebie-jeebies (just like when I used to go to Chinatown in Vancouver and look at all the 'vegetarian' meat in their freezers and do a squiggly dance at the thought of 'vegetarian pork balls'). I mean seriously, doesn't their government have a shady policy about lying to the consumers? Our goverments lie to us all the time about food (and a bunch of other stuff), so why chance it? And if it really IS possible to make vegan shrimp, why aren't there any recipes for making it...
I apologize for not leaving this subject alone, but I feel haunted with the knowledge that somewhere... somehow... people are eating imitation sea creatures...
Thanks 3relefords and the1stdrop for the information!
I am excited to try cooking with those products ... I have eaten them at restaurants ... and the fish is yummy yummy ... now I can check out some asian stores to see if they have the product. Thanks again sharing!
P.S. I just found this link to an online store with a bunch of options http://www.vegieworld.com/index.asp
Thanks 3relefords and the1stdrop for the information!
I am excited to try cooking with those products ... I have eaten them at restaurants ... and the fish is yummy yummy ... now I can check out some asian stores to see if they have the product. Thanks again sharing!
... and I loathe water chestnuts and baby corn.
Me too! Like seriously cannot stand them!
Hi! I actually get them at Whole Foods... the brand is VegeUSA and it says "VEGAN SHRIMP" big on the front of the box... They're really good; the texture is nice without being too like real shrimp, and the flavor is subtle and not too overpowering. They go really good in a stirfry or grilled on a skewer.
Pages