The vegan callout: can we ever be as delicious...

Vegangreenbear

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Hi,

I am originally all vegan. But all my friends are European and Asian, and none of them will eat at my house because they say that although my plant based diet may be healthy, it is not anywhere near as delicious as their omnivore diets. So today we were arguing, and they called us all out... thanksgiving is a few days away, this year everyone is coming to my house for the vegan thanksgiving challenge, these meat eaters are CERTAIN, that thanksgiving dinner at my house this year will be not as delicious as theirs...

I NEED HELP!

In the entire history of the vegan culinary traditions, any culture, do we have any dishes that can match the tastes and complexity and textures and flavors of the legendary animal based kitchens; the great French traditional kitchen, the richness of Italian dishes, the flavor symphonies of the classic Chinese dishes, etc.

Please, if you know ANY vegan dishes which can at least match the first rate meat and seafood European and Chinese traditions, please let me know.
 
Hi,

I am originally all vegan. But all my friends are European and Asian, and none of them will eat at my house because they say that although my plant based diet may be healthy, it is not anywhere near as delicious as their omnivore diets. So today we were arguing, and they called us all out... thanksgiving is a few days away, this year everyone is coming to my house for the vegan thanksgiving challenge, these meat eaters are CERTAIN, that thanksgiving dinner at my house this year will be not as delicious as theirs...

I NEED HELP!

In the entire history of the vegan culinary traditions, any culture, do we have any dishes that can match the tastes and complexity and textures and flavors of the legendary animal based kitchens; the great French traditional kitchen, the richness of Italian dishes, the flavor symphonies of the classic Chinese dishes, etc.

Please, if you know ANY vegan dishes which can at least match the first rate meat and seafood European and Chinese traditions, please let me know.


Apply simple premise to any dish you wish to veganize. Use same spice combinations, amounts etc. Tofu and seitan, even just beans, can be marinaded and flavored like meat is often marinaded and flavored.

As a second step, use the same marketing language and/or visual imagery (legendary, "flavor symphonies" etc) to hype your veganized dishes.

If meat eaters remain unconvinced, keep aside a completely un-salted, un spiced or otherwise unflavored cooked meat side to compare to: no ham (already smoked/flavored), bacon (already smoked, often spiced), sausages (already smoked/flavored with herbs) or other prepared meat products.
 
Google vegan dishes for meat eaters, or vegan thanksgiving.
I have noticed, already, my tastes are changing, and Cheap Lazy Vegan mentioned it too in one of her videos, that beef broth, that she used to love, tasted too strong for her. Keep that in mind and use bold, strong flavors, spices.
Also keep in mind textures and naming your dishes. If you call something a "burger" (as an example) and its made from beans and rice, no matter how tasty and amazing it is, your meat eating friends are gonna struggle with it.
Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
 
Hi,

I am originally all vegan. But all my friends are European and Asian, and none of them will eat at my house because they say that although my plant based diet may be healthy, it is not anywhere near as delicious as their omnivore diets.

Please, if you know ANY vegan dishes which can at least match the first rate meat and seafood European and Chinese traditions, please let me know.

From what I'm reading is that your friends find that no plant based dishes, taste as good as meat or fish.

I really don't think that any vegan substitute will taste like the real thing as I suppose they are after both taste and texture.

Do you have a particular dish in mind or is it a roast turkey that you will be trying to duplicate ? It sometimes does prouve to be difficult
to cater for fussy omnis if they don't like anything other than meat or fish.

Some vegans don't mind guests bringing over their own protein and heat it up separately. I think that it all depends on how far you're willing to go to be able to socialise with omnis friends.

Many of us don't get invited because people say it's too much faff to cater for veg*ns and others will ask that you bring your own protein dish.
 
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Thing is, taste is an acquired preference. Different cultures eat things I cannot imagine putting in my mouth!
When most people give up meat for ethical reasons I think it's easier because they have a real motivation for being disgusted. If you've ever known someone who's been encouraged to give up meat for health reasons, without really wanting to, they find it much harder to enjoy plant based foods.
I would suggest trying to keep foods as close to what they already are used to eating
Like green bean casserole with fresh mushroom gravy topped with canned french fried onions
Mashed potatoes using roasted garlic, maybe some unsweetened non dairy or no chik;n broth.
A spinach dip using chopped thawed spinach, a block of silken tofu, a glob of vegan mayo, a pack of french onion soup/dip mix. Mix in some chopped artichoke hearts if you think they'll like it. serve with crackers and veggie sticks- suggest topping mash potatoes
sweet potatoes with garlic and vegan butter
Stuffing! I make it with waterchestnuts walnuts sauteed onions and mushrooms and celery and of courese served next to-
cranberry sauce
 
and of course while much of vegetarian Indian food contains milk, it's not in everything, and easily switched.

I'll never forget when i first met an engineer from a region of India that was vegetarian. It was in the cafeteria, and her look of absolute revulsion of people eating flesh never left me. She asked "..so you eat meat...often?"
Think about how utterly disgusting that is, what meat is is the same thing you honor in a coffin, the same thing that maggots feed on on roadkill....
So yes. Plant food can be far more delicious...
 
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You know what? As "fun" as this sounds, I would flat out opt out. These people are asking you to prove a point to them when they're minds are already made up. Take them out to a great vegan restaurant (and make them pay). Ain't no way I'd fork out a bunch of my time, energy, love, and money for a bunch of people with that attitude, let alone invite them into my home. But really, @Nekodaiden has the best response, if you're up for that kind of thing. Cheers and good luck! xo
 
...I mean really - these are supposed to be your friends?? They should be supportive of you trying to do better in the world, not giving you a hard time and challenging you to "prove" your choices are better better than the choices they are making. Doesn't sound like the kind of friends I'd care to hang out with, personally. J/S. If it were just a few comments in jest, I could deal with it, but the fact that it's creating so much anxiety for you tells me that's not the case. Enjoy your holiday - guilt and pressure-free. The only person you have to impress is yourself. 💚