Recently, while house hopping down Washington Street, Ellie and I overheard the sentiments of our fellow students concerning the veggie vs. meat debate. As two food fanatics and living representations of both sides of this argument, we thought it would be an interesting endeavor to devote this week’s article to exploring the discourse around this question. As always, we will provide you, our lovely readers, with recipes that are sure to excite extremists on both sides of the spectrum. In the spirit of our very vocal liberal arts campus, we present to you two recipes that serve as prime examples of the strengths of both vegetarianism and, well, non-vegetarianism: the hearty yet healthy tempeh Reuben and succulent gut-busting steak sandwich.
While not necessarily the orthodox version of this typically meat-tastic sandwich, the tempeh Reuben is a vegetarian alternative that serves as an extremely healthy, well-balanced, yet delicious meal.
Begin by heating the tempeh in a shallow pan for 20 minutes. To add even more flavor, brown the tempeh in a few dollops of margarine (dairy free for vegans!) after it has been steamed, sprinkling each strip with garlic, salt, pepper or any spice of your choice. Although caramelized onions may seem like a tricky task, fear not my budding veggie lover, for the process is actually very easy, just time consuming. For four sandwiches, slice an entire onion into quarter inch wedges. Fry on low heat in olive oil for around 30 minutes, or until the onions are very soft, brown and have a sweet flavor. To help the caramelizing process along, sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar and/or some balsamic vinegar over the onions as they are cooking. While the onions are cooking and tempeh is browning, lightly toast your rye bread (or any other bread of your choice, rye is merely the classic) and set it aside. To make the vegan Thousand Island dressing, add ¼ cup Vegenaise (mayonnaise alternative derived from grapeseed oil), two teaspoons dill relish and three teaspoons ketchup.
The time has at long last come to assemble this vegetarian masterpiece; but first, one step remains. Add as many spoonfuls of sauerkraut as you desire into the frying pan with the onions and allow the onions to heat up and absorb all the delicious flavors. When it has heated to perfection, add the sauerkraut to the top of your tempeh Reuben, followed by a healthy dose of the caramelized onions and, at last, a generous spreading of the vegan thousand island dressing. Sit back, relax, and bask in vegetarian goodness.
Although the vegetarian Reuben is sure to leave you feeling sated, nothing says a happy tummy like Grandma’s steak sandwich. This simple, mouthwatering sandwich is sure to satisfy even the most ravenous hungers and give the Philly Cheesesteak some fierce competition.
The ingredients you need are basic: a steak, white bread, butter, garlic, onions and water. Your cookery: one big frying pan, a knife and a metal spatula. (Yes, this recipe is simple and delicious.)First slice the onion into quarter-inch slices and mince two cloves of garlic. Proceed by lathering the pan with butter and begin sautéing the two together. For better flavor, chop off bits of fat from your steak and mix it into the vegetables. Pound the steak until it is about an eighth of an inch thick and place it in the pan alongside the vegetables. This mixing of both meat and vegetable allows for an explosive blend of flavors and smells that will only further whet your appetite. Add a bit of water to the pan to create more juice for you to soak up with the bread. Take two slices of bread and let them soak up some of the juice from the steak, and then place the onions and steak on the bread and take a bite of pure heart-stopping perfection.
As you can see, there are delicious times to be had by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. With the vegetarian lifestyle, you are assured good health, unclogged arteries, a cruelty-free diet, and the undying gratitude of Mother Nature. Whilst vegetarian cooking provides a fairly guilt-free lifestyle, the benefits of consuming animal products provides you with a guaranteed source of essential proteins, an array of flavors in your diet, and a greater selection at Usdan. Whichever lifestyle you end up choosing, rest assured that you can dine in style either way.
Peace and Love,
The Freshmen Foodies
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