Have you been considering going vegan? A lot more people have been adding veganism or other plant-based diets to their bucket lists. So if you’re one of those folks who want to give it a try, but you don’t know exactly where to start, look no further!
Here are some excellent tips to help you make the transition, plus a vegan recipe for delicious breaded tofu that will have you coming back for more.
Ease Into It
There are some people that just go vegan overnight and never look back, but for most people, it’s probably a better idea to take it easy. You’ll find that going vegan is an entire lifestyle change, and for some, it might seem overwhelming. A slow transition into a vegan lifestyle can make it easier and less daunting.
Start with baby steps. Try establishing Meatless Mondays (or any other day of the week that works for you), and swap all of your meals that day with vegan meals. It’s a good way to start transitioning, just one day at a time.
Do Your Research
Any dietary change can require a little extra attention at first. You’ve been eating a certain way for your entire life, and you’re about to make a change to it. Reading up on your new path of plant-based nutrition is going to do you a world of good!
But don’t worry, this won’t even be that involved. There are plenty of (non-animal) sources for protein, iron, and calcium, so don’t sweat it. Google it, and see just how many answers you’ll find. Even still, it’s a good idea to know what you should be putting in your body to stay healthy.
Start With What You Know
Trying to stock your pantry all at once with exotic and unfamiliar ingredients might sound exciting, but it can also make the transition harder and overwhelming, not to mention expensive. Start with foods that you already know and enjoy.
For some dishes, it can be as easy as removing the cheese or using oil instead of butter. For others, you might need to swap chicken for tofu, or beef for beans. There are plenty of imitation meats on the market, as well, to help you with your transition.
Just remember to eat them in moderation, because they’re still not going to be as healthy as whole vegetables, beans, and grains will be for your body. (but they are very tasty!)
Eventually, you can start getting adventurous with your cooking, and I highly recommend it! But like veganism itself, it might be something to ease into, mostly so you don’t go broke buying a whole new pantry’s worth of ingredients.
Find a Supportive Community
Even if it’s just a couple of people, having a support system can make a world of difference. If you have friends or family members that are willing to support you, that’s going to be the best, but that’s not always the reality for a lot of people.
Try searching on Facebook for local vegan groups that swap recipes, answer questions, and host meetups or potlucks. You can also find a lot of vegan blogs to subscribe to, and sites like Pinterest are great resources, as well.
Learn How to Make Tasty Tofu
Bland, watery tofu has no place on your plate. Most people that say they don’t like tofu just haven’t had good tofu yet. So to get you started on your journey, here’s a recipe to make the perfect breaded tofu that’ll have you proclaiming your love for tofu!
Ingredients
- 3-4 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar (or other vinegar)
- 1 clove of minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1/2 cup of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal
- 3 tablespoons of water
- 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs (double check the ingredients to make sure they’re vegan!)
- 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
Instructions
- Drain the tofu, and then cut it width-wise into 8 slices.
- Layer a couple of kitchen towels on top of a cutting board, cookie sheet, or tray, and put a paper towel on top.
- Lay the tofu rectangles in a single layer on top of the paper towel and kitchen towels. Place a paper towel and then more kitchen towels on top.
- Place a large book, another cookie sheet, or another flat object across the top, and then set some heavy objects on top to press more water out of the tofu. Leave it for a minimum of 30-60 minutes, but a few hours if you have the time.
- After the tofu has been pressed, cut each slice into 4 equal rectangles, and then put all of the pieces into a container or dish.
- Mix the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and sugar together, and pour over the tofu. Let the tofu sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes in the fridge, but the more time you let it sit and soak up the liquid, the better. Turn it every so often to make sure it all gets the liquid evenly. I like to use an airtight container with a lid so I can just turn the whole container.
- Make a flax egg: mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal and 3 tablespoons of water, and let it sit for 15 minutes to set up and thicken.
- Set up your ingredients to bread the tofu: put the cornstarch in one bowl, have the flax egg in a second bowl, and the breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
- To bread the tofu, first coat the tofu in cornstarch, then coat completely in the flax egg and then roll in the breadcrumbs until coated evenly. Use one hand for the dry ingredients and one hand for the wet, so that you don’t end up with a gunky mess on your fingers!
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, fry the breaded tofu nuggets for a few minutes on each side, until golden brown. After they are fried to perfection, put them on paper towels on a plate to blot any excess oil.
Serve with barbecue sauce, ketchup, or any other dipping sauce of choice. Enjoy!
Kat Sweet
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