I'm sorry. There is something about vegetarian food in general, especially when turned into a dish that is supposed to be a meat substitute, that gives it the taste and texture of ground cardboard.
Why does so much vegetarian food attempt to be a 'replacement' for an equivalent meat-based dish? Why can't it develop its own identity? Dishes like this focus too much on creating a meat-like texture and not enough on taste. Don't you think that most plants taste better uncooked and uncombined?
A thought just occurred to me...
Have you ever considered giving your meatloaf a teaspoon or two of MSG in an attempt to improve the flavours and bring out the umami taste? This is the reason we use MSG in Asia.
And a PS
I was reading about the rise of lab-grown food on the BBC yesterday. Do you think a vegetarian will eat lab-grown meats?
I've always enjoyed the various stuffings more than the meat and I guess nut roast is another take on that. It's not meant to be like meat in either taste or texture (although both are important in their own right) but is an alternative something "a bit special" to enjoy with all the traditional roast accompaniments.
I don't really get the "jack fruit tastes just like tuna/crab/hamburger" idea though I guess they are a good half way house for people who are experimenting with less meat and a more vegetarian lifestyle. I'm not mad about Quorn bacon, sausages, chicken slices, or the various vegan cheeses etc - all an abomination, (Quorn mince gets a pass, though, very nice in cheeseburger pasta bake), and for me, fall into the ultra-processed range.
Not always and not always easy on the old digestive system - look at the bellies gorillas have to have to hold the extensive digestive system needed to process raw plants and, blimey, the amount they have to eat!
Hard to say: it may depend on what its grown from/in and whether it contributes anything to taste and texture. I find it marginally more attractive (that is, not attractive at all) than insects.
Sorry for triggering you 😂.
Haha not triggered at all! I just think it's a shame that vegetarian cookery seems to lack imagination. I was also going to mention the over-processing of commercial, vegetarian dishes and you make a very good point about stuffing although I'm strictly a sage and onion kind of guy!
I shall leave it there after being schooled on the digestive system of gorillas. I have no answer to that except that the squirrels and tree shrews are buggers for nibbling our jackfruit in the garden. Sadly we don't have any gorillas, though!
As always, take care and I hope the house renovations aren't causing you too much misery and upheaval. It will all be worth it :-)
Silly me, I've voted and it's out of time! When I'm on the big computer I'll send a tip. I agree, there's a lot of cons about vegetarian food, but I enjoy what I make at home.
Here's some lovely gorillas for you - Jabali, red head, 4 years old, and Ringo, 3 years old, half-siblings, live with their respective mums and dad (very patient) in Taipei Zoo, Taiwan:
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