According to food website Chef’s Pencil, veganism is at an “all-time high” in South Africa. Did you know that we’re ranked top 30 in the world where plant-based, cruelty-free living is the most popular way of living? Surprising stats for the “carnivore nation,” right?
Making the transition to a more compassionate lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for animals and the planet. And of course, then there’s the buzz about the benefits to our health.
Ready for more good news? A study done by Oxford University discovered that plant-based eating is actually the most affordable diet. By simply swapping meat and processed vegan alternatives for more whole food equivalents such as lentils and chickpeas (great in curries and stews), cooking becomes more cost effective without sacrificing flavour.
So, if you’re looking to take your green-filled diet to the next level, we have a few delicious recipes to share.
Try a delicious teriyaki tofu. You’ll need: 1 block of firm tofu, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce or glaze, garlic, olive oil, and sesame seeds. Now, Cut the tofu into small cubes and heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, fry the tofu cubes until golden brown. Add a little soy sauce and fry everything for 1 minute until the tofu is crispy. Turn off the heat, add the teriyaki glaze and minced garlic and stir together in the pan for 1 minute. Add sesame seeds and serve over freshly made rice. Voila! Delicious!
Vegan soups are cosy, nourishing and easy to make. For a delicious, smoky bean soup you’ll need: 1 can of cannellini or black beans, 1 can of kidney beans, 1 can of chopped tomatoes, a diced brown onion, 1 diced carrot, 2 celery ribs, 4 cloves of garlic, olive oil, 2 tablespoons of smoked paprika, half a teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds and 2 teaspoons of salt, 4 cups of vegetable broth. Now, sauté the diced onion, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 7 minutes, add garlic and cook for a minute. Then add the tomatoes, beans, vegetable broth, paprika, cumin, fennel seeds and salt. Simmer for 20 minutes. Consider adding a teaspoon of sugar to round out the flavour. Done!
Love pasta? Most packaged pasta is 100% vegan, simply check the label to be sure. Fry burst ripe cherry tomatoes with a little garlic in olive oil, season, and toss with fresh basil and add to pasta cooked al dente … easy, economical, and simply delicious!
However, if you’re feeling a little intimidated by a total plant-based diet, start with a few meatless days a week. The golden rule for eating well is to simply increase your intake of mostly plant-based, healthy whole foods; to eat less processed foods and fewer animal products.
Isn’t it time to live a little greener … a little kinder?
Source: nutriciously.com, eatingwell.com, thegreenloot.com, acouplecooks.com, health.com, express.co.uk, listland.com, vegansociety.org.za, theflamingvegan.com, theguardian.com, dosomething.org, thefader.com, iol.co.za, brandsouthafrica.ca.com, bigissue.org.za, veganfoodandliving.com, thesun.co.uk, goop.com, voanews.com, livekindly.co, thehumanleague.org, news24.com
