• DumbAceDragon@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    A lot of vegan “alternatives” are actually really good when you know what you’re doing with them. I will take tofu or mushrooms over meat any day tbh. Problem is some people don’t know that and will just prepare tofu like it’s meat, and then wonder why their tofu tastes like shit.

    • polle@feddit.de
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      2 months ago

      I tried tofu multiple times in different meals as a alternative for meat, but sadly all were disappointing. Do you have recipes that you can recommend? I am eager to find one.

      • Alexstarfire@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Stir fry

        A lot of times I think the problem is trying to substitute the protein in a dish with tofu or something vegan. It’s always going to be compared to the meat version. Should just try to find recipes that were tofu based to begin with, like mapo tofu.

        • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 months ago

          I love meat, but some do the best dishes my partner and I have ever made are vegan, and fried tofu is a staple.

          We have friends who are vegan or have very strange allergies and have to cook for a mixed crowd

          Banger meals, seriously

        • polle@feddit.de
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          2 months ago

          I tried different recipes, but most of them were underwhelming, like the meal would be kinda the same without.

          Stir fry how? Which type of tofu, pressed? And probably dipped in cornstarch?

          • Alexstarfire@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Tofu doesn’t really bring taste, just texture so that’s kinda to be expected. That’s why I typically get firm or extra firm. I like those textures over softer ones.

            I’m not sure what you mean by pressed as all tofu is pressed. That’s how tofu is made. I’ve never tried dipping it in cornstarch so IDK how that would turn out. I don’t typically do anything other than cut it up and cook it.

            As for how to stir fry; I suggest looking that up. You mostly just use whatever veg and protein you want and add some stir fry sauce at the end. I haven’t really found one I prefer. I don’t do stir fry all that often. I really should since it’s super simple.

            • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              2 months ago

              Extra firm+fried in oil has never NOT been a hit for me! Generally sesame or strangely peanut butter has killed it among my non-veg friends, trying to make a dish for both non-veg and vegan friends.

            • Emma_Gold_Man@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              2 months ago

              “Pressed” tofu usually refers to firm or extra firm tofu that is then put under much higher pressure to expel not only more water but also most of the air, and has a completely different texture.

              Usually using something like this

        • Emma_Gold_Man@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 months ago

          They’re not mutually exclusive. For those too lazy to follow the link - traditional mapo tofu (like many Chinese tofu recipes) isn’t vegetarian . Tofu as a total replacement for meat is a Western idea - in most Eastern cultures that use it, tofu is just another ingredient and often used along with meat and animal based broths. The same is true of soy milk.

    • Jarix@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      That’s a really dumb argument. Sorry but literally every food is really good when you know what you are doing with it.

      It is not even a question of quality… some of the tastiest food is terrible quality used with great effect.

      That doesn’t even take into account personal preference, which is majorly just familiarity.

      The awards world is filled with awards that would never be given if there wasnt a story to go with it. This vegan cheese is an example of this as well.

      Problem is some people don’t know that and will just prepare tofu like it’s meat, and then wonder why their tofu tastes like shit.

      You arent even wrong about this, but you could say the exact same thing about damned near anything that has more than a single opinion on.

      Like literally exchange in what i quoted tofu to a burger patty and instead of “like its meat” change it to some aspect of the experience. Whether its what temperature to cook it or how thin or thick it is.

      Same exact argument based on different peoples familiarity. Many people dont have just dont care that much and also some people are really bad at cooking.

      To sum up my point, you are making a statement that is so broad it is useless