The thing about growing up with a meat-based diet, as most of us did, is that meat is always the focal point. Meals are basically cooking some meat, and then adding a couple of sides.

And so when people try to go vegetarian or vegan they are stuck in a way of thinking that is like “what do I substitute the meat with? What’s the vegetarian alternative to chicken??” - and without meat the style of cooking they are accustomed to falls apart, their meals are pathetic, and they don’t know what to do. And so people think “I can never give up meat!”

Vegan cooking that just tries to “replace” meat will never be as successful or delicious as vegan cooking that has it’s own identity. To cook well in a vegetarian or vegan way you need to re-evaluate what kind of dishes work, and how you cook. Roasting and searing brings out sweetness and creates texture. Spices kick up the flavour. Sauces bring it together.

I am not actually vegan myself, though I try to eat meat-free a lot of the time. I am fortunate to live in a city that has a lot of vegetarian and vegan food. This is some of the menu from a vegetarian restaurant I like:

Ravioli - Spiced celeriac filled ravioli, sage brown butter, apple & chilli salsa, parmesan cheese & walnut crumb (contains nuts)

Crown Prince Squash - Roasted crown prince, seared oyster mushroom, pear ketchup, Wensleydale blue cheese & walnut crunch (ve option available)(gf)

Fennel - Confit fennel, spiced red wine poached quince, labneh & mint & walnut dukkah (ve option available) (nuts)(gf)

Romanesco Cauliflower - Roasted cauliflower, soy & cauliflower purée, walnut & red pepper dressing & crispy chilli oil (ve) (nuts)

All utterly delicious! :)

And I have to ask - what is it about vegetables that makes you need to throw up? Is that a medical issue or did you just grow up in a house where vegetables didn’t exist?