Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Crock-Pot Seitan Stew

We had been hoping for a rainy day like this because the girls have been waiting (not so patiently) to try-out their new umbrellas. I had forgotten how fun it is to play in the rain and not get wet! Weather like this makes me hanker for certain food. Comfort food -- warm & hearty. Food that fills up the house with a savory aroma. Combine the rainy day atmosphere with this awesome post that I saw recently at The House of Simon, and I was destined to make stew. I followed Carrie's step-by-step photos adding my own flavor.

Layered in the crock --
1. Red Potatoes, cleaned & quartered
2. Carrots, scrubbed & diced
3. Sauteed in soybean margarine: Elephant Garlic, Sweet Onion, Serrano Peppers, Shallot, Chili Powder, Sage, & Thyme
4. Sauteed in Soybean Margarine: Seitan in Mr. Yoshida's marinade
5. Water to cover Veggies, Tamari, Pepper
6. High for 6 Hours
7. Throw in a handful of fresh Green Beans
8. 3 Tbsp. Arrowroot Powder + warm both to thicken. Cover & cook another 20 minutes.

Mmmm-Good, we ate ours with a crusty, sourdough baguette from La Brea Bakery. Art says this is the best vegetable stock to come from the kitchen. I've decided that next time I won't put the seitan in the slow cooker -- I'll just brown it and serve on top of the stew at the end.

This really reminded us of stew we used to eat pre-vegetarian 16 years ago. Except this is the guiltless vegan version, and every bit as tasty. Removing meat from the bowl is proven to help prevent cancer, beat heart disease, lower blood pressure, prevent & reverse diabetes, gall stones, kidney stones, osteoporosis, & asthma (article). It's also good for the environment.
Methane is responsible for nearly as much global warming as all other non-CO2 greenhouse gases put together. The number one source of methane worldwide is animal agriculture, producing more than 100 million tons of methane a year. (article) Going meatless is good for your health, the environment, and the cow. So Dig in!

8 comments:

Elizabeth said...

All that, plus a vegetarian diet can feed an exponential number more people than a meat-based diet. (See _Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet_ by Frances Moore Lappe and Anna Lappe.)

Thanks for a great post!

bazu said...

In a word, YUM! I wish I had a new umbrella to play with. I also wish people would learn to cook without meat. I wish for a lot of things, don't I?...

Anonymous said...

If I had her cute umbrella I'd be impatient also! I've been thinking about making Carrie's crock stew for a while now. Glad to hear you also liked it.

KleoPatra said...

I keep humming B.J. Thomas's "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" as i look at that photo. SO CUTE.

The food is wonderful, yes, it is... Carrie had a great idea and you also make it look so good... and not too difficult. I wish i had a crock pot! That stew looks so hearty, healthy and filling... But to make it a real piece d'resistance... a crusty sourdough baguette to go with it? Mama mia! Delicioso!

Tho i am a sucker for the sun, i do love this kind of weather. We have been having some rain here of late as well...

Teresa said...

oooh Liv is so darling out in the rain with all her raingear and her new umbrella. I think that the next time it rains (probably tomorrow), I'll picture her and then I won't be so glum.

-Teresa

laura k said...

Oh ym, that stew does look excellent. It reminds me also of my mom's stew, which I used to love and have been meaning to veganize. It's raining here today, and I made a nice pot of chili last night for the occasion! Now if only my umbrella was that stylish.

Anonymous said...

nothing better than stew in a rainy day! the food looks good and the girl very cute!

Anonymous said...

Oooooh is Mr Yoshida's vegan? I marinated some tofu in it tonight and forgot to read the ingredients before I poured it on. We love that stuff!