Meatless Meals

We eat way too much meat. Whether that is the product of a rich Western Society or just because we are lucky enough to have it all around us "on the hoof", many of us are still in the habit of eating meat daily, and don't consider a meal without meat as a true meal.

Which is why bowel cancer is the new black.........

Our ancestors ate meat when they could kill something, then survived for the rest of the week on grains, nuts and vegetation. We could learn a lot from them. And we should.

Don't get me wrong - I love a steak as much or more than any of you. And we are meant to eat meat - which is why nature gave us canine teeth. But not EVERY day.

Today, I am going to blog on about meatless meals. Vegetarianism is a subject best left to the experts, and I would hope that true vegetarians have studied up and know how to get all the needed protein which you miss out on by not eating any animal products.

Many teenagers suddenly come home and announce that they are now "vegetarians." Usually this is a conscience decision, based on not wanting to eat animals. And there is nothing wrong with that, although I have seen some who then go on to eat nothing but bread. Usually white bread which is virtually nutrient-free.

People who shun animal flesh while still happy to eat dairy products etc., are easy to feed. Those who only reject red meat are even easier. Did you know that you can survive a long time on nothing but potatoes and fat? (Which I will cover in an upcoming blog.)

All of us should have at least three meatless meals per week. The humble omlette is always a good one, and most people have a recipe for Macca Cheese. Here is a really easy version of Cabbage Pie:

1/4 cabbage, sliced

1 large onion, sliced

2 tbsp ghee or unsalted butter

1 tbsp kecap manis (or soy sauce)

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1/2 cup grated cheese

frozen puff pastry sheets

Pre-heat oven to 180C. Take 2 sheets frozen puff pastry from the freezer.

Heat the ghee or butter until sizzling. Add the onion and scrunch it up until it separates, then add the cabbage and keep it moving around the pan until it softens and cooks down. Stir in the kecap manis and sesame oil, and cook a few more minutes until they are absorbed. Allow to cool. When cool, mix in the grated cheese.

Lay out a sheet of pastry and place the cabbage mixture on one diagonal half - see below. Fold over, but don't press the edges together, press it together about 1/2 cm in from the edge. Brush with beaten egg - don't allow the egg to go past where you have pressed it together - these two steps will give a far superior result.

Cook for 25-30 minutes.