Gluten free, dairy free "meat alternative"

[SundayCrepes]

I'd like to add little accent pieces to my fried rice. I used to use morningstar farms vegetarian buffalo wings, but we are now a gluten free, dairy free, cane sugar free, and tomato free household. I want something that's a bit of chewy texture and super yummy. Someone briefly mentioned something like that made out of mushrooms or other ingredients but didn't leave a recipe (and I didn't think to pm them.) Oh, and preferably soy free.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[ahimsamom]

I really like making "nuggets" out of nuts! I use this basic recipe:

Sesame Nuggets

It is a raw recipe, but you can definitely throw them in the oven instead of the dehydrator. I do them at 350 for a half hour (depends on the size you make them...you can make them smaller, just try them periodically to make sure they don't get too dried out).

I am soy free too, so I use soy-free chickpea miso, sub coconut aminos for tamari, and leave out the lecithin. They taste great with or without the sauce. Sometimes I make them into really small chunks without sauce and put them on top of pizzas (like "sausage") and I imagine they would be great in fried rice that way too.

I also don't soak and dehydrate the sunflower seeds...I just use half soaked and half unsoaked (because I am lazy!!).

The recipe looks like a pain in the rear, but it really isn't that bad.

Everyone I have made this for RAVES about how good it is!

[homemademom]

Where can I get coconut aminos?? I'm soy-free (among other things) and I would love something like that!

OP, would a homemade veggie burger (with some sort of beans and grains) chopped up be too chunky for your fried rice? If not, I'd do that. Cook up some black bean and quinoa burgers (or whatever) the day before you need them.

[ahimsamom]

I used to order them from www.therawfoodworld.com and then I realized they sell them at my local health food store ! I know they also sell them at Whole Foods. It does not taste exactly like soy sauce (a little sweeter) but I think it's a pretty great replacement...way better than going without!

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by ahimsamom 

I really like making "nuggets" out of nuts! I use this basic recipe:

Sesame Nuggets

It is a raw recipe, but you can definitely throw them in the oven instead of the dehydrator. I do them at 350 for a half hour (depends on the size you make them...you can make them smaller, just try them periodically to make sure they don't get too dried out).

I am soy free too, so I use soy-free chickpea miso, sub coconut aminos for tamari, and leave out the lecithin. They taste great with or without the sauce. Sometimes I make them into really small chunks without sauce and put them on top of pizzas (like "sausage") and I imagine they would be great in fried rice that way too.

I also don't soak and dehydrate the sunflower seeds...I just use half soaked and half unsoaked (because I am lazy!!).

The recipe looks like a pain in the rear, but it really isn't that bad.

Everyone I have made this for RAVES about how good it is!

Oh no!!! These look good, but we can't do the sundried tomatoes. Will they be good without them?
 

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by homemademom 

Where can I get coconut aminos?? I'm soy-free (among other things) and I would love something like that!

OP, would a homemade veggie burger (with some sort of beans and grains) chopped up be too chunky for your fried rice? If not, I'd do that. Cook up some black bean and quinoa burgers (or whatever) the day before you need them.

Hmmm...Hadn't thought about that. Mainly because I don't have a good burger recipe. We could do black beans and quinoa. What else would you do to make the burgers?

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by ahimsamom 

I used to order them from www.therawfoodworld.com and then I realized they sell them at my local health food store ! I know they also sell them at Whole Foods. It does not taste exactly like soy sauce (a little sweeter) but I think it's a pretty great replacement...way better than going without!

I bought coconut aminos awhile back. When I opened them it popped and I was afraid that might mean they were bad so I threw away the whole ($6)  bottle. I just got another one at Whole Foods. I'm eager to try them.

[elluin]

My husband makes really good dishes with cooked (unsalted) cashews. Not exactly chewy, but they do soften when cooked to a nice texture and add a good flavor to rice and other dishes. Also, I think adzuki beans are a little "meatier" than some other beans, we use that for taco meat so you might be able to creative (canned might be too soft for this).

[ahimsamom]

The coconut aminos pop and sometimes fizz because they are fermented. Don't worry, they are still ok! Just be sure to stick them in the fridge after you open them!

You can definitely make the nuggets without sundried tomatoes. Sorry, I obviously wasn't ready carefully and overlooked the tomato free part! I leave them out often because they are expensive. I just make sure to add in some other veggie for bulk and texture...usually I sub with either one medium zucchini or 2 medium carrots.

I really like making millet burgers. I cook a cup of millet with 3 cups water, 1 carrot and 1 onion. Then after it's cooked, I mix it together with 1/4 cup oats, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, 1/4 sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons cornmeal, minced garlic, 1 tbs. coconut aminos, herbs and spices. We like it really spicy so I usually throw in a jalapeno too (an occasionally some chopped olives and bell pepper). We don't eat anything fried so I form them into patty's (using mason jar lids as molds) and bake them for 40 minutes at 375. I've made nuggets out of those too and they work well! I am sure they would be fine fried too.

[Anna06]

Sorry your title said no dairy.

Edited by Anna06 - 10/12/11 at 7:26am

[Heather30ish]

Originally Posted by elluin 

My husband makes really good dishes with cooked (unsalted) cashews. Not exactly chewy, but they do soften when cooked to a nice texture and add a good flavor to rice and other dishes. Also, I think adzuki beans are a little "meatier" than some other beans, we use that for taco meat so you might be able to creative (canned might be too soft for this).

This is what we put in our fried rice, and usually cooked garbanzo beans as well. Yum!

[SundayCrepes]

Where do you get dry adzuki beans? I couldn't find them.

Ironically, a meat eating friend texted me and said she has a recipe for little balls made out of walnuts and crackers that are totally amazing. The recipe looks good and I'll try it along with suggestions here. Just so weird she chose now to give me the recipe. I hadn't mentioned wanting one to her.

[elluin]

Our local natural grocery store carries dried adzukis. We're in southern California though - plenty of big health food stores here! Our farmer's market has some dried beans too.

I've seen quite a few raw recipes that use walnuts for meat, so I could see that working well too!

[dovey]

Here's a mushroom idea - a little expensive, but if you use just a little bit, it shouldn't be too bad. 

Slice shitake mushrooms and toss them in a little soy sauce and oil.  (Salt and oil would be okay too if you don't want to use the soy.)  Put them in the oven at 350 on a baking sheet until they roast to a dry and chewy texture.  They are pretty meaty.  We sometimes use them for veggie BLTs in place of bacon.

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by dovey 

Here's a mushroom idea - a little expensive, but if you use just a little bit, it shouldn't be too bad. 

Slice shitake mushrooms and toss them in a little soy sauce and oil.  (Salt and oil would be okay too if you don't want to use the soy.)  Put them in the oven at 350 on a baking sheet until they roast to a dry and chewy texture.  They are pretty meaty.  We sometimes use them for veggie BLTs in place of bacon.

These sound good. Trader Joe's usually has nice shitakes not too badly priced.