My Favorite Vegetarian Recipe
First, catch one vegetarian.
Gut, drain and skin in a standard manner for large game.
Remove head, hands and feet, reserve with skin on for final presentation.
Given the lean quality of most vegetarian flesh, stewing is an excellent cooking method. Poaching or braising will also work well. Roasting, frying, or broiling will require basting, tenderizing or added fat for best results.
Veggie Stew
Ingredients (quantities are flexible, use your judgment):
- one vegetarian
- water
- red wine
- rosemary
- thyme
- a few juniper berries (optional)
- black pepper
- pearl barley (optional)
- carrots
- parsnips
- mushrooms (wild preferable)
- celery
- green beans
- Worcestershire sauce
- bay leaves
- bouquet garni
Cube meat into one inch square, leaving excess in larger chunks for freezing.
Marinate in herbs (recommend rosemary, thyme, pepper, and perhaps juniper berries) and good red wine for several hours, to help tenderize.
Set water to boil in an appropriately sized cauldron or pot. You may need an extra large burner or open fire if you're making a very large quantity.
Add several bones to the water and boil briskly.
Brown meat lightly, in small batches, in a large skillet with butter and chopped onion. Brown lightly and drain when finished on a paper towel.
Remove bones from water and add barley, if desired.
Add carrots, parsnips, and meat.
Add bay leaves, bouquet garni, and a few generous splashes of Worcestershire sauce and more red wine.
Add celery, mushrooms (wild recommended), chopped onions and firm fresh green beans.
When done, serve hot with crusty bread. Can be presented in large tureen with seasonal greens or flowers intermingled with head, hands and feet arrayed around the serving bowl.
Especially festive for a holiday meal!
Next time: Vegetarian sausage and a modern haggis, plus making your own parchment!