Chorizo is a popular ingredient in Latin and fusion dishes. The spicy Spanish sausage is added to everything from breads to chili, tacos, paella and more. If you've made the switch to a vegetarian diet, you may be missing the fiery flavor of this pork-based sausage. But you don't have to go without. There are a few options for getting a chorizo-like taste from vegetarian products.
Make It Yourself
Low Budget Vegetarian suggests reconstituting 1 cup of Texturized Vegetable Protein, or TVP, in hot water by following the instructions on the package. TVP is sold at most health food stores and, when reconstituted, has a texture similar to ground beef. Add 2 ancho chilis and 2 guajillo chilis, 1 teaspoon each of oregano, cumin and salt or to taste, a few crushed cloves, 3 tablespoons each of olive oil and vinegar, a small chopped onion and a few cloves of minced or crushed garlic to your TVP. Marinate overnight and use as a substitute for chorizo.
Buy It
Well-known vegetarian food companies Melissa's and Frieda's craft ready-made soy-based chorizo that allow you to simply purchase the package and throw it into your dinner in place of traditional chorizo. These products are available in health food markets as well as in the produce sections of many supermarkets in the vicinity of tofu. Melissa's also sells the product on its website.
Half Homemade
If you need vegetarian chorizo in a hurry, you may be able to fake it with items already in your pantry. Grab some soy meat from your freezer or crush up some veggie burgers. Swing by your spice rack for chili powder, cumin and oregano. Grab some onion and garlic and spice up your soy meat or veggie burgers. Add to your recipe in place of pork-based chorizo.
Ways to Use your Vegetarian Chorizo
Once you have mastered making and handling vegetarian chorizo, you may be inspired to try some new recipes. Try adding vegetarian chorizo to your scrambled eggs in the morning or whip up the Vegan Spanish Chorizo & Fava Bean Soup described on VegWeb. You will master this new meat substitute in no time.
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