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White meat
myths
Why white meat is not the
healthy option – and guidance
on healthier alternatives
by Amanda Woodvine, BSc Nutrition
Senior Nutritionist, Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation (VVF)
Contents
10 Recipes
Origins of the High-Protein Diets for 15
Protein Gap........................ 4 Weight Loss ....................
Luvverly
Protein Quality.................. 5 Cancer............................. 10 Lunches 15
White Meat The Effect of White
for Athletes?...................... 6 Meat on Cholesterol ...... 11 Main
Courses 18
Protein Over- Food Poisoning............... 11
consumption –
the Hazards ....................... 6 Diabetes ..........................12
Festive
White Meat – the The Acidifying Feasts 24
Low-Fat Choice?................ 7 Effects of
White Meat.....................12
White Meat –
a Superfood? ..................... 8 Ingredients and
14
Stockists .........................
White Meat – © Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 2009. Recipe Editor: Jane
Essential for
Growing Children? ........... 9 Easton. Published by: Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation, Top Suite,
8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH.
T: 0117 970 5190
E: [email protected] W: www.vegetarian.org.uk
Registered Charity 1037486
Design: The Ethical Graphic Design Company Ltd
White meat
myths Origins of the Protein Gap
In the early 20th century came the belief that we
should all eat more protein – in fact, good health
rather than red meat on the grounds that it
contained less saturated fat and was therefore
White meat – from chicken, ducks, turkey and geese – has depended on generous amounts of the stuff and less damaging to health.
become the meat of choice for many Westerners. The average nothing provided it better than meat. It was
person eats at least 1,226 birds in a lifetime. Chicken is the reckoned that hunger and child malnutrition in Speed up history to the present day and the
most popular, accounting for one third of all meat consumed the developing world was caused by protein shift in nutritional knowledge is astounding.
in Britain. deficiency due to a lack of meat. We now know that the average Brit gets far
too much protein – it makes up 15 per cent of
Recent fears over bird flu, food poisoning, dubious foreign This myth reached epic proportions in the the daily calorie intake when the maximum
imports and chicken meat pumped up with beef protein and 1960s. A UN report recognised there was needed, according to leading
water have all knocked sales. Yet despite all this, white meat’s worldwide protein deficiency and called for a health bodies such as the
‘healthy’ image remains largely untarnished. High-protein, “global strategy to avert the impending World Health
essential for kids’ growth and for muscle in athletes – you can’t protein crisis”. International aid Organisation (WHO), is
get a better marketing image for white meat than that! Sadly, focused on the so-called only eight per cent.
it’s just another of the myths that has bedevilled the national ‘protein gap’ and the USA
diet for decades. subsidised dried milk powder Most foods can provide us
to provide protein for the with this eight per cent, the
world’s poor. exceptions being fruits (only about
five per cent of their energy comes
Next came a report on diet and from protein) and most sweets and junk
heart disease in 1976 by the Royal foods. The WHO’s estimate includes a large
College of Physicians which safety margin so most people’s real needs
encouraged people to eat white meat are even lower than eight per cent.

4 White Meat Myths

In truth, the protein gap had disappeared ‘at acids in the body, of which it can make about contain. Research doesn’t support this view and is
the stroke of a pen’ in 1969 when researchers 11 solely from carbohydrate, fat and nitrogen. clear that both vegetarians and omnivores get
concluded that almost all staple foods contain
enough protein for our needs.
almost all staple foods contain
Good nutritionists know that by not eating
meat – or dairy, for that matter – you can enough protein for our needs
obtain plenty of protein, including all the
amino acids you need. Get enough calories and About nine of these amino acids are called enough protein, including plenty of the amino
you get enough protein! ‘essential amino acids’ and these must come acids they need, as long as they are getting enough
from the diet as the body can’t make them. calories. In fact, almost all foods contain protein.

Protein Quality Animal and soya products are sometimes called It’s relatively easy to eat enough protein if
‘complete’ proteins as they contain plenty of all you’re a vegetarian and especially so if you
Protein plays an important role in the body, of the essential amino acids. Many other plant choose foods from two or more of these three
forming the basis of muscles, hair, nails and proteins have relatively low quantities of one groups in a given day: wholegrains; pulses;
collagen – the connective tissue that holds the or more of the essential amino acids – the so- nuts and seeds.
body together. It also plays a part in regulating called ‘limiting’ amino acid. Pulses such as
the body, causing heart muscle to contract and peas, beans and lentils are a major exception to Says Dr Linda Bacon, nutrition lecturer at City
the body to digest food and is what makes DNA. this general rule and contain good amounts of College of San Francisco: “Plant products will
high-quality protein. Nuts and seeds are rich typically do a better job of meeting your protein
To make protein, plants combine sugars, which protein sources, too. needs than animal products, both because they
they make from sunlight, carbon dioxide and are less concentrated sources of protein, making
water, with nitrogen from the air or soil. The There is a persistent myth that vegetarians need to protein over-consumption less likely, and
end products are protein building blocks called be well educated in order to know which protein because they are more likely to be bundled with
amino acids (‘amino’ simply means nitrogen- foods to choose to make up for the amino acid other great nutrients such as fibre, vitamins,
containing). There are 20 or so different amino deficiencies that one food or the other may minerals, phytochemicals and healthy fats.”

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 5

White Meat for
Athletes?
Vegan Carl Lewis won six Olympic Gold Protein Over-consumption –
medals! Other veggie athletes
include Martina Navratilova, six- the Hazards Study, one of the largest and most
time Wimbledon tennis comprehensive studies ever undertaken to
champion; Ironwoman Ruth Ironically, excess protein is one of today’s examine the links between diet and disease in
Heidrich and London Sports big concerns, being linked to kidney disease, people. Big differences in disease rates were
Nutritionist Gareth Zeal, a osteoporosis, cancers, type 2 diabetes and seen when the amount of animal-based foods
champion weightlifter who cardiovascular disease. Excesses are usually a people ate were compared with plant foods.
could haul up four times his result of eating too many animal products.
own body weight! Even lean-looking white meats are associated The average Westerner gets well in excess of
with large amounts of saturated fat and their protein needs. British men eat on
Contrary to popular opinion, animal protein cholesterol – artery-clogging substances that are average 88.2 grams a day, and women 63.7
is not essential for building muscle. The belief that eating a main cause of heart disease, kidney failure and grams – both getting around double (15 per
animal muscle – meat – means you automatically build human stroke as well as many cancers. cent) the WHO’s recommendation
muscle simply isn’t true. Muscles develop by being used rather of eight per cent of calorie
than from eating another animal’s flesh. Gorillas are the most Putting these hidden nasties aside, there is intake from protein. The WHO
muscular of all primates and their impressive physique comes strong evidence to suggest that it is excess suggests that protein deficiency
from regular physical activity and a 99.9 per cent plant diet. The protein per se which plays a part in all is highly improbable in
remaining 0.1 per cent is from insects! these diseases. There is a compelling industrialised countries.
case that animal protein alone –
Even athletes themselves often believe that heavy training ignoring all the other damaging Worryingly, an average
increases their protein needs. Although their needs for certain substances that come with it – portion of chicken or turkey
vitamins, protein and iron might increase during training, these increases the risk for cancer, meat weighing 100g (3.5oz)
are all automatically supplied by the extra amount of food they clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), crumbly provides roughly half a woman’s
eat. This increased food intake makes lack of protein – or any bones (osteoporosis) and type 2 diabetes. daily protein requirement and
other nutrient for that matter – unlikely. Powerful evidence came from the China almost half a man’s!

6 White Meat Myths

White Meat – the Low-Fat Choice? Total meat & meat products
Poultry

1200
White meat is seen as, and often promoted by Professor Michael Crawford of London
producers as being, a low-fat, healthy food. It Metropolitan University found that chicken 1000

isn’t even close to being so. Chicken and all contains as much fat, gram for gram, as a Big

Meat (grams per per son per w eek )

meats are muscles, which are made of protein Mac. He analysed chicken thigh meat from 800

and fat. several supermarkets – even organic suppliers –

600
and found they contain more than twice as
Average raw chicken meat is 17.5 per cent fat, much fat as they did back in 1940, a third 400

rising to 38.1 per cent when roasted. Raw more calories and a third less protein. Someone
200
turkey is 13.7 per cent fat in terms of calories. eating a 100 gram portion of chicken would
Nearly half of the calories in roast duck come get 207 calories from fat and only 64 from 0
1942 1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997
from fat – and that’s only when the skin and protein – and this wasn’t the breadcrumbed Year

excess fat are discarded. Without that, 80 per type which is even higher in fat. Figure 1: Meat Consumption, 1942 to 2000.
cent of calories come from fat! Roast goose is Data from National Food Survey
not far behind at 63 per cent of calories. This
compares with one per cent fat in a baked a medium-sized chicken
potato and four per cent in baked beans.
contains almost a pint of fat
In fact, meat and meat products, including
chicken and turkey in all their guises, are the Even organic chickens didn’t do much better – Says Professor Crawford: “This focus on rapid
leading source of fat in our diet, including the 154 kilocalories from fat and 74 from protein. growth has changed the lipid [fat] composition
equally unhealthy trans fats. Not only are we This is probably because, despite having more of the chicken meat itself, and you cannot
eating meat in unprecedented amounts (see space than factory-farmed chickens, organic birds escape that – even by removing the skin and
Figure 1) but modern farming methods have are on the same regime of high-energy feed, little scraping away the subcutaneous fat stuck to
ensured that its fat content has doubled. exercise and being bred for rapid weight gain. the meat.”

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 7

The team also found that a medium-sized
chicken contains almost a pint of fat! White Meat – a Superfood?
Researchers at the American Cancer Society Amazingly, turkey is listed as a superfood in ingesting 100 milligrams of cholesterol with
followed more than 75,000 people for a Dr Steven Pratt’s book, Superfoods: 14 Foods each portion – the same as beef – along with a
decade to find out what is was that caused That Will Change Your Life. Turkey makes the scattering of harmful trans fatty acids.
their weight loss and weight gain. High meat top 14, along with tomatoes, broccoli, beans,
consumption was the food most responsible for blueberries, tea, oats, pumpkin, yoghurt, Cholesterol from white meat does just as good
their putting on weight. Both men and women walnuts, spinach, salmon, soya and oranges. a job at clogging arteries and causing heart
who had more than a single serving of meat a disease as any other cholesterol (see The Effect
day showed a 50 per cent increase in Dr Pratt favours turkey because it is the of White Meat on Cholesterol, page 11). The
‘abdominal obesity’ – they put on the pounds ‘leanest meat source of protein’. human body produces cholesterol on its own
around their middles. However, this position has and never needs outside sources. All
more qualifications than a plant foods are cholesterol-free!
From the 1980s onwards, it became common university. Readers are
for butchers and processors to trim from meat advised to eat skinless While metaphorically patting
any visible fat as part of the demand for leaner breast meat only (no more turkey protein on the back with one
meat. It didn’t have than three to four servings a hand, Dr Pratt assassinates it
much effect as week), don’t buy self-basting birds with the other, cautioning
people’s fat intake as they may contain damaging against too much animal
from meat has ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ and protein. Excess can lead to a
dropped by a mere only eat ground turkey (minced) loss of calcium and an
five per cent that’s labelled 99 per cent fat free! increased risk of
since 1983! osteoporosis, kidney
Even those who have the discipline damage, raised blood
to stick to the 3-4 ounce portion limit – cholesterol levels, heart disease and
about the size of a pack of cards – will be increased production of the

8 White Meat Myths

hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) why the National Academy of Sciences in the
– which is thought to boost the growth of USA advises adults aged 50 and over to obtain
cancer cells (see Protein Over-consumption – most of their B12 from fortified foods. It’s
the Hazards, page 6). pretty good advice for younger adults as well.
White Meat – Essential for
What’s enough? A meagre 45 to 55.5 grams a This begs the question: what is missing from Growing Children?
day and you don’t need to eat any meat or white meat? It has no fibre, complex
dairy to achieve it, there’s plenty in plant foods. carbohydrates or vitamin C. Fibre cleanses the There is a persistent myth that meat is essential for growing
digestive tract, keeping bowels healthy and children – perhaps more so than for adults. In reality, children of
Despite these hazards, Dr Pratt’s support for regular, slows the absorption of sugar and fat, all ages can thrive on a lower concentration of protein in their
white meat is based on it containing some carries away excess hormones from the blood diets than adults!
vitamins and minerals such as niacin, vitamins and lowers cholesterol.
B6 and B12, iron, selenium and zinc. But it One of the main causes of death in children in developing
certainly has no monopoly on them. Mixed Complex carbohydrates, found only in plants, countries is from something called protein-energy malnutrition.
nuts, cereal grains, yeast extracts, vegetables are relatively low in calories and boost It usually develops in those who get too little protein and
and fruits are all useful sources of these metabolism. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is energy – and these deficiencies tend to go hand-in-hand. Diets
involved in immunity, wound that contain enough energy (calories) typically contain plenty
healing and the formation of of protein (see Origins of the Protein Gap, page 4).
all plant foods are collagen in skin, tendons and
bones. When white meat takes the The real problem is usually quantity rather than quality.
cholesterol-free place of fruits, vegetables, Wartime studies in the UK found that orphanage children grew
wholegrains faster than the general population when they ate a bread-based
nutrients but without the potential for harmful and pulses you get less diet with only a small fraction (14 per cent) of their protein
side effects. It’s even been shown that B12 in vitamins, less fibre, coming from milk products. These children grew no faster when
fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals, is and unwanted nearly half their protein was from milk! Bread provided the
more easily absorbed than B12 in meat, poultry dietary fat and children with plenty of energy to support their growth, whilst
and fish – particularly for the elderly. This is cholesterol. meeting more than double their protein needs.

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 9

High-Protein Diets for Weight Loss
Protein is the most filling nutrient of all which is why high- While a few studies show that high protein, low-
protein diets such as Atkins came into being. But there’s no carbohydrate diets do produce some weight loss early on, Cancer
absolute proof that it’s protein per se that’s responsible for the long-term health consequences can be very serious.
weight loss on these diets – monotony and boredom from In 2007, the USA organisation, Physicians
the tight restrictions on what you can eat and ‘ketosis’ may Most of these diets contain less than 10 per cent Committee for Responsible Medicine, filed a
play a part. carbohydrates, 25 to 35 per cent protein and 55 to 65 per lawsuit against seven high street restaurant
cent fat. Protein comes mostly from meat, meat products chains over carcinogens in grilled chicken.
Ketosis happens when the body is short of glucose, the fuel and dairy, which are high in unhealthy saturated fat and
needed to power the breakdown of body fat. Lacking cholesterol. As they contain so much more fat than protein, Called heterocyclic amines (HCAs), these
glucose, the liver releases acidic substances (ketones) into a better name would be ‘high-fat’ diets. hazardous chemicals are directly linked to
the blood, much as happens in type 2 diabetes. But studies cancer in humans. They arise
have shown that ketosis is unrelated to weight loss. In other Over 400 people who followed one of these diets listed their during the cooking of many
words, low-carb diets do health problems using an online registry. They included meats, including chicken,
not trigger weight loss constipation, loss of energy, bad breath, difficulty concentrating, beef, pork and even fish. In
any more effectively kidney and heart problems, including heart attack, bypass January 2005, they were
than low-fat, surgery, irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and raised cholesterol. officially added to the USA
vegetarian federal government’s list of known
diets do. Of course, plants also contain protein but plants rich in vegetable carcinogens.
protein are low in the harmful saturated fat that increases the risk
of heart problems. Good protein sources include pulses such as HCAs form when sugars, creatine – a chemical
baked beans, peas, lentils and soya products, grains, nuts and found mostly in muscle – and amino acids are
seeds. They have the added bonus of being rich in fibre and eating heated during cooking. These are all naturally
two to three servings of these foods each day is recommended. present in meats. Some of the highest
concentrations are in grilled meat – especially
A low-fat veggie diet is a successful aid to weight loss. Try the VVF’s V-Plan chicken – which contains more than 10 times
Diet – order from www.vvf.org.uk/shop or by calling 0117 970 5190 the amount in grilled beef. Frying can also
(Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm). produce large amounts of HCAs.

10 White Meat Myths

As creatine is found mostly in muscle tissue,
grilled plant foods such as veggie burgers, The Effect of White Meat
veggie sausages or portabello mushrooms tend
to contain either no HCAs or negligible levels. on Cholesterol milligrams of cholesterol – an amount that can
add roughly 0.13 mmol/L (or 5 mg/dL) to your
HCAs can bind directly to human DNA, Cholesterol is a type of lipid (fat) called a sterol cholesterol level!
causing mutation and initiating cancer. One made by the liver and present in every cell in an
common HCA, called PhIP, has been shown to animal’s body, including human animals. It is Animal products also contain saturated fat
damage DNA even at the low concentrations found only in foods of animal origin – white which causes our livers to manufacture even
found in home cooking. Alarmingly, the pan meat, fish, eggs, and every other meat and dairy more cholesterol. Unsaturated fats don’t have
scrapings often used for gravy contain up to product. Foods from plants – all types of fruits this effect.
500 parts per billion of PhIP – hundreds and vegetables, pulses, wholegrains, nuts and
of times higher than the seeds – are cholesterol-free. Despite a welter of evidence that a vegetarian
concentration in meat! diet is the best way to avoid high cholesterol
Our livers make all the cholesterol we need – levels and the diseases which go with them,
According to Dr Michael approximately 1,000 milligrams per day – and official advice, amazingly, is not to go vegetarian
Greger, GP, author and a it is used in the manufacture of hormones and
founding member of the cell membranes and in other parts of the body.
American College of It follows that we have no need for cholesterol Food Poisoning
Lifestyle Medicine: “There in our diet at all.
does not seem to be a way to cook Over five million people suffer agonising food poisoning every
meat to an internal temperature necessary to Cholesterol can’t be avoided by choosing lean year in the UK and hundreds die from it. Most European cases
kill off [food poisoning] bacteria without cuts of meat as it’s mainly found in the lean can be traced back to chicken. If you want to avoid food
producing at least some carcinogenic parts. Neither is white meat lower in poisoning or any potential risk from bird flu then you’re advised
compounds. And even low doses have been cholesterol than red meat as chicken contains to cook white meat properly. But here’s the ‘killer’ – thoroughly
shown to cause human DNA mutations which as much cholesterol as beef. One small, grilled, cooked chicken can increase your risk of cancer.
could lead to cancer.” skinless chicken breast contains around 100

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 11

 but to switch to a lower fat diet – avoiding fatty
cuts of red meat, eating white meat and fish and The Acidifying
ditching butter for margarine.
Effects of
Dr Neal Barnard, president and founder of the
Physicians Committee for Responsible White Meat
Medicine, states that: “…chicken-and-fish diets
are not low enough in fat or cholesterol to do When certain foods are digested, acids are
what vegetarian diets can… The leanest beef is released into the blood. The body attempts to
Diabetes about 28 per cent fat as a percentage of neutralise this acidity by drawing calcium from
calories. The leanest chicken is not much the bones. This calcium is then excreted in the
New research suggests that eating just one serving of meat a different, at about 23 per cent fat. Fish urine (the calciuric response).
week could significantly increase your risk of diabetes. Published vary but all have cholesterol and
in March 2008, the study looked at the link between the more fat than is found in typical The sulphur in high-protein foods such as
amount of meat eaten and rates of diabetes in adults. More beans, vegetables, grains, and fruits, meat, fish, eggs and dairy products is
than 8,000 people took part and none had diabetes at the start. virtually all of which are well under 10 metabolised into sulphuric acid which can
per cent fat. cause this acidifying process. Meat and
Those who ate even modest amounts of meat over the 17-year- eggs contain more sulphur-
long study period had a staggering 74 per cent increased risk of “So, while white-meat diets lower containing amino acids than
developing diabetes compared to vegetarians. Allowances were cholesterol levels by only plant foods – up to five times
made for weight gain, which can also increase diabetes risk, but about five per cent, more. As the sulphur
independently of that, meat was an important risk factor. meatless diets have three content of the diet
to four times more increases, so does the level
Diabetes is less common among vegetarians and vegans, as a cholesterol-lowering of calcium in the urine.
21-year study of 25,000 adults in the USA found. Those on power, allowing the Research suggests that
meat-free diets had a 45 per cent reduced risk of developing arteries to the heart animal protein increases
diabetes compared to the population as a whole. to reopen.” the risk of uric acid stones.

12 White Meat Myths

The calciuric response may also be a risk factor on protein from pulses, cereals and other plant
for the development of osteoporosis. The foods produce much less acid than mixed meat
traditional Inuit (or Eskimo) diet is made up and vegetable diets – even when the total
almost entirely of animal protein. Inuits have one protein content of the diets are the same.
of the highest calcium intakes in the world, hitting Plant-based diets often produce no unwanted
as much as 2,500 milligrams per day depending acid or alkaline residues.
on whether they eat whole fish, including the
bones, or not. They also have a high rate of In her book, The Chemistry of Success, Dr
osteoporosis; even higher than white Americans. Susan Lark links an acidic diet to a range of
inflammatory conditions:
How much protein and its type can affect
bone-mineral loss in post-menopausal women. “As we age, our ability to maintain a slightly
The first real evidence came from Andrews alkaline balance in our cells and tissues
University in the USA in a survey of 1,600 diminishes…
women, where meat eaters (omnivores) Maintaining the cells
experienced almost double the bone loss of and tissues of the body
vegetarian women. in their healthy,
slightly alkaline state
It’s estimated that people’s consumption of helps to prevent
acid-producing protein has increased by 50 per inflammation… Over-
cent over the past 40 years and this includes acidity promotes the
chicken and turkey which are both acid- onset of painful and
forming foods. Over time, high-protein diets – disabling inflammatory
especially meat- and cheese-based diets – lead conditions as diverse
to a decrease in bone density. as… rheumatoid
arthritis and
The good news is that vegetarian diets based interstitial cystitis.”

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 13

Ingredients and Stockists
Praise Seitan! Chunky No-Chick Tasty!
Fake meats made from wheat gluten have been TVP (textured vegetable protein) is available in Thai Taste green or red curry paste is our
used in the Orient for hundreds of years at chunky pieces. It’s a good, very economical current favourite. Not only does it taste very
least, partly because the Buddhist tradition used white meat substitute, particularly in curries good, but it is also easily available in large
meat substitutes to cater for vegetarian monks. and stews. TVP is also available in mince form. branches of Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury, as
Both varieties can be found in large well as delis and health stores. And of course,
Gluten is a fairly pure, minimally processed supermarkets and health stores. For best it’s suitable for vegans and vegetarians –
food. It’s also a good source of protein, results, soak the chunks in very hot vegan unlike some Thai products, it doesn’t include
relatively low in fat and cholesterol-free. stock until softened. Drain and use in the fish sauce.
Seitan (pronounced ‘say-tan’) is another name recipe as instructed. The stock can be re-used
for gluten and is available in jars from health in soup or other dishes. Saucy
stores, such as Yakso or Vegetalia brands, You may well have your own fantastic curry
both organic. Vegetarian chicken and duck On the Curds sauce recipe – however, for those busy nights,
(gluten) are available in tins from Chinese or Tofu (or bean curd). The plain variety is a we’ve recommended Meridian sauces which
similar supermarkets at less than half the very pure food which is available from large are all vegan and readily available in free-from
price, but aren’t organic. Companion and supermarkets and health stores. Health stores sections in large supermarkets or in health
Mong Lee Shang are the most common increasingly sell other flavours, too. (Taifun stores. We’ve also listed a few other animal-
brands. They may have a Chinese name but brand is particularly good.) It’s often organic free curry sauces at the end of the recipe, but
will also be labelled as ‘vegetarian mock and is very good in stir-fries, salads and other do check with your local shop/supermarket,
chicken’ or ‘vegetarian duck’ or ‘gluten’. As dishes. The ready-made deep-fried pieces (eg as they may have a list including other
you’ll see in the recipes which follow, gluten is Cauldron brand) have a slightly more chewy suitable products.
an excellent white meat replacement in just texture and are usually popular with ‘tofu
about everything. virgins’! Plain tofu is bland but absorbs other
flavours very well.

14 White Meat Myths

Recipes Food to go: these recipes are not only delicious and healthy, but much cheaper than
Luvverly Lunches buying ready-mades at the local sarnie shop!

Creamy Mock Chicken,

Photo©Chava Eichner
Avocado & Tomato Wraps
Serves 4 ¸ 5 minutes

Just yummy…

n 1 pack Cauldron marinated tofu pieces OR

100g/generous 3oz of drained and thinly-sliced
seitan/vegetarian ‘chicken’
n 1 avocado, sliced/cubed
n 2 tomatoes, cubed
n 4 tortilla wraps (preferably wholemeal)
n 1 tbsp Plamil vegan mayonnaise and 1 tbsp dairy-free
yoghurt (eg Yofu or Sojasun), mixed together in a small bowl
n Black pepper

1 In a bowl, mix tofu or ‘chicken’ with avocado and

tomatoes and the mayonnaise/yoghurt mixture so
everything is well-coated.
2 Season well with black pepper.
3 Spread the 4 wraps out, put one quarter of the filling
inside each one and fold it over.
4 If transporting, wrap in foil or place in a sealed plastic box.

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 15

 Photo©Justin Kerswell
Coronation Salad Sandwich
Makes 1 sandwich ¸ 5 minutes
Based on the traditional Coronation Chicken
recipe, this is another luxurious, easy recipe –
just multiply the ingredients as appropriate if
you want to make more.

n 2 large slices of good quality Coronation Sauce:

wholemeal bread n 1 tsp tomato purée
n 60g/2oz vegetarian ‘chicken’ or seitan, n 1 tbsp Plamil vegan mayonnaise
sliced quite thinly n 1 tbsp dairy-free yoghurt
n 1 handful lettuce leaves of choice (not n 1⁄2 tsp Madras curry paste
Iceberg) n 1 pinch ground allspice
n 1 dsp mango chutney n 1 dried apricot, finely chopped
n 4 thin slices tomato n 1 splash lemon juice
n 1 sprig coriander, roughly chopped
n Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 Make Coronation Sauce by mixing all ingredients together

in a bowl, whisking well with a fork until well combined.
2 Add the mock ‘chicken’/seitan and coat well with the sauce.
3 Spread mango chutney on one slice of bread.
4 Place lettuce leaves and tomato on top of that slice,
then the Coronation Sauce/’chicken’ mix on the other.
5 Place the 2 bread slices together, press gently and
slice diagonally.
6 If transporting, wrap in foil or place in a sealed plastic box.

16 White Meat Myths

Photo©Corin Jeavons
Tasty Tofu Salad
About 6 servings – also great in sandwiches, wholemeal 1 Cut tofu into 21⁄2mm/1⁄8 inch (ie very thin!) slices.
pitta or tortilla wraps ¸ 50 minutes total: 5-10 minutes 2 Place in a single layer in two shallow dishes.
preparation, 30 minutes cooking, 10 minutes cooling plus 3 Combine water and soya sauce and pour over tofu.
marinating time 4 Marinate for 15-30 minutes.
5 Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400ºF/200ºC/Gas Mark 5.
A creamy, healthy alternative to chicken mayo. 6 Coat a baking tray with oil and add marinated tofu in a
The tofu can be baking and cooling while you single layer.
do other things. You can also do the 7 Bake until deep gold in colour – about 30 minutes.
marinating overnight to save time. 8 Cool, cut into thin strips, place in serving bowl with rest
of ingredients and coat with mayonnaise/soya milk mixture.
n 450g/16-17oz firm plain tofu, drained and patted dry 9 Chill before serving.
n 240ml/9fl oz water
n 60ml/4 tbsp shoyu type soya sauce (eg Kikkoman
or Clearspring)
n Oil or low-cal oil spray to coat baking tray
n 2 thin stalks celery, finely chopped
n 1⁄2 a large red pepper, finely chopped
n 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
n 5 tbsp vegan mayonnaise mixed with 5 tbsp soya milk

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 17

Main Courses
Mock Chicken in Mushroom n 2 tsp olive oil 1 If using TVP chunks, soak in enough hot stock to cover.
& White Wine Sauce n 225g/8oz chestnut or field mushrooms, chopped 2 Heat oil in a medium pan and sauté mushrooms until
Serves 4 ¸ 30 minutes, including preparation time n 1 clove garlic, crushed soft, adding garlic after a minute or two. Cover and leave
This is a simple variation on an old favourite. n 1 jar of seitan (health stores) OR 1 tin vegetarian to cook in their own juices, stirring occasionally.
You’ll notice that it gives three variations for ‘chicken’ OR 60g/2oz dried TVP chunks, soaked in stock 3 Meanwhile, mix a few tbsp of the soya milk in a small
the chicken substitute, so you may want to try made from 200ml/7fl oz hot water and 1⁄2 tsp vegan bowl with the cornflour. Set aside.
the recipe out with each one and then decide bouillon powder 4 Add rest of soya milk to mushrooms in pan, plus the
on your favourite! n 360ml/13fl oz soya milk (plus a little extra if sauce wine/sherry, herbs, nutmeg and soya sauce/Aminos.
too thick, or use some stock) 5 Add cornflour liquid and stir in well.
n 2 level tbsp cornflour

Photo©Chava Eichner
6 Bring to boil, stirring frequently, until sauce starts to
n 2 tbsp white wine OR dry sherry thicken. Add a little more soya milk or stock if sauce is
n 1⁄4 -1⁄2 tsp dried thyme too thick.
n 1⁄2 tsp dried tarragon 7 Simmer for a few minutes then taste and season.
n Small bay leaf 8 If using seitan/vegetarian ‘chicken’, chop into chunks. If
n Pinch ground nutmeg using TVP, drain. Add chunks of choice to the sauce.
n Dash of soya sauce OR Aminos (lower in salt than 9 Leave everything to cook on a low heat (a heat diffuser
soya sauce. Braggs or Marigold brands available in is even better)*, stirring regularly for 20 minutes. Taste
health stores) and add salt and black pepper if necessary. Remove bay
n Salt to taste leaf before serving.
n Lots of freshly ground black pepper 10 Serve with cooked pasta or rice and steamed
vegetables or salad. Also nice with a baked sweet potato.

*Heat diffusers or simmer rings are perforated metal plates (sometimes with a handle) that allow you to simmer liquids
very slowly and gently. They are available from good hardware stores, kitchen stores and the like from around £4. Best
used on gas flames but check the instructions.

18 White Meat Myths

Mock Duck Pancakes n 2 tsp cornflour 8 Heat a wok or large frying-pan until hot. Add oil, then
Serves 4 ¸ 10-15 minutes n 1 tsp root ginger, grated stir-fry red pepper and seitan or mock ‘duck’ until red
n 1 large clove garlic, crushed pepper softened and seitan/mock ‘duck’ browned – about
This is a brilliant (and fast) healthy alternative n 1⁄2 -1 tsp dark miso, to taste (available from health 3 minutes.
to the traditional recipe – and much kinder to stores) – or use black bean sauce if you can’t find miso 9 Just before the end, add the beansprouts and
ducks, of course. Because you assemble each warm through with rest of stir-fry. Place stir-fry in a
wrap yourself and pass dishes around, it’s also 1 Prepare all vegetables for stir-fry, accompaniments and serving bowl.
a very communal-style meal – a great sauce. Place sliced spring onions and radishes in separate 10 Put all bowls of food and wraps on the table. Each
conversation starter! small bowls – they don’t need cooking. person takes a wrap and smears a little sauce on it. Add a
2 Slice seitan or mock ‘duck’ into very thin slices. few spring onions, radish slices and stir-fry mix to wrap.
Stir-fry: 3 Make sauce. Place all sauce ingredients (except miso) in 11 Roll up and eat and repeat until you’re full!
n 1 tbsp cooking oil (not olive) a small pan.
n 1 large red pepper, cut into thin strips 4 Heat gently until simmering,
n 1 jar seitan OR tin of vegetarian ‘duck’ stirring continuously.
n 1 bag of fresh beansprouts 5 When sauce is thickened, add
the miso to taste. Place in a
Accompaniments: small serving bowl and keep
n 1 small bunch radishes, cut into slices warm until rest of meal
n 1 bunch spring onions, cut into approximately 7cm/3 is ready.
inch slices and then into thin slivers lengthways 6 Slice wraps into 2 or 4 pieces,
n 4-8 soft tortilla wraps (preferably wholemeal) OR 1 pack depending on size (no need to
of Chinese pancakes (available in freezers in Oriental stores) do this if you have Chinese
pancakes, as they are small).
Sauce: 7 Gently warm the wraps in
n 4 tbsp shoyu soya sauce oven or microwave and keep
n 2 tbsp rice or cider vinegar warm in a clean tea-towel
n 2 tsp date or maple syrup or foil.

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 19

Quick Thai Curry n 4 Kaffir lime leaves, left whole (available from 6 Stir in the curry paste and coat everything well.
Serves 4-6 ¸ 10 minutes preparation, 30 minutes cooking Waitrose and other good supermarkets) 7 Gradually stir in coconut milk – stop if curry starts to
n 400ml/14fl oz can coconut milk (reduced fat if available) look too watery – and simmer until vegetables are
You can make the curry red or green, according n Salt and freshly ground black pepper tender. Add TVP chunks if using.
to preference. This recipe is a lovely – and easy! n Juice of 1⁄2 a lime or more, to taste 8 If using tofu pieces OR mock ‘chicken’ pieces, add these
– way to make this popular dish. It’s also very n Generous handful of fresh coriander leaves, washed, just before the end.
good made in a slow cooker/crock pot. dried and coarsely chopped 9 When vegetables are cooked, taste, add lime juice and
n Few Thai basil leaves, washed, dried and coarsely salt and pepper to taste.
To Serve: chopped – or use ordinary basil if you can’t find it 10 Just before serving, stir in fresh coriander, basil leaves
n 330g/12oz brown basmati or short grain brown rice n Handful of roasted cashews for garnish and roasted cashew nuts.

Curry: 1 Put the rice on to cook with enough water to just cover Thai Taste curry paste is available in tubs from Tesco,
n 1 pack plain tofu, cut into 8-12 cubes plus a little oil it – top up with boiling water if it starts to stick. Cook Sainsbury and Waitrose, as well as independent health
or low-cal oil spray to fry it OR 1 tin vegetarian until it is slightly sticky and keep warm. stores and delis.
‘chicken’, drained and chopped OR 60g TVP chunks, 2 If using TVP chunks, put them to soak in hot stock
soaked in stock made from 200ml/7fl oz hot water and immediately after the rice goes on. Cover and set aside.
1
⁄2 tsp vegan bouillon powder 3 If using tofu, in a non-stick
n 1 tbsp oil or heavy-bottomed frying pan,
n 1 medium-large onion, chopped fry tofu cubes in the oil until
n 4 cloves garlic, crushed golden on each side. Drain on
n 1-2 dsp Thai Taste red or green curry paste (see below kitchen paper and set aside.
for availability) 4 Now cook the vegetables:
n 1kg/generous 2lbs assorted vegetables: eg French or sauté onion in the oil until it
other long green beans; baby sweetcorn; red pepper cut starts to soften.
into bite-sized pieces; aubergine, cut into 2cm/1 inch 5 Add garlic, rest of vegetables
chunks; broccoli florets and lime leaves and cook for a
further few minutes.

20 White Meat Myths

 Photo©Chava Eichner
Mock Chicken Satay
Serves 3-4 ¸ 20-30 minutes

Serve with brown rice or wholemeal noodles

and a large mixed salad for a quick and
delicious meal. The sauce is really easy and a
sure-fire hit; it’s also great with stir-fries!

To Serve:
n 200g/7oz brown rice cooked in 450-500ml water
(about 16-18fl oz)
OR a 300g pack wholemeal noodles

Skewers:
n 1 jar of seitan OR 1 tin vegetarian ‘chicken’, drained,
will make approximately 40 medium pieces – 8 skewers n 180ml/61⁄2fl oz hot water smooth and warm gently until thickened. Keep warm.
each containing about 5 pieces OR use 1 packet of n 2 tbsp cider vinegar 4 If using noodles, cook now according to packet
Cauldron marinated tofu pieces n 1 tbsp soya sauce instructions. Rinse and keep warm.
n 8 x 20cm/8 inch wooden skewers n Large pinch chilli powder 5 Thread the seitan, ‘chicken’ or tofu pieces on skewers. If
n Low-cal oil spray or a little oil using seitan or vegetarian ‘chicken’, oil lightly. Place
n Ingredients for large mixed salad of your choice skewers under grill for about 3-4 minutes per side – but
Satay (Spicy Peanut) Sauce: keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn.
n 125ml/8 level tbsp smooth peanut butter 1 If using brown rice, place it and water in a medium pan 6 Make salad if having.
n 1⁄2 tbsp root ginger, grated on the hob to cook first, as it takes about 20-25 minutes. 7 If sauce is too thick, add more hot water but adjust
n 1⁄2 tbsp garlic, crushed (about 2 medium cloves) Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer. seasoning to taste.
n 2 tsp date syrup or a little brown sugar 2 Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium. 8 Serve ‘chicken’ skewers on a bed of rice or noodles,
n 2 tsp tomato puree 3 Make the sauce. Mix all sauce ingredients in a pan until topped with sauce.

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 21

Mock Chicken & Cauliflower tofu plus low-cal oil spray for frying 9 Add ‘chicken’: drained TVP chunks OR cooked tofu
Curry with Pilau Rice n 300ml/10fl oz vegetable stock or water chunks OR vegetarian ‘chicken’ pieces.
Serves 4 ¸ 10 minutes preparation time, 25-30 minutes n 2 tsp cornflour 10 In a small container, mix soya/rice milk and cornflour
cooking time n 100ml/generous 3fl oz soya or rice milk to a smooth paste.
n 2 tbsp plain soya yoghurt 11 Add this and the curry sauce to the pan. Stir well so all
A mellow curry that will please everyone – just n Salt to taste – if you’ve used salted stock, taste curry ingredients are coated with sauce.
have some hot pepper sauce available for those before adding any extra salt 12 Bring to boil, stirring continuously then simmer for a
who like a bit of a kick to their food! n 1 tsp garam masala further 5-10 minutes, or until cauliflower is cooked.
Check seasoning.
n 225g/8oz basmati brown rice (or use long grain 1 Heat oil in a medium-large saucepan and sauté garlic 13 Check that the rice doesn’t need any more fluid.
brown rice if not available/too expensive) and rice for a few minutes, stirring continuously until rice 14 Just before serving, add the yoghurt and garam
n 1 tsp vegetable oil is evenly coated with oil. masala and mix in to the curry.
n 3 large garlic cloves, crushed 2 Add turmeric, water and salt. 15 Serve curry on a bed of rice, sprinkled with chopped
n 600ml/20fl oz water 3 Cook for 20-25 minutes or until rice tender but not mushy. coriander. Serve with chapattis and chutney as desired.
n 1⁄2 tsp turmeric 4 Meanwhile, prepare tofu or TVP chunks if using.
n 1 heaped tbsp fresh coriander, chopped

Photo©Chava Eichner
5 If using tofu, drain off all liquid in packet, then press
n Salt with kitchen paper or a clean tea towel to extract as
much excess liquid as possible. Chop into cubes and
Curry: lightly fry in 2 squirts of low-cal oil spray until each side
n 1 tbsp vegetable oil is golden brown. Set aside.
n 1 medium onion, finely chopped 6 If using TVP chunks, soak in hot stock, cover and set aside.
n 1 small cauliflower, cut into small florets 7 Make curry: in a medium-large pan, heat oil and sauté
n 1 jar of Meridian Korma or other of their mild- onion and cauliflower for 5 minutes.
medium curry sauces, eg Tikka Masala or Dopiaza* 8 Add stock/water, bring to boil then cover and simmer
n 60g/2oz TVP chunks, soaked in 1⁄2 tsp vegan bouillon for about 10 minutes. (Add a little more fluid if necessary *Co-op Balti Cook-in Sauce; Patak’s Balti Sauce in a jar;
and 200ml/7fl oz just boiled water OR 1 tin vegetarian to ensure the cauliflower cooks without sticking.) Patak’s Mild Balti Sauce in a tin; and Iceland Curry sauce
‘chicken’, drained and cut into chunks OR 1 pack plain are also suitable

22 White Meat Myths

 Photo©Chava Eichner
Mock Duck à L’Orange with 1 If serving with new potatoes, put them on to cook now
Steamed Broccoli – or else fry pre-cooked potatoes and keep warm in the
Serves 2 ¸ 20-25 minutes, including preparation time oven while you get everything else ready.
2 In a frying pan or a wide-bottomed saucepan heat the
An easy recipe which has a fraction of the fat orange juice, zest and stock.
content of the original – not only is duck 3 Add the arrowroot and whisk in, stirring well. Bring to
cruelly produced but it is a very unhealthy, the boil and simmer until sauce is reduced by half.
fatty meat. 4 Meanwhile, put the broccoli on to steam. Cook for just
a few minutes – check it isn’t overcooking. It should have
Serving suggestions: boiled new potatoes OR pre- a little bite to it. If necessary, place in a covered dish in
cooked potatoes lightly fried in a non-stick frying pan the oven and keep warm until you’re ready to eat.
with 2-3 squirts of low-cal oil spray 5 While sauce and broccoli are cooking, drain the liquid
from the seitan/mock ‘duck’ and press with the back of a
Orange Sauce: wooden spatula to get rid of any more liquid (as much
n Juice of 2 oranges as possible).
n Zest of 1 orange 6 Heat the olive oil in a non-stick or heavy frying pan.
n 100ml/4fl oz vegetable stock 7 Season the seitan/mock ‘duck’ with salt and freshly
n 1⁄2 tsp arrowroot, dissolved in a little cold orange juice ground black pepper. Depending on the brand, you may
n 1 medium head of broccoli, chopped into florets and have a few ‘bitty’ pieces rather than all large
the outside stalks peeled thinly to get rid of the woody chunks/steaks. This doesn’t matter.
outer layer 8 Fry mock meat until each piece is lightly browned on
n 1 tin mock ‘duck’ OR 1 jar seitan both sides.
n 1 tsp olive oil 9 Serve with broccoli and orange sauce – and potatoes if
n Salt and freshly ground black pepper you’ve cooked them.

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 23

Festive Feasts
These are great any time, but particularly n 110g/4oz red lentils 3 Meanwhile, cut the aubergine in half, then chop into
Christmas – or in the case of the Haggis, on n 25g/1oz porcini mushrooms small chunks, along with the courgette. Lay aubergine out
Burn’s Night! n 230g/8oz mixed nuts on a plate and sprinkle with salt (this is to reduce their
n 1 aubergine bitterness). Leave for 20 minutes also.
Luxury Festive Roast n Pinch of salt 4 Now chop the carrot, celery, onion and mushrooms into
Serves 6-8 ¸ 1 hour 45 minutes total: 30 minutes n 1⁄2 a large courgette small chunks. Pass them through a food processor or
preparation and cooking; 1 hour roasting; 15 minutes n 1 large carrot blender until they are quite finely chopped.
cooling time n 2 celery sticks 5 Melt the vegan margarine in a wok or large frying
n 1 large onion pan and fry the vegetables for 5 minutes, stirring in the
Probably the tastiest Christmas Roast you will n 100g/31⁄2oz mushrooms curry powder.
ever eat! Teeming with juicy nuts, pulses, n 4 tbsp dairy-free margarine (eg Pure, Vitalite or Suma 6 Drain and chop the porcini mushrooms, then mix in a
porcini mushrooms and other surprises. brands) plus a little extra margarine or oil for baking tin bowl with the lentils, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce,
Although there seem a lot of ingredients, most n 2 tbsp tomato ketchup parsley, apricots, soya flour and water. Mix well.
of the preparation takes place while the lentils n 2 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce 7 Add in mixture from wok and mix all together.
are cooking! And of course, you can be n 2 tbsp mild curry powder 8 Grease a large bread tin with oil or vegan margarine,
roasting/steaming vegetables and making gravy n 4 tbsp chopped parsley then line with greaseproof paper.
while the roast is in the oven… n 10g/1⁄3oz chopped dried apricots 9 Press 4 tbsp of the mixture into the tin, then spread
n 2 tbsp soya flour over a layer of pesto. Spoon in the rest of the mixture
n 110ml/5fl oz water
Photo©Helen Rossiter

and smooth over.

n Vegan pesto (eg Zest, Suma or Meridian brands, 10 Bake for about 1 hour until just firm, covering the top
available from large supermarkets or health stores) with a piece of greaseproof paper if it starts to burn.
n 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts 11 Sprinkle with pine nuts to finish, then holding the
sides of the greaseproof paper, gently pull the loaf out
1 Preheat oven to 190ºC/375ºF/Gas Mark 5. onto a plate or serving tray.
2 Gently boil the lentils for around 20 minutes and soak 12 Trim down the paper along the edges, allow to cool for
the porcini mushrooms in hot, freshly boiled water for 15 minutes, then cut into slices and serve with our gravy
the same time. recipe (see page 27).

24 White Meat Myths

 Photo©Mary Welsh
Chestnut Paté en Crôute 1 Fry the onions and celery in the oil in a large saucepan,
Serves 6 ¸ Approximately 55 minutes: 5-10 minutes covered, for 10 minutes.
preparation; 13 minutes cooking; 25-30 minutes baking time 2 Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for 2-3
minutes.
Thanks to Rose Elliot, the goddess of veggie 3 Mix in the chestnut puree, breadcrumbs, brandy and
food, for the lovely recipe! This is so easy – seasoning.
and it frees you up to do other things while it’s 4 Preheat the oven to 230°C/450°F/Gas Mark 8.
baking. Serve with piles of roast potatoes, 5 Put the pastry on a baking sheet. Pile the chestnut
butternut squash and parsnips – plus gravy, mixture lengthways down the middle third – you may
of course! need more than one sheet of pastry.
6 Make diagonal cuts 1cm/1⁄2 inch apart on the pastry on
n 4 onions, chopped either side of the chestnut mixture.
n 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped 7 Fold these up alternately to make a lattice covering it.
n 2 tbsp olive oil 8 Trim the ends – you could make pastry leaves and stick
n 4 garlic cloves, crushed on top with water.
n 100g/31⁄2oz button mushrooms, sliced 9 Brush with soya milk.
n 435g can unsweetened chestnut puree 10 Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat setting to
n 75g/3oz soft breadcrumbs 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6 and bake for a further 20-25
n 2 tbsp brandy minutes.
n Salt and pepper
n 375g/13oz frozen ready-rolled puff pastry sheets
(Jus-RolTM and Brake Brothers brands are both vegan)
n Soya milk to glaze

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 25

Happy Haggis The rest of the preparation and cooking can be 3 If cooking lentils from scratch, place them in a pan of
Serve with Neeps & Tatties done while you are soaking the oats – water and boil rapidly for 20-30 minutes or until soft
Serves 4 ¸ 100 minutes: 1 hour to soak oats, 35-40 otherwise soak them the night before and drain (the time will vary according to the type of lentils). When
minutes baking time in the morning. Refrigerate until needed. the lentils are ready, drain and rinse them in a sieve. If
using tinned lentils, ignore this stage and go to no. 4.
Haggis is usually made from sheep guts, but of n 75g/3oz fine oatmeal (the pinhead or fine variety 4 Sauté the onion in the oil until it is soft. Add the
course ours is veggie, hence the recipe title. works best) carrots and mushrooms, and cook for a little longer. Then
(However, some Scots love to tell gullible n 110g/4oz of uncooked brown or green lentils OR add the herbs and spices, soya sauce, cooked lentils and
foreigners that ‘real’ haggis is actually a three- 300g/11oz cooked (about 1 tin and a quarter of drained, about a quarter of the kidney beans. Mix in the yeast
legged bird, with one leg longer than the others rinsed lentils) extract until it is well incorporated.
to help it get up and down the mountains and n 1 large onion, chopped 5 Using a blender or potato masher, mash the remainder
glens… a rather dodgy link to our white meat n 1 tbsp vegetable oil of the beans to form a thick paste (add a little water if
replacement theme, but there you go!) n 2 large carrots, finely grated necessary to prevent it getting too stiff). Add
n 4 to 6 mushrooms, sliced this to the lentil and vegetable mixture.
n 1⁄4 tsp each of allspice, cumin, paprika and nutmeg 6 Finally, add the drained oatmeal,
n 1⁄4 tsp each of dried sage and thyme salt and pepper, and the
n 1 tbsp soya sauce garlic. If the mixture looks
n 400g tin of kidney beans, drained and rinsed too dry, add the
n 60g/2oz mixed nuts, ground margarine. Mix well.
n 3 tsp yeast extract, eg Marmite 7 Transfer to an oven-
n 2 cloves of garlic, crushed proof dish and bake for 30
n Salt and black pepper to taste to 40 minutes.
n Knob of dairy-free margarine, eg Pure brand 8 If serving with Neeps &
Tatties prepare vegetables as
1 Preheat oven to 190ºC/375ºF/Gas Mark 5. instructed on page 27, while
2 Put the oatmeal in a bowl and cover with water. Let it haggis baking.
stand for at least an hour. Drain thoroughly.

26 White Meat Myths

Neeps & Tatties Red Wine & Porcini n Salt and pepper to
Serves 4 ¸ 25 minutes Mushoom Gravy taste (taste carefully
Serves 4 ¸ 25 minutes first as miso/yeast
Language note. What the Scots call turnip extract/stock will all be
(neeps), the English call swede – that large This luxurious little number really hits the quite salty!)
round root vegetable that is a pale yellow spot. Particularly good served with either the
inside, not English turnip, which is smaller and Luxury Festive Roast on page 24 or the 1 Boil the kettle. Place dried mushrooms in a jug or bowl,
white inside. Chestnut Paté en Crôute on page 25. pour boiling water on them, cover and set aside.
2 In a large saucepan on medium-high heat, sauté
n Even quantities of peeled potato and peeled swede – n 1⁄2 packet (approximately 7-10g) porcini or mixed shallots/onions in oil until translucent.
enough to serve 4 dried mushrooms 3 Add the stock, then add cornflour paste and stir in well.
n Salt and black pepper n 300ml/generous 10fl oz freshly boiled water 4 Add wine, sherry and herbs. Bring to boil, stirring
n A little soya milk n 4 shallots or 1 small red onion, finely chopped thoroughly to ensure that no lumps form.
n Dairy-free margarine, eg Pure, Vitalite or Biona n 1 tbsp olive oil 5 Lower heat and simmer until sauce is thickened,
n 450ml/16fl oz hot vegan stock stirring often.
1 Cut vegetables into medium chunks and cook in n 3 tbsp cornflour mixed with 4 tbsp cold water to a 6 Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix miso or yeast extract
salted boiling water until tender. You can cook smooth paste with the cold water to a smooth paste. Set aside.
them separately or mix in together. n 240ml/generous 8fl oz red wine 7 Add porcini mushrooms and their soaking water to
Either way is fine. n 2 tbsp sherry – any type gravy – omitting gritty liquid at bottom!
2 Similarly, mix each n 1⁄2 tsp basil 8 If gravy too thick, add a little more water/stock; if too
vegetable separately with n 1⁄2 tsp tarragon thin, make a paste from 1 tsp cornflour and a splash of
a little soya milk and n 1 large bay leaf water – bring to boil again. Add more if necessary.
margarine OR mash n 2 tbsp medium-dark miso – miso is soya bean paste, 9 Blend gravy to the texture you prefer – if using a goblet
together. available from good supermarkets, Oriental or health blender, return gravy to pan. If using a stick blender you
3 Taste, then season with stores OR 2-3 tsp yeast extract such as Marmite can whizz it directly in the gravy pan.
freshly ground black pepper. n 2 tbsp cold water 10 Stir in miso paste but don’t allow gravy to boil.
4 Serve hot. 11 Taste, adjust seasoning if necessary and serve.

Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation 27

 Photo©Chava Eichner
White Meat Myths
White meat – from chicken, ducks, turkey and geese – has become the meat of choice for many
Westerners. The average person eats at least 1,226 birds in a lifetime. Chicken is the most popular,
accounting for one third of all meat consumed in Britain.

Recent fears over bird flu, food poisoning, dubious foreign imports and chicken meat pumped up with
beef protein and water have all knocked sales yet despite all this, the bird’s ‘healthy’ image remains largely
untarnished. High-protein, essential for kids’ growth and for muscle in athletes – you can’t get a

Photo©Chava Eichner
better marketing image for white meat than that! Sadly, it’s just another of the myths that has
bedevilled the national diet for decades.

This easy-to-read guide explains why white meat is not the healthy option for adults or children.
It includes some exciting recipes using meat alternatives, including Creamy Mock Chicken,
Avocado & Tomato Wraps, Tasty Tofu Salad, Mock Chicken Satay, and Mock Duck à L’Orange!

White Meat Myths

©VVF 2009 £1.90

ISBN 978-0-9557653-5-3

All of the health information in this guide comes from the VVF’s scientific report White Meat Black Mark.
To order a copy contact the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation: Top Suite, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH.
Tel: 0117 970 5190. E: [email protected]. W: www.vegetarian.org.uk
9 780955 765353