Three Vegan Products: Toothpaste "Dirt," Truffle Mayo, and Cheese Crackers

I recently purchased three vegan products that are just wonderful.

The first product is called The Dirt. I purchased it here at Vegan Cuts.

This is a trace mineral tooth brushing powder. You wet your toothbrush and then dip it into the jar. Shake off the excess "dirt" before brushing. While brushing, it tasted slightly salty, but I really only noticed the wonderful orange-spice scent. Ingredients include bentonite clay, baking soda, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.

My teeth feel so smooth after using this product. The "dirt" washes off the toothbrush for the most part. It stays a little brown toward the base of the bristles. No big deal!

The next product I tried was a truffle vegan mayo by Da Rosario. I purchased the product here on Vegan Cuts. It's also available here at Vegan Essentials.

These spreads (white truffle and black truffle) deliver an amazing burst of truffle flavor with each bite. And the truffle taste isn't overpowering like what you get with truffle oil. The tang from the vegannaise base is great also. There are bits of truffles in each jar. This condiment would elevate any sandwich or dip. I added 2 teaspoons to a small batch of potato salad today, and it was fabulous!

Finally, I tried Earth Balance's Vegan Cheddar Flavor Squares, which many people call the vegan version of Cheez-Its. I purchased this box here from Rabbit Food Grocery. It's also available at Food Fight Grocery, and should be available at Whole Foods now.

These squares taste buttery, and the aftertaste is slightly like a Cheez-It. It definitely doesn't have that sharp tangy flavor (if that's what you are looking for in this cracker). But they are tasty and crispy and make a nice snack.

Recipe: Soy Curl 'Chicken' Salad

I enjoyed my 'chicken' salad atop some cilantro. I added some mashed avocado to the other piece of toast and drizzled some chipotle hot sauce over the salad. This salad includes grapes, sweet corn, black olives, tomatoes, curry powder, and onions.

This hearty 'chicken' salad features dehydrated soy curls by Butler Foods. Once re-hydrated, these pieces of non-GMO soy have the texture of shredded chicken. You can impart any flavor you want onto the soy curls by soaking them in a flavored broth or adding seasoning after they plump up. They also get a nice crunch on the outside when pan seared in a little oil. Just be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible after the curls are re-hydrated.

Soy Curl 'Chicken' Salad

Ingredients: 

2 cups dry soy curls

3 cups of vegan chicken broth (I used two cubes of Not Chick'n Bouillon)

1 cup of grapes halved and then quartered

1/2 cup of minced onion

1/2 cup of chopped nuts (I used cashews)

1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup of sliced black olives

1/2 cup of frozen sweet corn kernels, thawed

1/4 cup of sweet relish

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of vegan mayonnaise 

1 tablespoon of BeeFree Honee

1 tablespoon of prepared mustard

1 to 2 tsp. of curry powder to your taste

Splash of fresh lemon juice (I used half a small lemon)

Black pepper (I didn't need salt, but you can add some if you want)

Directions:

Re-hydrate the soy curls in 3 cups of hot vegan chicken broth. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes while you prep the rest of the ingredients. In a bowl, combine the grapes, onion, nuts, tomatoes, black olives, and corn.

In a separate bowl, combine the vegan mayonnaise, BeeFree Honee, mustard, relish, curry powder, pepper, and lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference. Pour the sauce over the other ingredients and mix well.

Drain the soy curls very well and add to the bowl of ingredients. Mix well and chill until ready to eat. 

**If you want your soy curls to have some added texture, pan fry the curls in a little oil until the edges are crispy and then add to the sauce and other ingredients.

The soy curls re-hydrating

The finished "chicken" salad featuring Butler's Soy Curls.

Recipe: Jackfruit 'Crab' Salad

If you can get your hands on a can of Young Green Jackfruit in a Brine, try making a mock crab salad. The mayo, spices, and flecks of nori (seaweed) give a wonderful seafood flavor that's boosted by the steamed-crab texture of the jackfruit.

Before I became vegan in 2013, I enjoyed the occasional seafood salad that you'd spread on crackers or eat as part of a sandwich. And, when it was a special occasion, I'd even jump at the chance to order a creamy lobster roll.

Now that I don't eat animals or animal-derived ingredients, I've learned how spices and certain plants can be used to mimic flavors and textures that I thought could only come from meat.

You can purchase cans of Young Green Jackfruit at Indian grocery stores or even at veganessentials.com, here. Be careful not to purchase ripe jackfruit, which is orange, sweet and resembles roasted red bell peppers. Ripe jackfruit is not good in savory dishes. Young green jackfruit has a stronger texture, yet subtle flavor.

Jackfruit is popular among vegetarians and vegans because the fruit has some chew to it and comes apart in chunks and even shreds when cut or pulled apart in certain ways. These characteristics make it a great substitute for meat in dishes. I've tried jackfruit pulled pork, for example, but it didn't really appeal to me. When I came across this recipe for jackfruit "crab" salad, I thought it might be another recipe that sounds good but doesn't taste that great.

I was wrong. Very wrong!

I find young green jackfruit to be juicy, almost like canned artichokes. And the fruit still retains some of that juiciness even if you push out as much liquid from it as possible. Because of this, jackfruit is a wonderful substitute for crab and lobster, which has a tender, juicy flesh when cooked.

When the jackfruit is mixed with mayo and the seasonings used with seafood, you'll think you're biting into a traditional seafood salad sandwich or even a lobster roll. This vegan version is cruelty-free and affordable food at its finest.

Jackfruit “Crab” Salad
Serves 4
(Inspired by this recipe from a blog at Vegetarian Times)

Ingredients:
1 20-oz. can Young Green Jackfruit in Brine, rinsed and squeezed dry as much as possible (about 1 cup)
2-4 tablespoons of Vegenaise or other vegan mayo (start out with 2T and add more if desired)
¼ cup fresh minced onion
2 teaspoons of dried minced onion (what you find in the spice aisle)
¼ tsp. dulse flakes or powder (I used a folded piece of nori [seaweed] -- what you use for sushi -- and grated it for powder/flakes) This ingredient is necessary for a seafood flavor.
1-2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning
½ tsp. curry powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Chop the drained jackfruit with a knife until it resembles lump crab meat. Next, mix the jackfruit and all the other ingredients in a bowl. Before serving, sprinkle on a little paprika, dried parsley (I didn't have fresh), and fresh lemon juice.

The chopped jackfruit. You can see the yellowish seeds of the fruit, which are soft.

The chopped jackfruit mixed with the remaining ingredients.

Before serving, I added a little extra nori powder/flakes, some dried parsley, paprika, and a splash of fresh lemon juice.

This mock crab salad -- that even mimicked the flavor of a lobster roll -- tasted creamy, slightly sweet, salty, fishy (from the seaweed), and just plain awesome. 

Recipe: Vegan Eggs for a Hearty Egg, Bacon, Avocado, and More Burrito

Tonight I had a scrumptious “breakfast burrito” for dinner. It had herbs, avocado, “meat,” and vegan eggs. 

Before you make this burrito, you'll need some eggs -- and I don't mean the kind from our friends, the chicken. 

I mean a tofu-based egg product. I love my vegan egg recipe. The dish tastes like a cross between egg salad and deviled eggs. Indian black salt makes this dish, so don’t attempt this recipe until you buy this product. You can find this item at Indian grocery stores or on Amazon. Buy finely ground black salt.

Black salt, aka Kala Namak, gives off a sulfur smell. It sounds gross, but it works. 

Vegan Eggs

Ingredients:

• 12-15 oz container of tofu (The firmer the tofu, the firmer your “eggs,” so unless you like them runny, use extra firm)
• 4 T of vegan mayo (I used 3 T of Just Mayo Original and 1 T of Follow Your Heart Chipotle Mayo in this latest batch)
• 1 tsp of yellow mustard or 1 tsp of Dijon mustard – or do what I do and use ½ tsp of both!
• 3 T of sweet pickle relish (you can add more later if you want)
• 1 T of fresh lemon juice or 1 T of white vinegar or pickle juice
• 1 tsp of smoked paprika
• 1 tsp of turmeric (omit if you don't want bright yellow eggs)
• Dash of black pepper
• 1 tsp of black salt (you can add more later if you think the egg flavor is subtle)
• Optional: dash of hot sauce

In a bowl, mix everything but the tofu together. If your tofu was packed in water, like most are, wrap it in some paper towels while you assemble your other ingredients. Once all your ingredients (except the tofu) are mixed, taste it. It should be salty, tangy and eggy. Add the tofu and break it up with a fork or potato masher. Make it as chunky as you like. Mix everything well and taste. Add more relish (if you want more sweetness) or a pinch of black salt if you think it needs more egg flavor. Be careful with the black salt; too much and your dish will be very salty.

Note: I usually use Earth Balance Mayo or Follow Your Heart Vegenaise Original with this recipe, but I used Just Mayo. It’s runnier than the other mayo products, so I added a small spoon of potato flakes (instant mashed potato mix) to thicken the sauce before adding the tofu.

Second note: If you want this dish without the tofu, use cooked red potatoes that you’ve boiled and mashed (it's up to you if you want the skins removed or not). The finished dish will taste like an eggy potato salad.

To make the breakfast burrito, warm up a large flour tortilla. Smear it with a sauce, if you like. I smeared a spoon of Follow Your Heart’s Roasted Garlic Mayo on the tortilla. Next, add any ingredients you like. I chopped up a few slices of Upton’s Bacon and sautéed it in a pan until crispy (2-3 minutes). I added the bacon, cilantro, half a sliced avocado, some spinach, and then a couple spoons of the egg mixture. I also added a little chili garlic sauce for some heat. Roll up one side, tuck the right and left ends in, and continue rolling. Then, dig in!

If the neon yellow color of the eggs is a turn-off, omit the turmeric. But...turmeric is very good for you because it fights inflammation. Its power is boosted when mixed with a little black pepper!

You'll love this hearty burrito for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Add whatever veggies, herbs, and fake meats you like.

Review: Chipotle Vegenaise, Roasted Garlic Vegenaise, Just Mayo, and Earth Balance Original Mayo (all #soy-free, #non-gmo)

The new Just Mayo: very tangy, but still tasty.

I’ve always loved mayonnaise. 

I wanted it on every sandwich I ate when I was a kid. When I was in high school, my friends would remark at how gross mayonnaise was, and I would tell them how one day I was going to open a restaurant called “Just Mayo.” When pressed for further details, I would explain that people would come to my eatery and order a sandwich and milkshake, for example. When the order was delivered, it would be a plate of mayonnaise and a glass of mayonnaise, at which point the customer might ask, “What the heck is this?” The waiter would reply, “Just mayo!”

Similar to the scene where Dr. Evil from “Austin Powers” would be laughing for several minutes around his cronies, I and my peeps would laugh at this great business idea. Mwah haha…mwah haha…

Now that I don’t eat animals or things that come from them, I buy vegan mayo. I’ve tried making my own mayonnaise with a cashew base or tofu base or whatever base, and it wasn't that tasty. I’ve gone without mayonnaise at times, but I like a nice dollop of mayo with my vinegary dal and when I make my coconut bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches.

I’ve had the pleasure of trying different vegan mayos, and this is how I rank them:

• First Place – Follow Your Heart Original Vegenaise (non-gmo; there's a soy-free version): Thick, creamy, slightly sweet, yet tangy. Perfect in my sandwiches that have sprouts, pineapple, and spinach. (Sorry, I didn't have a jar around; so I don't have images of the front and back)

• Second Place – Just Mayo (soy-free, non-gmo): When I opened the lid, I was greeted with the familiar scent of non-vegan mayo – a vinegary, eggy smell. I’m sure the parts of my brain that handle scents and memories went nuts. Just Mayo was runnier than Follow Your Heart’s Vegenaise. It’s tangy and salty, with a sweet aftertaste; you want another bite after you swallow.

• Third Place – Follow Your Heart Chipotle Vegenaise (soy-free, non-gmo): Yowsa, this sucker packs a punch! It’s a lovely smoky orange color, and it’s very thick and creamy with specks of chili throughout. When you first taste it, you’re hit with a tang, then a little sweetness, then a lot of heat. This is perfect as a condiment to dip baked potato wedges into. It is more like a spread and less like mayo. 

• Fourth Place – Follow Your Heart Roasted Garlic Vegenaise (soy-free, non-gmo): This mayo has a consistency similar to the chipotle one, but is more mayo-like. Upon eating it, all you taste is roasted garlic and lemon; the garlicky flavor is almost like the taste of burnt garlic, but not in a disgusting way. The aftertaste is a sweet note. This would be nice on fake chicken sandwiches or even as a base in salad dressings with olive oil.

• Fifth Place – Earth Balance’s Original Mayo (soy-free, non-gmo): The flavor is one-note (tangy, then just dull), but it’s creamy, thick, and perfectly suitable to spread on a sandwich or make an entrée creamier. 

Vegans, fortunately, have tasty mayo options on the market. You don't have to slather your meals with mayonnaise, but once in a while a small spoonful can add a pleasant tang and creaminess to a dish.