Thursday, October 9, 2008

Chic Pea Cutlets

So everywhere in the Vegan blog world are people talking about this fricken Chic Pea Cutlet recipe. You're damn right I tried that sucker out! I had to wait a while to make it so I could get the Vital Wheat Gluten.

I just copied and pasted this from one of the numerous websites with the recipe.
  • 1 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth or water
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed or grated with a Microplane grater
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
  • Olive oil for pan frying
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. In a mixing bowl, mash the chickpeas together with the oil until no chickpeas are left. Add the remaining ingredients and knead together for about 3 minutes, until strings of gluten have formed.
  2. Preheat a large heavy-bottomed nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, divide the cutlet dough into 4 equal pieces. To form cutlets, knead each piece in your hand for a few moments and then flatten and stretch each one into a roughly 6 by 4 inch rectangular cutlet shape. The easiest way to do this is to form a rectangle shape in your hands and then place the cutlets on a clean surface to flatten and stretch them.
  3. Add a moderately thin layer of olive oil to the bottom of the pan. Place the cutlets in the pan and cook on each side for 6 to 7 minutes. Add more oil, if needed, when you flip the cutlets. They’re ready when lightly browned and firm to the touch.
I didn't have lemon zest so I didn't use it. And I used regular Paprika. I only cooked up 2 of them, and still have 2 left. My overall concensus of this recipe? It's aaaa-ight. I mean, it was good, you know, a tasty dinner by my lonesome. But I'm not sure if I'd actually go thru the trouble of making it again. I much prefer my vegetarian Salisbury Steaks to this, which I can't remember if I've blogged about before--if I have not, I will! I served the Chic Pea Cutlets with some mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, and sauteed mustard greens.

Here's what the process looked like, cuz I know some of you just HAVE to have pictures:
1. Mashing the chicpeas. *note to self: use the food processor next time

Adding the remaining ingredients:

Now I've got 4 patties, and you don't.

The over-browned cutlet:

And my mouth-watering meal for October 6th:

For my mushroom gravy, well, it's just thickened vegetable stock with mushrooms in it. I mean, really, that's what it is. I don't put nutritional yeast, or any of that crap in it--which could possibly improve the flavor. Nope, I just sautee up some baby bellas (or whatever I have) with some garlic, add veg stock (sometimes I use the potato boil water) and thicken it with good ol' corn starch. I like my gravy pretty thick, just so ya know. I think I will try to bake the remaining 2 as described in some of the directions on other pages.


In other news, the Maryland Mt. Airy Fall Festival was a complete joke. As with most festivals, the entry form will say something along the lines of "you have to make your stuff, don't bring imports from China". Yet each festival, there are always people selling this crap. It just pisses me off. We (the REAL hand-crafters) work really hard to bring you all this kick-ass one of a kind stuff. So to get there and see the main streets lined up with Pampered Chef, Arbonne, and Pittsburgh Steelers Nylon rucksacks for sale, well, I guess it wasn't surprising. There was just no sense of organization, as to where the hand-crafters and the resellers were seperated, because they weren't. I packed up my stuff Saturday night and did not return Sunday. I'm not usually one to bail out on things--I like to see it thru. But this festival can just suck a fart out of my ass right now. If you want a GOOD craft/art show, get GOOD crafters and don't allow this made in China BS take over our craft world.

*end of rant*

Please join me this weekend at the annual Berkeley Springs Apple Butter Festival! White trash on the outside, but artsy chic on the inside!

Look for my purple booth on Fairfax by the Monuments!

Oh, and when you click on the picture, you'll see Jody, from Oasis Cafe, wearing my batik t-shirt and leaf & turquoise earrings.
Pin It

2 comments:

Heather {naturally crafted mama} said...

that's a bummer about the past festival.... atleast you know apple butter is always a good one :)

Trent R said...

Great read thankks

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...