Pan Fried Tacos & A Quick Sandwich

Who said vegans don't eat real food? It's not all carrot sticks and lettuce wraps. Here are some simple mealtime solutions that will satisfy any meateater. I just love a couple of brands of Vegan Chorizo that I want to share with you.

One thing is for sure, transitioning to a meat-free lifestyle isn't too difficult if you know what to look for at the store. These brands are excellent substitutes for the fat laden versions of sausage. My favorite brands are Field Roast and Upton's Natural Seitan Chorizos. They've got great flavor and since it's made with seitan it has a meater texture. I've also used Melissa brand of Soy Chorizo for the faux egg salad and it's great to mix with tofu.

Field Roast is usually in the frozen section at Market Street and Upton's is available at Wholefoods and Krogers. These might be available at other grocers but these are the ones I know of in the Dallas area. If your grocer doesn't carry them, ask someone to start offering a better selection. They don't know your looking for items until you tell them.

Here's a couple of ways to use it. Just saute in a skillet with coconut oil and break it up. Be careful not to overcook it. It's easy to do if your used to cooking meat. I like to add it to a bowl with small diced red onions, cilantro and mix with Veganaise (Grapeseed Oil is the best version) and season with salt and pepper. This makes a great faux egg salad and you can serve it with a vegan bread toasted. Look at the ingredients on the bread to make sure it doesn't contain milk or eggs if your trying to cut those items.

Another way to serve this is to mix the chorizo with some soy cheese, chopped onion and cilantro then place in a warmed corn tortilla, fold over and saute to toast on each side in some coconut oil in a saute pan. Serve with chopped fresh avocado and my favorite brand of salsa is Arriba Fire Roasted Chipotle Sauce.

You can use these a substitutes in most ground beef recipes as added flavor. They are spiced well and will add a great depth of flavor and texture. These two meals are quick easy and satisfying without all the cholesterol. Be sure to use coconut oil when cooking these as it is the best cooking oil to use and is processed by the liver quickly and body doesn't reserve it as fat.

I'll be discussing coconut oil soon. You will be amazed at all the possiblities of this wonder nut!