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Try something new with our easy vegan recipe
Is vegan the way to go?
Vegan foods are becoming more readily available at supermarkets and more people are turning to plant-based diets to eat healthier and to protect the environment.
If you’re thinking of trying out a vegan diet for your new year’s resolution, you might be thinking if a vegan diet really is healthy. Well, Camseng has drawn together the benefits a vegan diet can bring – and a delicious vegan recipe for you to try at home!
But first, let’s ask the most important question…
What do vegans eat?
A vegan diet is a plant-based diet, excluding all animal products, including meat, fish, dairy, eggs and sometimes even honey. Vegans only eat foods deriving from plants with plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.
Health Benefits of a Vegan Diet
A vegan diet, when followed correctly, has multiple health benefits. Other than being highly nutritious and rich in fibre, it can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cancer, and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Animal products are the main dietary sources of saturated fats, which contribute to high cholesterol levels that in turn increase the risk of heart disease. With the elimination of these animal fats, a vegan diet has shown to improve heart health. A vegan diet also helps with weight loss as vegan foods are lower in calories.
The benefits show on the outside too. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in vegan foods will contribute to glowing skin and a better overall mood.
The key to reaping the benefits is eating a wide range of vegan foods to ensure you receive enough protein, calcium and other nutrients more commonly gained from an omnivorous diet. Be extra mindful of eating enough B12 fortified foods and/or supplement with vitamin B12.
Environmental Benefits of a Plant-based Diet
The exploitation of and cruelty towards animals is often one of the driving factors why people choose veganism and for many, veganism is more than a dietary choice. Whether a lifestyle or a dietary choice, veganism is considered a sustainable diet, having a lower impact on the environment. Going vegan reduces your carbon footprint as the production of animal products weighs heavily on the environment.
Veganism and the Asian cuisine
According to a study in 2019, Greece is the leading vegan country, followed by India and China. Asian cuisine often relies heavily on vegetables and grains, making it traditionally a plant-based diet. With tofu being widely available and used in Asian cuisine, it is easy to replace the meat in your favourite Asian dishes. And with so many different flavours, eating a vegan, Asian cuisine need not be boring!
Why not give these mouth-watering vegan dumplings a try to see for yourself!
Vegetable Dumplings
Ingredients:
1 packet of dumpling wrappers
3 tbsp oil (plus ¼ cup)
1 tbsp ginger
1 large onion
2 cups shiitake mushrooms
1 ½ cups cabbage
1 ½ cups carrot
1 cup garlic chives (Chinese chives)
½ tsp white pepper
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar
Salt (to taste)
Instructions:
1. Add 3 tbsp of oil and the minced ginger into a wok over medium heat. Cook for 30s and then add the chopped onions until translucent.
2. Add the chopped mushrooms and stir-fry for another 3-5 min, until the mushrooms are tender, and any liquid released by the mushrooms has cooked off.
3. Add the cabbage and carrots (both finely shredded) and stir-fry for another 2 mins until the veggies are tender. Transfer the vegetable mixture to a mixing bowl and allow to cool.
4. To the bowl, add the chopped chives, white pepper, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce and sugar. Season with salt to taste and stir in the last ¼ cup of oil.
5. Assemble the dumplings by adding the filling to the dumpling wrappers, then fold and pleat. (Will make around 5 dozen dumplings.)
6. To cook the dumplings, steam or pan-fry them. To steam, put the dumplings in a steamer lined with a bamboo mat, cabbage leaf, or cheesecloth, and steam for 15-20 mins. To pan-fry, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Place the dumplings in the pan and allow to fry for 2 mins. Pour a thin layer of water into the pan, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Allow dumplings to steam until the water has evaporated. Remove the cover, increase the heat to medium-high and allow to fry for a few more minutes, until the bottoms of the dumplings are golden brown and crisp.
Serve with your favourite dumpling sauce (https://www.camsengathome.com/jolisearch?s=dumpling+sauce) and fall in love with the taste!
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