I was wondering.....

[garne041]

Hi everyone,
My name is Joy and I"m a newbie to raw food. Currently changing from a SASD (Standard American Southern Diet) and I have a question.
On this website, I found a recipe for a walnut burger that looks good and I want to try it, but I don't have a dehydrator. I assumed that I needed a dehydrator for it to work but they also said that it could be eaten as is (a different taste).
So I was wondering....Can I do this with other recipes that say they need a dehydrator??? If not, then can I tweak it so I don't have to have it?

Thanks :)

[Ama]

I have found that *most* recipes can be eaten fine without a dehydrator... for the burger you mention just use lettuce as *bread*. I usually use romaine and just add some of the pate (the burger not dehydrated) and wrap it up in the lettuce leaf.

[Rawkinlocs]

Yep, a LOT of recipes that are to be dehydrated can be eaten without dehydration. The only ones I'd say you may "need" a dehydrator for would be crackers, breads, crusts, and fruit leathers because without dehydration, they would be totally different things.

But as for "burgers", they simply become pate's that, as Ama mentioned, can be eaten wrapped in lettuce leaves, collard leaves, on flax crackers (that you'd probably have to buy pre-made) stuffed in tomatoes or peppers even.

Cookie recipes can be eaten as refrigerator cookies...maybe add a little more of the dry ingredients for less moisture.

Something like Alissa's Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms...I often hear people say they ate most of them before they were even done dehydrating so while they may not have the same softness and warmness undehydrated as they would dehydrated, you could still eat those as-is.

Pizza recipes...I'd say you could take a pizza crust and make it less "wet" or make it similar to most basic pie crust recipes without the sweetener...maybe use olive oil instead...form it and top it with sauce and your favorite veggie toppings and eat it "fresh". That's how Storm and Jinjee of The Garden Diet do it...they don't use a dehydrator for ANY of their recipes.

[sport]

Welcome.
I found that the dehydrator was usefull in the beginning because I was able to make some crispy food which got me over me need for bread. I also find it usefull because I can soak a lot of seeds or nuts at the time and dehydrate them and use as needed which means that I do not have to plan as carefully.
Other than that it can be done without.

[trinity082482]

I want a food dehydrator. Im my experience, Ive been 3 weeks into the raw life style and I cant be 100% without the dehydrator... I find my self running out of options and its so boring to eat the same similar foods day after day, I actually bought a raw bar to change things up and it tastes like Fig ***! Seriously. what a waste of 3.99. and I bought 2! :eek:

[eatyourbroccoli]

you can stick it in the fridge to harden. works for me for about 90% of the recipes. then its cold, but that doesnt bother me..personally. :)