Craving vegan cooked food/cultural food

[RawNubian]

Hello everyone:
I need help with cravings. I don't crave pizza, burgers, fast food, etc... I crave the vegan cooked foods I used to eat like brown rice vegetable sushi, tofu, steamed edamame, quinoa, curry veggies, roti, veggie patties, egusi, etc... The list goes on and on.
I quit SAD eating for the most part years ago but I miss my vegan cooked foods, especially my carribbean dishes like rice and peas, curry tofu, etc...

I know that the raw food vegan lifestyle is optimal for overall health BUT sometimes I miss these things. It's probably psychological but I cringe when I consider visiting my nigerian friends and being able to eat nothing but fruit. Pounded Yam is sooooo good and so is jollof.

Has anyone else experienced having to "let go" of those cultural ties with food?:confused: :(
I feel like it was easier for me to go cooked vegan/vegetarian because I could still partake upon the certain flavors that I had become used to.

[Rawkinlocs]

Girlfriend, can't you re-create any of these raw-style? Get those creative juices flowin'! :D

I'm gonna email ya, though, okay? - WHOOPS! Your email is not available in your profile - can you email me? cmk726@aol.com

[RawNubian]

Yes I bet I could recreate some of these raw style but I think I am going to have to let go of a few...:rolleyes: :p
Now that I think of it, I definitely could recreate curry veggies by marinating.
I am trying to brainstorm but it's almost quitting time at work and my brain is FRIED! LOL

[lavendarJ]

I just want to add that y'all are going to have to pray for me... I am really stressed with what's going on and I am craving falafels and pita bread like crazy........

If you slice the veggies thin and marinate them with some spices, curry and olive oil for a few hours, it might make for a recreation

[Rawkinlocs]

I just want to add that y'all are going to have to pray for me... I am really stressed with what's going on and I am craving falafels and pita bread like crazy........


Ooo girl, HUSH yo' mouth!!

But yeah, I'm sure some things can't be recreated...but many can! I'm going through the same thing with soul food - SOME stuff is just not doable in the raw...but quite a few are and I'm-a workin' on 'em! ;)

[RawNubian]

I just want to add that y'all are going to have to pray for me... I am really stressed with what's going on and I am craving falafels and pita bread like crazy........

If you slice the veggies thin and marinate them with some spices, curry and olive oil for a few hours, it might make for a recreation
I know you did NOT just say the "F word" on this forum, falafel! Oh goodness... Thankfully I just had a raweo so that shall sustain me while I pass by all of these falafel places on the way to the subway!

ETA: I just e-mailed you Rawkinlocs. :)

[barose]

I just made some raw falafel (double batch) and they really hit the spot because I had a "F" craving for weeks. Unfortunately they are gone--I need to make some more.

[tanishamarshall]

Please help me, what is a Falafel?

[ChaiLife]

Please help me, what is a Falafel?

Whah? Sinner! What do you mean? haha

SAD: a chickpea concoction mixed with spices and deep fried served on pita bread with tzaziki (cucumber, mint, yogurt), cucumber tomatoes and onions. *DROOL*

Raw: nut or sprouted chickpea pattie mixed with spices and dehydrated and served with raw hummus

They are SO awesome and one of my favorites. They are a street food in Israel. *wiping drool off of computer*
And let's not even get started with dolmas.

[tanishamarshall]

Thanks Chai, I never had one of those, sounds yummy.

I had a dolma and I didn't like it, it has grape leaves and I don't like the taste of that. I saw that Ani Phyo used Collard leaves to make her dolmas, maybe I'll try that.

[Anastasia Alston]

Okay, now you all just need to STOP!!! I know what you mean about the cultural foods, though. I recently managed to recreate (kinda - I've still got a few tweaks to add) my grandmama's collard greens. I was craving some southern-style greens BIG TIME & had to do something. For the hollidays I'm already trying to figure out how to do sweet potato pie in the raw. Ooh! And candied yams!!! Anybody got a recipie for candied yams raw style? You know the way-down-south kind where you slice the potatoes & cook 'em on the stove top? Or is this one of the "nevermore" items? I hope not, 'cause I LOOOOOVE me some candied yams....:rolleyes:

Stasi

[exurb]

I know you did NOT just say the "F word" on this forum, falafel!

ROFLMBO!!!!


I had a "F" craving for weeks

Now now barose, this is a family site! ;)

But will you share your recipe for "F" or tell us which recipe you used. If you're craving more I think they were "a good F."

Nubian, IMO there is a price to everything, you just decide whether or not to pay it. However some of the stuff on your list can be made good or even better raw. Veggie sushi is no problem. Pine nuts, parsnips and some rice vinegar in your food processor, there is your rice, then avocado and the same veggies you liked in veggie sushi, and you're "in."

I find it helpful to keep it spicy, and a lot of the times for me, what I'm craving when I long for a certain cultural food is the flavor, the same flavor could be delivered on a slightly different food. I make an Ethiopian berbere spice mix and I can make a curry with about anything, a harissa from north Africa, vindaloo Indian food, etc... Kinda makes me feel like I ate too, and not just like a rabbit.

Can't help you with the rice and peas, maybe you're craving more starchy things in general with that and brown rice being on your list. If so, don't skimp on raw starchy things, many of us here end up with no grains, no bread, etc. or nothing close to it, it might help you to put some carby raw things in your diet.

I would think you could sort of mock up the patty raw (maybe start with Alissa's calzone recipe, some tumeric, and whatever else) , or just read the ingredients from the box of patties, see if either cures that craving.

Or maybe you fall off the wagon every now and again and get over it too, nibbling tiny bits at friend's houses just to taste, if that saves you from throwing the whole raw baby out with the bathwater. I read that Woody's philosophy of late is to be as raw as his location and present circumstances allow.