I do most of the cooking in our house. Mostly because I am a control freak in the kitchen. Truth be told, Jason is probably a much better chef than I am. He’s good at throwing ingredients together and using spices and all that jazz. But he’s liberal with oils and sauces and what starts out as a healthy intention ends up being a calorie-laden meal. (Sorry, Jason, but you know it’s true sometimes!)
On the other hand, sometimes I get a little too health-minded and end up making things that just aren’t that good. While we’ll both usually eat whatever I’ve prepared, it doesn’t leave us satisfied. So recently I decided that I was going to cook more “normal” (but still healthy) stuff. At least when I’m cooking for both of us.
And then I made seitan. Totally what one would consider a normal food.
Sometimes when I’m bored, I’ll add recipes to my allrecipes.com recipe box. I know, I know, I lead an interesting life, right? Anyway, I was looking through the vegetarian recipes that got good reviews and Seitan Makhani (Vegan-Style Indian Butter Chicken) caught my eye. The first time that I ever really had Seitan (a meat substitute made mostly of wheat gluten and available near the tofu at the grocery store) was in Asheville at Plant, when I got a vegan Reuben sandwich. I liked it. Jason liked it. We like Indian food, so I thought I would try this. The ingredient list looks long, but it’s mostly spices, ones that I already had for that matter. My dish isn’t vegan because I used regular yogurt.
I definitely went out on a limb by making this.
And guess what? We both liked it. Probably because there was a thick sauce on the seitan, but it really tasted like chicken to me. Sometimes weird food can taste good. But I’m not going to press my luck and I’ll make something normal tomorrow.
Weird can definitely be good! I’ve never tried seitan but it’s on my list of things to try!
Mark’s the same way. He’s a pretty good cook, but he can be a little too adventurous in the kitchen. I’ve also gotta give him credit for eating all the weird vegan/vegetarian meals I prepare!
I love seitan, one of my favorite faux meats! I made a batch of log seitan around thanksgiving for leftover sandwiches and was shocked how easy and tasty it was – and cheaper than the store-bought variety.
Im so with you! I was nervous to make the chili i posted about today, but it ended up being delicious! Totally worth taking the chance! Your dish looks awesome!
That looks delicious. I love saucy foods. Jeff makes the most amazing spaghetti ever but that’s about it, and I only let him make it when I’m too sick or tired to cook because I’m a total control freak in the kitchen too.
As much as I love when people cook for me, I’m the same way- I’m a control freak in the kitchen!
Whatever – the fact that this is titled “Weird but Good” made me even more excited to read you post.
Did you buy your seitan or make your own?
Bought it.
The food from Northern India: Mainly breads with dishes which has a thick sauce and dairy products such as cream, paneer, ghee, and youghurt. These dishes are warmly flavoured rather than heat from chillies.
Oh yum! I think I’d like it too!
Ooh- I looked at the recipe and I want to make, too! I have used seitan in a few dishes, and personally really like the taste and texture (and should try making it at home, too). Greg likes it too- I always make him try it when we go to the Whole Foods salad bar. BUT- he says he doesn’t like Indian food (yet every time I make it, he gobbles it up). He claims to not like curry.
Seitan is one of the few vegetarian “meats” that I rarely cook with– I had a bad experience with some packaged seitan a while back (it just tasted weird), and haven’t really had the urge to try it again since!
I’ve never tried seitan, I always get too scared. But I think I would love that!
Sounds good!
Haha! I totally get it! Sometimes weird tastes good, and other times my family secretely curses me while eating what I made and pretending they like it.
You give that boy some Chicken and Dumplings!!
I agree, sometimes the weirdest things taste so good!! That looks pretty good to me too!
I’ve had seitan a few times & I think it’s pretty tasty. Weird texture, but yummy!
Haha I think most of my meals are “weird!”
Seitan is a tricky one! I haven’t mastered it yet, but I’ve heard that it’s pretty awesome when it’s prepared correctly. So good for you for finding a good recipe and making it delicious.
And most people think everything I eat is “weird”. I try to keep things as normal as possible for the hubby’s sake, but I do throw in something odd every now and then 
I try my luck more often than I should with my gluten intolerance, but eating straight up wheat gluten is not something I can wrap my head around – I think my stomach would implode.
Weird but good? Sounds weird? But, I don’t want to jump into conclusion because I haven’t tried it! Sometimes weird can be good! If you want other recipes, try this http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/dried-tomatoes-a-la-trama! A unique one and yet healthy recipes!
I think that looks really tasty!!