slow cooker for vegetarian meals? [General]
2009 Feb 27
i'm an "ottawa omnivore" (har har) and meat typically isn't the focus of what i cook in my crockpot anyway. sure there are meat ingredients, but i make a lot of soups/stews/chilis all of which are pretty condusive to a vegetarian version.
slow cookers can be found REALLY cheap too - it's a worthwhile investment.
slow cookers can be found REALLY cheap too - it's a worthwhile investment.
2009 Feb 27
hipfunkyfun I concur with what everyone else said - you can cook pretty well everything in the slow cooker meat based or not. I have lots of kitchen appliances squeezed in my little kitchen but I pretty well use the slow cooker exclusively during the winter. Even though I am still a carnivore I have a couple of vegetarian chilis I make in the slow cooker as well as all my bean soups. It sure is nice coming home in the evening and dinner is already cooked! Plus there is minimal clean up.
2009 Feb 27
Some ideas that come to mind:
Cassoulet: rehydrated white beans, serious veg stock and lots of root vegetables...you could mix a paste of flour and olive oil or butter to thicken as there is no gelatin from meat
Minestrone: Don't use delicate summer vegs (ie zucchini). Can of whole peeled tomatoes, wine, veg stock, beans, aromatic veggies and add the pasta at the end so it doesn't get too mushy
Vegetable tagines: I can't give a quick synopsis, but I saw a cauliflower one in the recent LCBO Food And Drink that looked amazing. I am sure it would be fine slow cooked.
I think the key is don't use vegetables that suck when overcooked (zucchini, spinach, chard, broccoli, aspargus, green/yellow beans...seems like green is an indicator, at least for my taste) Add those at the end!
Cassoulet: rehydrated white beans, serious veg stock and lots of root vegetables...you could mix a paste of flour and olive oil or butter to thicken as there is no gelatin from meat
Minestrone: Don't use delicate summer vegs (ie zucchini). Can of whole peeled tomatoes, wine, veg stock, beans, aromatic veggies and add the pasta at the end so it doesn't get too mushy
Vegetable tagines: I can't give a quick synopsis, but I saw a cauliflower one in the recent LCBO Food And Drink that looked amazing. I am sure it would be fine slow cooked.
I think the key is don't use vegetables that suck when overcooked (zucchini, spinach, chard, broccoli, aspargus, green/yellow beans...seems like green is an indicator, at least for my taste) Add those at the end!
2009 Feb 27
HipFunkyFun - Your post inspired me to get out a copy of one of my "original" Slow Cooker Cookbooks. It is an oldie put out by Better Homes & Gardens (back then we called them Crockpots). Anyhow, even back in the early days the Cookbooks listed a variety of things one could prepare - Apps, Beverages (especially Mulled Wine), Soups, Stews, Meats, Poultry, Meatless, Veggies & Sides, and Desserts. This old faithful book has a lot to offer, and I'm sure you'll find similar cookbooks available today (or tons or recipes on-line).
The one thing I would suggest is to buy a Crockpot with a removable liner... the type that clearly says it is safe for all conditions (crockpot, oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, etc). Mine is made by Corning (and it has stood up well over time). I find it comes in handy that I can do so much with it (many a pot of chili has been transported from fridge to Grey Cup Party to be reheated upon arrival). Also look for a series of temperature settings.... most have HI and LOW, a third comes in handy. Some even have built-in timers. And lastly, pots come in a variety of sizes... most popular being the middle of the road between 3-1/2 and 6 Quarts or so. Choose a size bigger than you initially think you'll need... then you can make bigger batches of stuff, and have leftovers for freezing.
The one thing I would suggest is to buy a Crockpot with a removable liner... the type that clearly says it is safe for all conditions (crockpot, oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, etc). Mine is made by Corning (and it has stood up well over time). I find it comes in handy that I can do so much with it (many a pot of chili has been transported from fridge to Grey Cup Party to be reheated upon arrival). Also look for a series of temperature settings.... most have HI and LOW, a third comes in handy. Some even have built-in timers. And lastly, pots come in a variety of sizes... most popular being the middle of the road between 3-1/2 and 6 Quarts or so. Choose a size bigger than you initially think you'll need... then you can make bigger batches of stuff, and have leftovers for freezing.
2009 Feb 27
Thanks everyone (and Tracinho in particular for raising cassoulet as a potential crockpot recipe) - this has inspired me to go and buy a crock pot this weekend. Any recommendations on brand (I see F&T has Corning, which looks good)? I usually use a dutch oven for slow-cooking things, but the idea of using this and not having to heat my oven or leave something simmering on the stove top is appealing to me. Also, the crocks are dishwasher safe (very much UNLIKE my 2 dutch ovens)!
2009 Feb 27
chimi I just replaced my old 3.5qt last week and bought a 5qt Betty Crocker model @ Home Depot for $15 haha. really i don't use it enough to warrant any other features except High/Low/Warm.
definitely second F&T's comments re: size (BIGGER = BETTER) and getting one with a removable liner.
definitely second F&T's comments re: size (BIGGER = BETTER) and getting one with a removable liner.
2009 Feb 27
Hi Hipfunky,
By all means, buy an inexpensive slow cooker with a removable ceramic liner than can go in the fridge/freezer/dishwasher. Doesn't get much better.
Do not waste money on overpriced programmable slow cookers -- you just want something to set on High or Low and then go about your daily life.
Yes, you can do vegetarian (although my experience with potatoes cooked 8+ hours on Low tends to produce something similar to blue-blotched Goodyear tires).
Glad you found the Citizen series interesting, however.
One final word: Never used canned beans to make cassoulet. Not ever. That defeats the purpose of a slow cooker!
Kind regards, RonEade.com
By all means, buy an inexpensive slow cooker with a removable ceramic liner than can go in the fridge/freezer/dishwasher. Doesn't get much better.
Do not waste money on overpriced programmable slow cookers -- you just want something to set on High or Low and then go about your daily life.
Yes, you can do vegetarian (although my experience with potatoes cooked 8+ hours on Low tends to produce something similar to blue-blotched Goodyear tires).
Glad you found the Citizen series interesting, however.
One final word: Never used canned beans to make cassoulet. Not ever. That defeats the purpose of a slow cooker!
Kind regards, RonEade.com
2009 Feb 28
I can understand the need for a crock pot/slow cooker for the times one wants to serve hot food from a buffet (like a chili contest) or take to a Pot Luck.
But just to cook in ... I just use my made in China, Kitchen-Aid brand, Le Creuset knock-off, cast iron pot and the 'Low and Slow' setting on my Thermador range.
The Scot in me always asks the question ... Do I WANT it ? ... or do I NEED it ? In other words ... Can I already do what the 'desirable thing' does, with what I already got.
That explains why I only have four knives ... an 8" chef, a bread, a boning/utility and a paring knife.
No electric fry pan ... no expresso machine ... no electric knife sharpener ... no electric can opener ... no food processor (that's what my arm is for) ... no George Forman grill ... no rice cooker ... no juicer ... no pannini grill ... no deep fryer ... no lettuce spinner ... etc etc etc
If my coffee grinder (an Xmas gift) ever gives out I'll learn to grind coffee, to the correct consistancy, with my large Thai motar and pestle. See picture.
The North American economy would never recover if many adopted my 'mass consumption' style.
PS: As I become more and more frugal , I'm now considering a canning pot ... ala Zymurgy Stylee.
But just to cook in ... I just use my made in China, Kitchen-Aid brand, Le Creuset knock-off, cast iron pot and the 'Low and Slow' setting on my Thermador range.
The Scot in me always asks the question ... Do I WANT it ? ... or do I NEED it ? In other words ... Can I already do what the 'desirable thing' does, with what I already got.
That explains why I only have four knives ... an 8" chef, a bread, a boning/utility and a paring knife.
No electric fry pan ... no expresso machine ... no electric knife sharpener ... no electric can opener ... no food processor (that's what my arm is for) ... no George Forman grill ... no rice cooker ... no juicer ... no pannini grill ... no deep fryer ... no lettuce spinner ... etc etc etc
If my coffee grinder (an Xmas gift) ever gives out I'll learn to grind coffee, to the correct consistancy, with my large Thai motar and pestle. See picture.
The North American economy would never recover if many adopted my 'mass consumption' style.
PS: As I become more and more frugal , I'm now considering a canning pot ... ala Zymurgy Stylee.
2009 Feb 28
thanks everyone.
i'm with you captain on doing more by hand with less stuff. for me, it also gives me great pleasure to live with less "stuff". i can definitely see where a crockpot would come in handy though. i am going to go through my recipes and see which ones would be easily adapted to long, slow cooking and then decide.
i'm with you captain on doing more by hand with less stuff. for me, it also gives me great pleasure to live with less "stuff". i can definitely see where a crockpot would come in handy though. i am going to go through my recipes and see which ones would be easily adapted to long, slow cooking and then decide.
2009 Feb 28
My wife and I are firm believers in slow cookers, and we've used them many times for vegetarian dishes. We bought our first Rival Crockpot many years ago, and it served us well. In fact, it still works, but after a while, we decided it was too small (it was the basic model with the round ceramic pot). When we slow cook, we like to make fairly large quantities, so that it will serve for at least two meals, and maybe have some left over for freezing too. So, we acquired another Rival model with a larger, oval-shaped pot. It worked well, but had one annoying flaw: the lid was too light in weight, so it would rattle during cooking, and liquid would "spit" out around the edges. Eventually, it appeared that the heat control was also getting flaky - it sometimes wasn't working on the low setting.
So, last year, we decided it was time to get something better. We bought a KitchenAid unit, which had a better lid and even more capacity than our Rival unit. This worked great - for a couple of months. Then, disaster struck: the pot cracked during cooking. It didn't make a huge mess, but it was clearly kaput. Then we found that we couldn't just take it back to the store for warranty replacement, we had to ship it to some place in the Toronto area. And we had to wait for them to mail us a prepaid shipping label. And wait, and wait... we had to remind them several times. We finally got the label, and got the unit sent off, and confirmed that it arrived. Many weeks and several phone calls later, we're still waiting for our replacement unit. This saga began in early December, so we've been without that slow cooker for nearly three months now - good thing we kept our old Crockpot! After doing some searching on the net, we found that we weren't the only ones with that particular problem with that unit.
Bottom line: steer clear of KitchenAid, at least for slow cookers!
So, last year, we decided it was time to get something better. We bought a KitchenAid unit, which had a better lid and even more capacity than our Rival unit. This worked great - for a couple of months. Then, disaster struck: the pot cracked during cooking. It didn't make a huge mess, but it was clearly kaput. Then we found that we couldn't just take it back to the store for warranty replacement, we had to ship it to some place in the Toronto area. And we had to wait for them to mail us a prepaid shipping label. And wait, and wait... we had to remind them several times. We finally got the label, and got the unit sent off, and confirmed that it arrived. Many weeks and several phone calls later, we're still waiting for our replacement unit. This saga began in early December, so we've been without that slow cooker for nearly three months now - good thing we kept our old Crockpot! After doing some searching on the net, we found that we weren't the only ones with that particular problem with that unit.
Bottom line: steer clear of KitchenAid, at least for slow cookers!
2009 Mar 3
I love my crock pot. I mostly use it to cook my steel cut oats for breakfast. I don't microwave at home so I cook a weeks worth in the crock pot and reheat on the stove one portion at a time.
I also make my lamb and lentil soup in it...which can just as easily be made without the lamb. And it makes amazing carmelized onions too. I have the tiny baby crockpot as well but I really only find it useful for roasting a bulb of garlic when I don't want to heat up the oven.
My rice cooker is really crappy, so I'm thinking of getting one of the rice cookers you can also use as a slow cooker.
Hipfunkyfun,
I'm pretty sure I've seen a vegetarian slow cooker cookbook at Chapters before.
I also make my lamb and lentil soup in it...which can just as easily be made without the lamb. And it makes amazing carmelized onions too. I have the tiny baby crockpot as well but I really only find it useful for roasting a bulb of garlic when I don't want to heat up the oven.
My rice cooker is really crappy, so I'm thinking of getting one of the rice cookers you can also use as a slow cooker.
Hipfunkyfun,
I'm pretty sure I've seen a vegetarian slow cooker cookbook at Chapters before.
2009 Mar 3
Mousseline- I bought a electric cusinart pressure cooker that rocks my world. www.cuisinart.com
You can cook anything in here, rice, slow cook, sear, simmer, hold food, pressure cook, low pressure, high pressure. You can find it alot cheaper than the price listed too. I got mine in ottawa for 80 bucks!
You can cook anything in here, rice, slow cook, sear, simmer, hold food, pressure cook, low pressure, high pressure. You can find it alot cheaper than the price listed too. I got mine in ottawa for 80 bucks!
2009 Mar 4
I have to admit that I find my pressure cooker far more useful than my slow cooker. I don't really think about dinner before I leave for work in the morning, so it is unlikely that I would ever fire up the slow cooker at that time.
However, it is great to get home and have excellent homemade stocks within 30-45 minutes. I generally use the pressure cooker for stocks but it can also make quick work of brown rice, dried soaked beans, beets, stews and tagines, jams, tough cuts and other items that take about an hour or even more in a conventional pot.
A pressure cooker where the "bottom pot" can go in the oven (in order to roast bones/veg before making stock) would be ideal. Mine can't do this as it has a plastic handle. I have to transfer from an oven dish into the pressure cooker which isn't as effective. I wonder if such a thing exists...
However, it is great to get home and have excellent homemade stocks within 30-45 minutes. I generally use the pressure cooker for stocks but it can also make quick work of brown rice, dried soaked beans, beets, stews and tagines, jams, tough cuts and other items that take about an hour or even more in a conventional pot.
A pressure cooker where the "bottom pot" can go in the oven (in order to roast bones/veg before making stock) would be ideal. Mine can't do this as it has a plastic handle. I have to transfer from an oven dish into the pressure cooker which isn't as effective. I wonder if such a thing exists...
2009 Mar 6
Hipfunkyfun, I'm late to the conversation, but I just wanted to say that I'm vegan, have a slow cooker, and use it quite a bit both winter and summer. I would recommend the following cookbook: Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson. The recipes are easy and tasty, and most ingredients are readily found at the grocery store.
hipfunkyfun
my schedule is about to change as my son switches daycares and we won't have much time in the evenings for dinner prep. a slow cooker sounds great, but all the recipes i have seen are for meat and not vegetarian.
i'd be interested to know your experiences/thoughts.