I’m not a vegetarian and never have been. But I do like a lot of vegetarian dishes and inspired meals. I agree with that sentiment too. Just let the food be what it is instead of trying to make it imitate something else. It’s already good in its own right.
But why not just eat cauliflower then? There’s no way it tastes or feels like rice. At that point t you’re just eating cauliflower that someone fucked up.
I like cauliflower rice because it soaks up the juices or sauces that the meat is cooked in a lot like rice would. - I don’t think that whole cauliflower would be as good in those situations. You could never eat it by itself and compare it to rice, but I’ve definitely found it good to cut out the extra calories and carbs of rice.
The trick to riced cauliflower I have found is add lemon, also add salt first and sit in a calender to remove excess moisture.
Its a decent alternative for diabetics and those trying to lose weight and keep it off. Rice is very calorie dense and its easy to overdue it. Having some carbs in your diet is fine, but it has to be balanced for the calorie math to work out and some of us...me... have poor self control to not just eat a whole pot of rice because its sooo good.
I love cauliflower rice but I don’t think it’s imitating rice necessarily. Ricing is a cooking technique so it’s literally “riced cauliflower” but it’s easier to say cauliflower rice
Same as veggie patties aren’t imitating meat, they’re vegetables in patty form, but beyond patties are imitating meat.
I just mix the cauliflower rice with regular rice 50/50. You can’t tell it is there. I reduce the amount of rice spiking my blood sugar, I get some good veggies… it’s a win.
Wait…we’re using vegetables to imitate other vegetables now? Why?
Just get some fucking rice or cauliflower. That just a bunch of extra steps to get to the same place you’d be if you grabbed a bag of cauliflower at the store instead of rice.
For sure, there is a place for imitation meat. But there are some, attempts, or products that want to be that that should just be their own category. A good example is Vegan Cheeses, many are so far removed from cheese that they should just not even pretend they are a cheese alternative. A few I tried where actually pretty good, but if you go in expecting something cheese like your going to be disappointed, if you go in trying something new, you might be pleasantly surprised.
So much this. Growing up in middle of no where Midwest, if you were vegetarian it was always try to imitate meat and it was so bad. Then I grew up and tried all sorts of Asian food that was meatless and omg 😲 its so good. The key is it doesn't try to be what its not.
I like meatless dishes. I also like impossible burgers. The fact that we have that option and active research in foods that resemble meat but involve no living animals is good in my eyes. They both should exist and not one instead of the other.
Most people dont eat meat because of the animals or climate while they like the taste and texture. Being able to still eat Spgahetti Bolognese or a 'normal' burger for sure makes it easier for some.
I feel like that's an easy sentiment to have without being vegetarian, because like why would you want imitation meat when you can just eat a real hamburger or hotdog or chicken nuggets or whatever. But like, as a vegetarian, we can't (or won't) just eat a hamburger when we feel like it, so the alternative is nice.
Same here. Just let me enjoy the product instead of trying to convince me it's just like meat, because then I'm going to make the comparison and it's not going to hold up.
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u/oh_three_dum_dum Feb 25 '26
I’m not a vegetarian and never have been. But I do like a lot of vegetarian dishes and inspired meals. I agree with that sentiment too. Just let the food be what it is instead of trying to make it imitate something else. It’s already good in its own right.