SAVORY DISHES
SAVORY DISHES.
The recipes following are intended to be used as substitutes for meat,
fish, etc.
The body needs for its sustenance water, mineral salts, [Footnote: I
allude to mineral salts as found in the vegetable kingdom, not to the
manufactured salts, like the ordinary table salt, etc., which are simply
poisons when taken as food.] fats and oils, carbo-hydrates (starch and
sugar), and proteids (the flesh and muscle-forming elements). All
vegetable foods (in their natural state) contain all these elements, and,
at a pinch, human life might be supported on any one of them. I say “at a
pinch” because if the nuts, cereals and pulses were ruled out of the
dietary, it would, for most people, be deficient in fat and proteid.
Wholewheat, according to a physiologist whose work is one of the standard
books on the subject, is a perfectly-proportioned, complete food. Hence it
is possible to live entirely on good bread and water.
Nuts are the best substitute for flesh meat. Next in order come the
pulses. After these come wholewheat and unpolished rice. Both nuts and
pulses contain, like flesh meat, a large quantity of proteid in a
concentrated form. No one needs more than 1/4 lb. per day, at most, of
either. (Eggs, of course, are a good meat substitute, so far as the
percentage of proteid is concerned.)
1. ALMONDS, ROASTED.
Take any quantity of shelled almonds and blanch by pouring boiling water
on them. The skins can then be easily removed. Lay the blanched almonds on
a tin, and bake to a pale yellow colour. On no account let them brown, as
this develops irritating properties. To be eaten with vegetable stews and
pies. (That is, with any stew or pie which contains neither nuts nor
pulse.)
2. CHESTNUTS, BOILED.
An excellent dish for children and persons with weak digestive powers. The
chestnuts need not be peeled or pricked, but merely well covered with cold
water and brought to the boil, after which they should boil for a good
half hour. Drain off the water and serve hot. They may also be boiled,
peeled, mashed and eaten with hot milk.
3. CHESTNUT SAVOURY.
Boil for 15 minutes. Shell. Fry in a very little nut fat for 10 minutes.
Barely cover with water, and stew gently until tender. When done, add some
chopped parsley and thicken with chestnut flour or fine wholemeal. For
those who prefer it, milk and dairy butter may be substituted for the
water and nut fat.
4. CHESTNUT PIE.
1 lb. chestnuts, 1/2 lb. tomatoes, short crust.
Boil the chestnuts for half an hour. Shell. Skin the tomatoes and cut in
slices. Well grease a small pie-dish, put in the chestnuts and tomatoes in
alternate layers. Cover with short crust (pastry recipe No. 3) and bake
until a pale brown. Serve with parsley, tomato, or white sauce.
5. CHESTNUT RISSOLES.
1 lb. chestnuts, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, cornflour and water or 1
egg.
Boil the chestnuts for half an hour. Shell, and well mash with a fork. Add
the parsley. Dissolve 1 tablespoon cornflour in 1 tablespoon water. Use as
much of this as required to moisten the chestnut, and mix it to a stiff
paste. Shape into firm, round, rather flat rissoles, roll in white flour,
and fry in deep oil or fat to a golden brown colour. Serve with parsley or
tomato sauce.
For those who take eggs, the rissoles may be moistened and bound with a
beaten egg instead of the cornflour and water. They may also be rolled in
egg and bread-crumbs after flouring.
6. HARICOT BEANS, BOILED.
1/2 pint beans, 1 oz. butter, water, 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
The small white or brown haricots should be used for this dish. Wash well,
and soak overnight in the water. In the morning put in a saucepan in the
same water and bring to the boil. Simmer slowly for 3 hours. When done
they mash readily and look floury. Drain off any water not absorbed. Add
the butter and lemon juice, and shake over the fire until hot. Serve with
parsley or white sauce.
7. HARICOT RISSOLES.
1/2 pint haricots, 1 oz. butter, 1 medium onion, water, 1 teaspoon lemon
juice, 1 teaspoon mixed herbs, or 1 tablespoon chopped parsley.
Cook the haricots as in preceding recipe. Mash well with a fork, add the
onion finely grated, and the parsley or herbs. (This may be omitted if
preferred.) Form into firm, round, rather flat rissoles. Roll in white
flour. Fry in deep oil or fat to a golden brown colour. Serve with tomato
sauce, brown gravy, or parsley sauce.
8. LENTILS, STEWED.
1 cup lentils, 1-1/2 cups water, butter (size of walnut), 1 teaspoon lemon
juice.
Use either the red Egyptian, or the green German lentils. Wash well in
several waters, drain, and put to soak overnight in the water. Use this
same water for cooking. Cook very slowly until the lentils are soft and
dry. They should just absorb the quantity of water given. (If cooked too
quickly it may be necessary to add a little more.) A little thyme or herb
powder may be cooked with the lentils, if liked. When done, drain off any
superfluous water, add the butter and the lemon juice, shake over the fire
until hot. Serve with baked potatoes and tomato sauce.
9. LENTIL PASTE.
1/2 pint red lentils, 1/2 pint bread-crumbs, 2 ozs. butter or 1-1/2 oz.
nutter, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/2 a nutmeg.
Well wash the lentils and place on the fire with just enough water to
cover them. Simmer gently until quite soft. Add the butter, lemon juice,
nutmeg, and bread-crumbs. Stir well, heat to boiling point, and cook for
10 minutes. Put in jars, and when cold pour some melted butter or nutter
on the top. Tomato juice may be used in place of the lemon juice if
preferred.
10. LENTIL AND LEEK PIE.
2 cups lentils, 12 small leeks, 4 cups water, short crust.
Put the lentils, water, and leeks, finely shredded, into a covered jar or
basin. Bake in a slow oven until done. Put into a greased pie-dish and
cover with short crust. (If lentils are very dry, add a little more
water.) Bake. Serve with boiled potatoes, brown gravy, and any vegetable
in season, except spinach