Whether you prefer to eat a plant-based diet or are simply looking for meatless options, beef stroganoff is one dish that may be challenging to veganize. While mushrooms are an important part of the original recipe, they also play a starring role in it.
What can you do if you love this dish but don’t eat mushrooms? Fortunately, there are many substitutes that will still give your beef stroganoff the taste and texture you love.
Beans
Beans are a versatile ingredient with lots of different variations. Black beans, for example, can be used to make a tasty vegan beef stroganoff. If you’d like to go with a more traditional style, pinto or kidney beans are also good options.
You can use canned beans in a pinch, but you’ll get a better texture and lower cost if you buy and cook your own dried beans. Make sure to pick a style and variety of beans that are suitable to be used in a stroganoff dish.
Eggplant
Eggplant is a great alternative to mushrooms in stroganoff because of its consistency and flavor profile. Check out this video below to use eggplant instead of mushrooms.
Chickpeas
One of the most common ways to veganize beef stroganoff is with chickpeas. They’re easy to prepare and can be used in a variety of different ways. For example, you can simply saute them and use them as the main ingredient in your stroganoff.
You can also buy them canned, which will help speed up the process. If you use dried chickpeas, make sure to soak them overnight. You can then boil them or cook them in an Instant Pot to get them tender enough to use in your stroganoff dish.
Tofu
Another popular choice for veganizing beef stroganoff is tofu. It’s a common protein source in the vegan diet and can be used in many different ways.
Most vegan beef stroganoff recipes will use either firm or extra firm tofu, which has a meatier texture than other varieties. You can buy tofu in bulk and use it in a variety of different dishes. You can also buy it in single-serve packages, which will make it easier to use in recipes.
Canned Beans
If you don’t have time to cook your own beans for this dish, you can buy canned beans and use those instead. Just be aware that different brands and types of beans have different textures. You may have to add more water or change up other ingredients in your recipe to get the texture you need.
If you use canned beans, make sure to pick a brand that doesn’t use BPA in their cans. You may also want to rinse the beans to remove extra sodium that they’re often packed with.
Zucchini and other squash
Stroganoff is often served with noodles, rice, or potatoes. One easy way to veganize this part of the dish is to replace the noodles with squash, such as zucchini.
You can also use butternut squash, acorn squash, or other varieties. You can buy squash in bulk, which will make it easier to find and store while also saving you money. If you have a garden, you can even grow your own squash.
Try Something New
If you’re looking for a unique twist on this classic dish, you can try using ingredients you wouldn’t normally find in it. For example, black beans and quinoa are both popular vegan alternatives to beef.
Quinoa is also a good choice for people on the gluten-free diet. If you want to try something really different, you can use ingredients like soybeans or edamame as a vegan beef stroganoff substitute.
Conclusion
Beef stroganoff is a classic dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and dietary preferences. You can veganize this dish by swapping out the beef for beans, chickpeas, or tofu.
You can also replace the noodles with squash, such as zucchini. You can also use edamame or soybeans instead of meat in your stroganoff recipe. No matter which ingredients you pick, this dish will still have all the flavors you love.