Vegan Filipino dishes that are perfect for beginners

Plant-based and vegan-friendly meals are often thought of as expensive and inaccessible, but digital content creator RG Enriquez-Diez, or AstigVegan to her followers, is on a mission to change this outlook.

In an interview with GMA Lifestyle at the sidelines of this year's recently concluded VegFest Pilipinas, RG highlighted how creating delicious vegan dishes doesn't have to be expensive.

“My goal is to really showcase these local mura ingredients na maging masarap rin at parang mala-karne na walang karne,” she said.

RG also released the book, Filipino Vegan, where she shares vegan recipes of classic Filipino dishes.

“Nandon 'yung mga recipes and they will find out na 'yung mga ingredients, mahahanap lang sa palengke,” she said.

For those who are new to the plant-based lifestyle, RG said it is best to start with a favorite dish or cooking something familiar.

“Make sure na it's close to what you enjoy kasi if you enjoy what you're doing, it's gonna last,” she noted.

She listed a couple known Filipino dishes that are beginner-friendly. Here are some of them:

Bistek

Source: AstigVegan Blog

According to RG, bistek is one recipe that is beginner-friendly.

In the recipe published on her blog, RG used a russet potato, portobello mushrooms, and extra-firm tofu as the main ingredients for her vegan bistek. You may view the full recipe on her blog www.astigvegan.com.

Adobo

Another beginner-friendly dish is the ever-famous adobo.

“Start with bistek or adobo kasi maghanap ka lang ng main ingredient, tapos sauces na, may ulam ka na,” RG said.

RG has shared several adobo recipes on her blog and YouTube channel, including adobong kangkong and adobong mushroom.

Menudo

Source: AstigVegan Facebook

For those who already have a background in cooking, RG suggested trying the fiesta-staple menudo. In her recipe, RG used firm tofu, potato, carrots, and vegan sausage as main ingredients.

Ginataang munggo guisado

We are familiar with the classic munggo guisado, but adding coconut milk to the delicious stew is something uncommon.

In her Facebook post in May 2020, RG said, "I have to admit that I learned about adding coconut milk to munggo pretty late. But once I did, there's no turning back! Coconut milk lends a nice richness to this comforting stew.”

MEANWHILE, HAVE A LOOK AT VEGAN-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS YOU CAN GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS: