The Chick Anarkali and Basmati Pilaf recipes are provided by Purviz Birdie, Lawrence. The recipes for Mama’s Mock Meatloaf and Bergen’s New Breaking Burger are from “The PETA Celebrity Cookbook.”

Chick Anarkali

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2 cups mock chick chunks or 2 pounds tofu cubed
5 tablespoons canola oil (divided)
3 medium onions, chopped
3 large tomatoes, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 half-inch piece of ginger, minced
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cayenne powder or to taste
2 cardamoms, crushed
1 one-inch piece cinnamon stick, crushed
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
2 tablespoons yogurt or cream (soy yogurt of soy cream)
1 small bunch cilantro, chopped (optional)
salt to taste

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and saute the tofu or chick chunks until golden. Set aside. Add the remainder of the oil and fry the onions until lightly brown. Add tomatoes, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, cardamom and cinnamon and fry well for a few minutes. Add the tofu or chick, cover and cook on low for 10 minutes. Add a little water if too dry. Finally, add yogurt or cream and mix well. Add nutmeg, stir well. Remove from heat. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with Basmati Pilaf.

Note: If using dried mock meat substitute, add 2 cups of water while cooking. Omit water if using tofu.

Basmati Pilaf

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2 cups basmati rice, washed and rinsed
4 cups water
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 inch piece cinnamon
4 cloves
2 bay leaves, whole
1/2 cup almonds or cashews, sliced
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion until it is clear and soft. Add in the cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, almonds and raisins and fry on medium heat a couple of minutes. Add the rice, and saute very well. Add water and salt and turn heat to high. When bubbles gently appear on the surface of the water, place a tight fitting lid on the pan, turn down the heat to low and cook undisturbed for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes turn off the stove. Leave the lid on and let the rice sit an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the lid, fluff the rice and serve.

Mama’s Mock “Meatloaf”

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Loaf ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
28 ounce beef substitute such as Morningstar Farms burger crumbles or Gimme Lean ground “beef” by Lightlife.
1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal
2 slices white bread, crumbled
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Coating ingredients:
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Saute the onion and green pepper in the oil over medium heat until soft. Combine in a bowl with the “beef,” oatmeal, bread, ketchup, garlic salt, and pepper. Thoroughly mix with a spoon or your hands. Press the mixture into an oiled loaf pan. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients for the coating and set aside. Remove the loaf from the oven and turn it out onto a baking sheet. Spread the coating over the entire loaf. Cook uncovered on the baking sheet for another 15 minutes.

Bergen’s News Breaking Burger

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8 ounce firm tofu, pressed to drain excess water
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup mushrooms, diced
1 tablespoon chives, chopped
2 tablespoons wheat germ
2 tablespoons flour, plus extra to roll patties in
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast (optional)
Pepper, to taste

Mix the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Form four burgers and roll them in flour. Place them on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and broil them for 5 to 10 minutes on each side, until brown.

Makes 4 burgers.