Vegetarian Jerky

Sometimes it is called oven jerky because an oven can be used to dry it. However, a commercial dehydrator can also be used. The name is also interchanged with vegan jerky. It all depends who is making it and how it is made.

If you like jerky, but are a vegetarian then veggie jerky is just for you. Even meat eaters enjoy jerky made with tofu. Let’s explore a bit more about the soybean and its uses.

Vegetarian Jerky: About Soybean Products

A substance found in the soybean has been used for making pharmaceuticals. Soybeans have all the essential amino acids the body needs.

Soy milk makes a wonderful substitute for those who are allergic to cow’s milk or prefer to not eat animal products. Other uses made from the soybean are oil, flour, miso, tofu, tempeh, and okara.

Soy products have also been known to be good for balancing out a woman’s hormonal system during menopause.

Vegetarian Jerky: Health Food

The Japanese prepare and consume a diet that has a wide range of different tofu products made from soybeans to make tofu, okara, and tempeh. In fact soybeans are the only plant food product that are a complete protein by themselves.

Soybeans have many vitamins and minerals including calcium, folic acid, and iron. This is one more reason why making your own vegetarian jerky is a good idea.

It is a nutritious wholesome snack to have around for when the kids come home from school or to even pack in their lunch box. See the recipe below. You can always double the recipe so you will have plenty of this jerky around for those hunger spurts.

Vegetarian Jerky Recipe: Tofu Jerky

• 1/2 cup soy sauce or liquid aminos
• 3 tablespoons liquid smoke
• 1/8 cup water
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder or another version:
• 1 clove crushed fresh garlic
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon honey or molasses
• 1 pound extra firm tofu

Cut and drain the tofu and cut it into strips. Strips should be about 4-5 mm in thickness. They may look big, but they'll shrink to about half their size.

Mix marinade ingredients together. Put the tofu in a single layer in a shallow baking pan and pour the marinade over it. Let soak for several hours or overnight.

Drain liquid and dry tofu in food dehydrator or warm (200 F) oven. Dry for four to eight hours. Drying time depends on the weather in your area.

If you live in a sunny, arid climate you can dry it in the sun, but it will take all day. If you dry the jerky in your oven, you will need to flip the tofu jerky every hour or so. Dry until it gets very chewy, but not crispy and too hard to chew.

This is just one jerky recipe that is vegetarian, but you can experiment with different spices and herbs to make a jerky that you may like even better. Spices you can try are chili powder, cumin, and Indian curry powder.

Sources:

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/263/Tofu_Jerky49505.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean