Calling (Meat) Eaters: Vegan Ma Po Tofu
Have you heard of the New York Times contest? This contest challenges people to submit essays arguing why it is ethical to eat meat – and the winner gets published.
What I find fascinating are the discussions surrounding this – I admit, I am one that loves to read comments. I like reading what people are really thinking. For example:
“I seriously doubt if any country outside the USA or Europe has ever wondered aloud if it is ethical to eat meat. Given the multitude of crises facing the world at present, doesn’t it seem a little bit silly to be a cape-wearing “crusader of the cows”?”
This reader has a good point – we are terribly privileged to even engage in such conversations. Certainly, the eat animals/don’t eat animals debate generates a lot of passion – and with passion also comes some misunderstanding of each others’ point. Engaging in conversation and raising awareness with others also require skillful balance to avoid sounding arrogant or pedantic. This is why writers such as Mark Bittman, Michael Pollan, Tom Philpott, and Barry Estabrook, are so effective and popular. They raise critical questions, but do so in a way that sounds like your buddy sharing something new they’ve read rather than sounding like your math teacher telling you that under no uncertain circumstances can an imaginary number be anything else but.
So it comes as no surprise as the judges for this contest are the trusted sources of: Peter Singer, Michael Pollan, Mark Bittman, Jonathan Safran Foer and Andrew Light. But as some commenters including strong female voices, note: there are zero female judges for this contest. Why is that? Where are the women? It’s not like there aren’t leading female voices in food (uh, Joan Gussow (love her), Marion Nestle? Alice Waters? Michele Simon?)
As the Atlantic asked, “is consuming animals a feminist issue?”
What do you think?
In the meantime, here is a vegan version of the Szechuan dish, Ma Po Tofu. Speaking of women, the name of this dish is loosely translated to “Pockmarked-Face Lady’s Tofu.” There are different versions…this one is easy, not-too-spicy, and kid-friendly. It’s meat-eater-friendly, vegan-friendly, male-friendly, female-friendly…tummy-friendly.
Vegan Ma Po Tofu
1 package firm or extra firm tofu, cubed
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cups mushroom, sliced
3 green onions, sliced
3 TB black bean sauce (more to taste)
2 TB soy sauce
Red chili flakes (season to liking)
Salt
Oil
1. Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute until translucent.
2. Add mushrooms and saute
3. Add tofu and cook thoroughly.
4. Add black bean sauce, soy sauce, chili flakes, and salt to taste.
5. Add green onions.
6. Serve over bed of brown rice or quinoa with some greens
Category: Featured, Featured Articles: Food Politics, Food Politics, Main Dish - Vegetarian, Recipe Vault
Good question, where are the female voices?
I had a similar thought when I saw the panel of judges!! Thank you for posing the question with what seems to be a delicious recipe
You make several excellent points and especially re: the little boys club of judge and jurors
LOVE mapo tofu and I confess only ever eat it with pork – and yes we are a privileged lot to be able to have these discussions and quite an insignificant one when you compare it to the crisis in Darfur, human trafficking etc but then again, if some one didn’t have these discussions or realize a need for it will we ever be a society to discuss higher philosophies or the Arts and such?
And given the choice between discussing this and the size of Kim Kardashian’s trunk size I say, yes lets talk about the ethical question of eating meat.
chow
Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Good point…seems a wee bit unbalanced! Excellent dish, though…I wouldn’t miss the meat
Hmm, interesting question, although I can’t argue with the panel of judges they’ve chosen. What a great debate!
Didn’t expect you would have posted mopo tofu! That’s my favourite and I love it SPICY!
Sounds like an interesting contest, even though the panel of judges is imbalanced. Delicious looking tofu – I just ate breakfast and now I’m hungry for lunch!
Looks like with Vegan Ma Po Tofu you’ve got the ideal meal. Taste buds watering already.
Wow, so the gender question even pops up in the great meat eating debate. But yes, where are the female judges…?
Julia
I cook mapo tofu too, but never thought of making just veggies. This looks really good!
I love your meat-eater-friendly, vegan-friendly, male-friendly, female-friendly…tummy-friendly version of Ma-Po-tofu. I make the traditional one all the time. I gotta give yours a try as I’m trying to cook more meatless meals these days. This gotta be a good one.
Why yes, other countries have wondered if it is ethical to eat meat, probably much more so than the US and Europe have. It’s not a question that only comes with privilege and luxury, it’s a basic human question. In fact, I’m sure a lot of the trend toward vegetarianism has come from the Hindu and Buddhist countries to the US and Europe. They are definitely crusaders of the cows in India– there are even charity hospitals for sick cows!
Hey there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoy reading your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects? Appreciate it!