By Nadine Kam / nkam@staradvertiser.com
The proliferation of food trucks over the past few years has ensured a steady supply of culinary novelty and all the hottest food trends rippling across the country. But if there’s one area where Hawaii has lagged, it’s in the availability of vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Down to Earth's vegetarian lasagna is made with four kinds of cheese: Parmesan, mozzarella, provolone and cheddar. --Cindy Ellen Russell / crussell@staradvertiser.com
Everyone can manage to toss a salad together, but there’s little dedication to focusing on the growing number of noncarnivores who choose to avoid meat out of health or ethical concerns.
You can find a salad or fruit bowl anywhere, but if you crave a little more variety, here are a few of my favorite vegetarian dishes:
Licious Dishes Tri-layer Dip: Who doesn’t love a tri-layer dip? But between the sour cream and refried beans, that love comes with worries about excess fat. I could eat tubs of this raw, organic version which contains no beans. In their place is a mash of sunflower seeds, sun-dried tomato, scallion, cilantro, cumin, jalapeno and chipotle, for guilt-free authentic Mex flavor. Real guacamole and a “sour cream” made with cashews, lemon juice and water balance the dish, sold in near 10-ounce portions for $9. Enjoy them with your own tortilla chips or continue in health mode and order up a bag of Licious Dishes flax chips. Takeout at 650 Iwilei Road, Kale’s Natural Foods in Hawaii Kai or visit www.eliciousdishes.com for farmers market availability.
Kale’s Deli Garam Masala Tofu Scamble: Tofu subs for eggs in this dish ($8.25) cooked up at Kale’s Deli inside Kale’s Natural Foods in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, 377 Keahole St. The organic tofu is scrambled with red bell pepper, red onion, a light yellow curried spice blend and local Otsuji kale. Kale, of course, is one of the most beneficial greens you could eat, containing more than 45 flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s popping up on a lot more menus these days. Call 396-6993.
Da Falafel King Falafel Sandwich: Falafel here tends to be bready, but Da Falafel King makes the chickpea fritters the way I like ‘em, light with an even, well-textured bit of crunch. You can watch the falafel being made on the spot, and the $8 sandwiches come packed with hummus, raita and four vegetable choices, from red cabbage to pickled greens. As good as this sandwich is, the King’s red and green hot sauces are like crack to me. In the Waikiki Trade Center, 2255 Kuhio Ave. Call 223-7899.
Cafe Taj Mahal Curry: Indian restaurants are a great place to find vegetarian dishes, and at Cafe Taj Mahal it’s no surprise to find options running from appetizers of papadums and vegetable pakoras (fritters), to breads including garlic and onion naan, as well as dhal, eggplant and mixed vegetable curries. Even without the main ingredient, the curries that start with onions, garlic and aromatic spices are intoxicating in their own right. At 3036 Waialae Ave., next to Sabrina’s. Call 732-6496.
Down to Earth Lasagna: Multilayered and filling, you can help yourself to as much as you want from the steam table, where hot entrees are priced at $9.59 per pound ($7.99 per pound on Fridays). With apologies to true vegetarians/vegans, this one has four kinds of cheese -Parmesan, mozzarella, provolone and cheddar -between layers of organic pasta, zucchini, crushed tomatoes, marinara and spinach. I go to the university branch at 2525 S. King St., 947-7678. Other stores are at Pearlridge, Kailua, Kapolei and Kahului. Menus may vary, but lasagna is generally served only on Wednesdays.
Simple Joy Vegetarian Cuisine Shrimp Alla Scampi: Faux meat has come a long way, and the yam root that goes into the faux shrimp accenting this dish ($9.95) makes it a ringer for the bouncy texture of the shellfish. You may find yourself a convert to the vegetarian way after trying this. At 1145 S. King St.; 591-9919.