Flavorful vegetarian versions of America's favorite one-dish meals:
ramen, pho, bibimbap, dumplings, and burrito bowls
A restorative bowl of vegetarian ramen sent Lukas Volger on a quest to
capture the full flavor of all the one-bowl meals that are the rage
today--but in vegetarian form. With the bowl as organizer, the
possibilities for improvisational meals full of seasonal produce and
herbs are nearly endless.
Volger's ramen explorations led him from a simple bowl of miso ramen to
a glorious summer ramen with corn broth, tomatoes, and basil. From
there, he went on to the Vietnamese noodle soup pho, with combinations
like caramelized spring onions, peas, and baby bok choy. His edamame
dumplings with mint are served in soup or over salad, while spicy carrot
dumplings appear over toasted quinoa and kale for a rounded dinner.
Imaginative grain bowls range from ratatouille polenta to black rice
burrito with avocado. And unlike their meatier counterparts, these
dishes can be made in little time and without great expense.
Volger also includes many tips, techniques, and indispensable base
recipes perfected over years of cooking, including broths, handmade
noodles, sauces, and garnishes.
Photographs by Michael Harlan Turkell