©2005 Ashy Macbean. All rights reserved
There is no reason for vegetarians and vegans to forego, other than for health reasons, a high calorie traditional British fried breakfast. Or at least something like it.
When I was a youngster, Sunday was the only day we got a fried Breakfast. The only time I come across such breakfasts nowadays is when I spend the night in a hotel in Britain. The British tradition of serving a plate of high-colesterol fried animal parts at breakfast is a declining one, but if you stay in a guest house or hotel you'll find that the tradition, if not the animals, is still alive and well. Guest houses in Scotland serve a full English breakfast, in Ireland it's a full Irish breakfast and in Scotland of course, a full Scottish breakfast. In Cardiff I stayed in a hotel which offered a full Welsh breakfast. There is very little difference between them all, although in Scotland you are more likely to be offered a 'tattie scone'.
I enjoyed my Sunday breakfast as a kid, but it was so long ago it's not something I miss. I do occasionally go for the veggie sausages and baked beans at the breakfast buffet but I'm more likely to be drawn to the fresh fruit selection and accompany a plate of mellon slices and grapes with a few slices of toast and marmite and three or four cups of freshly brewed black coffee. The exception is when I have a hangover. Then I always pile as many fried veggie things as I can find onto my plate.
The choice of veggie items varies from establishment to establishment and you have to be careful to check that the veggie sausages haven't been fried alongside the meat ones, but in the best places, it is possible to enjoy an excellent vegetarian selection.
Here's a list of suggestions for building your own bumper fried breakfast. There are also lots of readily available 'meat substitute' products on the market such as fake bacon rashers and veggie sausages. I find them all a little over processed for my tastes, but you might like them.
Scrambled tofu - I can't think of anything vegetarian which is remotely similar to a fried egg, but if you miss scrambled eggs, try scrambling tofu. You'll be amazed. If you don't miss scrambled eggs, try it anyway. You'll like it.
Potato scones - The tradditional Scottish ingredient, Fried till crisp and golden. For an alternative, try the next one.
Hash brown potatoes - Basically lumps of fried grated potato. Very easy to make and delicious. In Byelorusia they are called 'draniki'.
Cutlets - Follow the link for some great cutlet recipe ideas but don't be afraid to try your own combinations too.
Baked beans - Open a can. That's the easiest way.
Fried mushrooms - Large open mushrooms are great fried. Pull the stalks off and fry the whole caps.
Tomatoes - Either cut firm fresh tomatoes in half and fry them, or open a can of whole tomatoes and heat them gently in their juice, taking care not to break them.
HP brown sauce - it's just not the real thing without brown sauce.