The Whens’ & Whys’ of Substitutions
A sugar is a sugar, a spice is a spice, a fat is a fat and that is that. This week is all about substitutions. In the culinary world anything can be substituted for something else, most of the time. (Science is science after all) So read along and we will uncover some of the reasons for making substitutions in the kitchen.
One of the main reasons that make substitutions a requirement today is dietary. There are countless cookbooks, websites, specialty stores and even entire product lines dedicated to such issues as cooking for diabetes, weight loss, high cholesterol and gluten free. The list is seemingly endless. As we age, or perhaps it is something we are born with, issues arise and we are forced to adjust our habits and lifestyle to suit what life has thrown our way. An allergy or other reaction can quickly turn a favourite food into a terrible nightmare if prepared incorrectly, but with the law of substitution on your side that favourite family recipe can be altered and enjoyed for years to come.
Other substitutions can be made on moral grounds. While this argument is mostly used by vegetarians and vegans against eating meat products, additional arguments such as organic over traditional fruits and vegetables have brought this point up as well. So Sally has decided not to eat meat protein anymore, does that mean she has to pass up on the chilli served on Super Bowl Sunday? No, of course not, enter vegetarian chilli with tofu.
Substitution reason number three: economics. One of the farthest-reaching reasons for the art of substitution is due to one of the fundamental principals of life. Finances are finite. Let’s face it, we all may love the idea of sitting down to T-Bone steaks and organic vegetables for every meal but Jimmy may need new school clothes, Lisa may need braces, the car may need new brakes and any one of those issues may inhibit our ability to get what we want on our plate when we want it.
Whatever our reasoning substitutions are here to stay. Inevitably you have at some point made a substitution to a dish and will likely need to make another one again in your life. While tradition dictates what should go into an authentic version of a dish, substitutions allow for the inclusion of everyone at the table. So allow for alterations, succumb to substitutions and enjoy your everyday.