Vegan Corned Beef

Vegan Corned Beef is perhaps one of our favorite dishes in the Bahamas. Corned beef is known in the Bahamas as ‘Fire Engine’. In Jamaica, corned beef is known as bully beef, and in the United States as corned beef. 

Upon request, I have created a Vegan Corned Beef recipe for my vegan audience. As this is a vegan blog, in today’s recipe we will be using kidney beans to substitute the corned beef. Why kidney beans? Firstly, kidney beans possess a beautiful rustic red, providing a foolproof color, signature to corned beef. Kidney beans, regulate metabolism and heart health and helps with weight management. They are a good source of dietary fiber and lower cholesterol.

Beans happen to be one of my favorite recipes. There are many bean recipes that you can enjoy, including Lentil Soup, Split Pea Soup, and more.

Traditional Breakfast of Corned Beef

This traditional breakfast is perhaps better known as steamed corned beef. It is a fundamental part of Bahamian culture and food. Corned beef is made with canned corned beef and a variety of diced vegetables. It is served with a generous heap of buttery grits or rice. The meal is one that will keep you full from the first mouthwatering bite until your next meal.  Every household in The Bahamas knows this dish.

Usually eaten at breakfast, but like any good staple, this salty, spicy, savory comfort dish (or local hangover cure) may be savored at every meal of the day. The breadbasket, shelf-stable products that make up the dish’s main ingredients—corned beef, tomato paste, corn kernels, and seasoning. It is the grits or rice that keep costs down and energy levels up. Other Fire Engine ingredients are onion, bell pepper, celery, and tomatoes. These ingredients, are readily available in food shops or can be simply harvested locally. Potatoes, cabbage, and carrots are sometimes added to stretch.

Notably, a Fire Engine dinner is inexpensive to prepare. This meal keeps you full and toasty for a while, or until you’re ready to eat another helping.

If you are at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, or heart attacks, corned beef should be consumed in moderation due to its high salt content. It is also high in fat and cholesterol and contains no fiber. A lot of people that eat corned beef, also suffer from constipation.

Kidney beans do not have the side effects found in corned beef. It is the perfect substitute for people to enjoy this meal without all the side effects. Beans are our meat and are a great protein dish.

Corned Beef | Fire Engine | Bully Beef

History Of The Dish Most intriguingly, the meaning of the moniker "Fire Engine" is unclear. Like any good mystery, you feel more misled the more questions you ask. Condensed down below are two of the commonest theories you'll hear on the island:

According to a common cited idea, Bahamian chefs add so much native goat pepper to the meal that it makes your mouth feel like it's on fire. In order to put out the fires, you would need the immediate aid of the fire department.

Another origin you might hear compares the white grits or rice with the rich crimson ‘tomatoey’ sauce of the steamed corned beef once prepared.The end result of this recipe looks like a fire truck, especially with the optional brilliant yellow corn kernels that are added for sweetness.•

Upon request I have created a recipe for my vegan audience. As this is a vegan blog, in todays recipe we will be using kidney beans to substitute the corned beef.

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Course Breakfast, Main Course

Cuisine American, Bahamian, Jamaican

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 c kidney beans or 1 can
• 1 medium size potato
• Small chopped onion
• 1 stalk celery chopped
• 2 scallion diced
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 small bell pepper chopped
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper* to taste

Instructions

 

• Dice potato, onions, celery, bell pepper, and chop scallions, and add them to your skillet.
• Add a little oil, or water will do.
• Allow the potatoes, and herbs to cook before adding tomato paste.
• Once the potato is done add the tomato paste and allow it to cook for about 2 minutes.
• Add the spices.
• 6 Add the beans and mash.
• Season to taste with salt, pepper and braggs liquid aminos or soy sauce.
• Serve

Video

Notes

Ingredients Used

 

Kidney beans- The main ingredient in this dish, providing color, texture, and a great protein substitute. If you boil your own beans or cook them in a crockpot, adding fennel seeds and garlic to the water adds more flavors, and assists in getting rid of all those gases in the beans.

Beet powder- this is optional to give a more vibrant color.

Soy sauce- Gives a ‘corned beef flavor’. Coconut amino or Braggs liquid amino may be used as a substitute.

Herbs- Onion, Garlic, Scallion, Celery, and bell pepper, add flavor and texture.

Thyme- No pot in the Bahamas goes without thyme! This herb is a Bahamian staple.

Tomato paste – why? Because of the flavor, it brings to the pot.
Coriander
Smoked paprika

Peppers- in the Bahamas we use goat peppers, and Jamaica uses scotch bonnet peppers. Black pepper can also be used. Speaking of black pepper and kidney beans, overuse of it can cause a higher risk of kidney stones because of the high amount of mineral oxalate, which aids in the formation of kidney stones. Goat and scotch bonnet peppers, do not have as many side effects as black pepper, and if neither of them is available to you, cayenne pepper is a great option.

FQA’s

What is corned beef eaten with?

Usually served with starch, such as rice, grits, and for healthier option quinoa. You can also try having it as I did. I chose to have it with vegan Nacho Cheese. You can visit my Melty Cheese recipe for the directions on how to make this easy cheese, the perfect dip.

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