When I reply to an ad on a bulletin board for crew wanted, or when I place an ad in the crew available section and need to write a little blurb about myself, I am always very upfront about my dietary preferences. I always say that I live on a vegetable-based diet. I’ll cook a burger for somebody else if needed, but I won’t eat it myself. Also don’t have any illusions of me catching and preparing fish for dinner, it is not going to happen. Those mahi mahis stay right in the ocean where they belong. I recognize my diet can be a pain in the butt for other people and I can understand that some rather don’t have a person like me on board. I get that. That’s why I like to be upfront so we all know where we stand.
So when I replied to an ad from Dan posted on the website crewbay.com I was quick to point out that I don’t eat meat and pretty well refrain from eating animal related products. Turns out Dan is by no means a vegetarian, but he does need to eat gluten-free and doesn’t react well to vegetables belonging to the nightshade family. Nightshade, who knew? A fine pair we make. Try to find a recipe for gluten-free vegan bread you can bake in the alley of a small sailboat. I was looking for a pre-mix, just add water.
For today’s fine dining I have a spicy vegan potato curry on the menu. That is pretty well my signature dish. I’m no great cook, not even a good cook, but I have made this dish on other boats and also at home and it is generally well received.
The first ingredient on the list is 4 potatoes peeled and cubed. Obviously that is not going to happen as potatoes belong to the nightshade family. No big deal, the recipe also asks for chickpeas. Why not add some extra chickpeas instead of the potatoes. Problem solved.
Second on the list is 1 yellow onion, diced. Really, nightshade again? Alright, since we already opened an extra can of chickpeas, perhaps add some extra to make up for the onion. No big deal.
One medium-size carrot. I like carrots. New Zealand supermarkets had some beauties of those. Are carrots in any form or shape related to onions and potatoes. No, they are not. Not as far as I can tell. Carrots are good, we can use a carrot. Unfortunately we ran out of carrots two days ago. Perhaps a few extra chickpeas instead. Or omit the carrot all together. That’ll work, it was never really part of the plan.
Next is a list of spices, fresh ginger I don’t have and the obligatory two teaspoons of salt which I always reduce to one.
Now we’re getting to the canned stuff. 1(14 ounce) can coconut milk, 1(15 ounce) can peas, drained, 1(15 ounce) garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained. That one can is of course not going to cut it, fortunately I have lots of chickpeas. Bought them by the flat. Next is 1(14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes. Oh no, tomatoes. I need tomatoes, damn those nightshades. I’ll sneak it in. What’s the worst that could happen?
Oops, I forgot the garlic. 3 cloves of it. Right there on the list after the 1 yellow onion, diced. The onion that is, the garlic needs to be minced. I beg your pardon, nightshade? Are you kidding me? How can you not eat garlic? I’m not even sure garlic is a member of the nightshade family. You know that for sure? Well, perhaps it shouldn’t be. You know what, the hell with this. I’m not making this curry without garlic. Plus I got lots of it too, seven bulbs in a tubular net. All the way from China.
