I went to college at the University of Georgia in Athens. It’s pretty much the best college town ever. The downtown is walking distance from campus and full of bars, shops and great restaurants. I was first introduced to true vegetarian cuisine in Athens at The Grit. I enjoyed many delicious dinners and hungover brunches (sorry Mom) there. One of my favorite things to order was their Golden Bowl. It’s tofu on brown rice with veggies and their house-made vegan yeast gravy. I purchased The Grit cookbook several years ago but have never gotten around to recreating the Golden Bowl at home. I was finally inspired tonight.
I pressed and drained the tofu and then sautéed it with olive oil, Dizzy Pig Tsunami Spin and soy sauce until it was golden brown. Then I sautéed veggies (Trader Joe’s Asian Stir Fry Blend and spinach) and heated some brown rice.
The Yeast Gravy is what totally makes the bowl. I want to share the recipe with you. Now that I got around to making it, I’ll be whipping it up much more frequently. It’s very easy and so good!
The Grit’s Yeast Gravy
(Recipe source, The Grit Cookbook)
*note – I thirded this recipe and it still made a ton!
1 cup (2 sticks) vegan margarine (I used butter)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup flaked nutritional yeast
2 cups plain soy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 3/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons vegan worcestershire sauce (I prefer the Annie’s brand)
Melt butter/margarine in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and nutritional yeast and stir to create a roux. Whisk constantly for 4 minutes, reducing the heat if necessary. You just want it bubbling. Be sure to stir, stir, stir.
Continue whisking and gradually add in milk. The mixture will become thick. Combine the soy sauce, water and worcestershire and slowly add to gravy. Once you’ve achieved the desired consistency, stop adding liquid. It will thicken as you continue cooking.
Yield: 4 cups
Try it!
I ate some other good things today.
Lunch was an open faced veggie burger. This was impossible to eat neatly and such a mess even with a knife and fork.
Mid-afternoon frozen yogurt. My office overlooks Yoforia and I consider it a huge accomplishment that I don’t make weekly visits. I was so excited that they had waffle cone pieces and Cinnamon Toast Crunch on the toppings bar today. YUM!
Off to shower (sitting in gross yoga clothes from hours ago) and crash. It’s been a long day.
Love The Grit! I didn’t enjoy much about Athens in my time at UGA but definitely loved The Grit… I should pick up the cookbook one day.
Ha, I work less than a mile from Yoforia and consider it an accomplishment I don’t go several days a week.
so sad you didn’t love your time in athens! 🙁
the grit cookbook is awesome!
Yum! I am too lazy to cook my own tofu! But I totally want to try out the recipe!
I have always wanted to try nutritional yeast, but haven’t ever bought it because I didn’t really know what to do with it…that recipe looks pretty good, so I think I may have to break down and give it a try!!!
try it! it is a little weird but very versatile!
I don’t think I have the self control to have an office overlooking a yogurt place! I am so impressed you are not there daily 😉 Love the recipe too!
I miss Athens so much!! I always forget that it’s a good weekend trip. That meal looks pretty amazing!
it’s so fun to visit on non-football weekends! i love going to all of my old favorite spots.
I have an embarrassing confession. I never ate at The Grit. I nursed my hangovers at Inoko Express. How embarrassing!
Go DAWGS! 🙂
awesome. 😛
That sounds delicious! I swear if I had to pick only one vegetarian item to use for the rest of my life it would be Nutritional Yeast! Anything that uses it always tastes amazzzing!
do you have any favorite uses for it?
I love the sound of that recipe from The Grit. I am always looking for different ways to spice up the use of tofu. I really enjoy the texture of it, but I get sick of the flavor very easily. Thank you for sharing!
you will love this!
I got into UGA Honors, but I chose to go to Penn (the University of Pennsylvania) instead. This definitely makes me want to go to The Grit when I visit my friends at UGA though 😀
yes, you must! athens is such a fun town to visit. you’ll have a great time!
I always have cinnamon toast crunch in my yogurt. It’s the one constant in all my yogurt visits:)
why is it soooo good!?
Hi!! I love reading your blog and today’s post especially because I went to UGA too and loved the Grit! My younger sister and i would go once a week and get their massive house salad with their tofu on top and the split pea soup it was out of this world delicious! I have got to get back to athens in the fall for a game and the grit will be my first stop!
oh i don’t think i’ve tried those things. yummy! i haven’t been to athens for a game in 2 years. would be fun to make it this year!
that tofu bowl looks super delicious! i’m a vegetarian, so i’ll definitely be trying this.
But aren’t those moments at the end of the day when you are too sweaty and tired to even shower some of the most relaxing times! I always feel like the day was an accomplishment 🙂 I have been reading your blog for over a year and just started mine, check it out!!
yes, there is nothing like a hot shower at the end of a long day. my favorite way to unwind! i LOVE the name of your blog. i’ll check it out!
Open-face sandwiches are always a mess. At least it was good!
This dinner (and the frozen yogurt 😉 ) looks great!
I LOVE the golden bowl. Yum!!!
I LOVED the yeast gravy. Absolutely amazing.
THANK YOU-
yay! thanks for the feedback!