125 Best Vegan Recipes

Maxine Effenson Chuck is a writer and editor with a special interest in cooking and Beth Gurney is a professional chef, pastry chef and cooking instructor.

Introduction

When we set out to write this book, we wanted to make sure we were creating recipes that would meet the needs of today's busy families As mothers, we understand that life is exceedingly hectic. Because we are constantly juggling the needs of kids, husbands, pets and jobs, we don't have time to spend hours over the stove as past generations of mothers were able to do. Our main objective is to prepare meals that are relatively simple yet nutritionally sound that our kids will enjoy and with luck -- request again.

With this in mind, we set out to create recipes that use ingredients people are likely to have in their pantries and that aren't too time-consuming or complicated to prepare. In pursuit of this goal we interviewed a wide circle of vegans about their food choices, meal-planning requirements and the ingredients they use most often, We also polled culinary professionals who focus on the vegan market, such as chefs and restaurateurs. Our recipes are informed by these exchanges as well as by the needs and desires of our own families. We can attest to the fact that all of the recipes in this book have met with the approval of our husbands and children (five between us) .That was no easy feat, and many went through numerous revisions, but it was the litmus test before we sent any recipe out for testing.

In our experience, vegan cookbooks are often filled with recipes that contain hard-to-find ingredients or that require involved, time-consuming preparation. In contrast, our family-friendly recipes use readily available ingredients and are relatively quick and easy to prepare. They provide a well-balanced selection of classic recipes that we have adapted to veganism, as well as many international dishes that reflect today's increasingly multicultural world.

We are fortunate to live in New England, a region with a lush and diverse agricultural backdrop. As a result, from mid-June through the end of October we are able to find delicious fresh produce at our local farmers' market. Whenever possible, we use fresh ingredients rather than dried or packaged, but we recognize that this isn't always possible, a practical reality that our recipes take into account.

Whether you are single, partnered or married, or have children, you should be able to find recipes that appeal to you in this book. We hope you enjoy the book and that it becomes an indispensable part of planning your meals. Most importantly, enjoy the food and the experience of creating it!

Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Vegan Kitchen...

Appetizers

• Hummus with Roasted Red Peppers
• Versatile Peanut Dip
• Stuffed Portobello Mushroom Caps
• Spinach Dip
• Eggplant and Olive Dip
• Chunky Guacamole
• Tomato and Garlic Salsa
• Asian Vegetable Turnovers
• Layered Nachos
• Spicy Black Bean Dip
• Mushrooms in a Blanket
• Roasted Garlic and White Bean Dip
• Herbed Flatbread Chips
• Spicy Pecans
• Olive Spread
• Zesty Tofu Spread

Soups

• Corn and Sweet Potato Chowder
• Lentil Soup
• Hearty Black and White Bean Soup
• Hot-and-Sour Udon Noodle Soup
• Curried Carrot and Pear Soup
• Minestrone
• Leek and Potato Soup
• Onion Soup with Crostini
• Fresh Minted Pea Soup
• Tomato Soup
• Mushroom and Barley Soup
• Spicy Squash and Fennel Soup
• Gazpacho
• Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Ginger
• Curried Potato and Chickpea Soup

Salads, Sandwiches and Wraps

• Lentil Salad with Tomatoes and Tarragon
• Black Bean Salad
• Roasted Red Potato Salad
• Four-Bean Salad
• Orzo Salad with Lemon and Sage
• Caesar Salad with Capers
• Quinoa Salad with Grapefruit and Avocado
• Health Salad
• Waldorf Salad with Cranberries
• Salad of Baby Spinach with Strawberries and Pecans
• Taco Salad
• Hummus, Avocado and Tomato Wrap
• Eggplant, Olive and Basil Wrap
• Mediterranean Pita Pockets with Tofu and Pickled Onions
• Tofu Pinwheels with Colorful Vegetables
• Soy Bacon, Basil and Tomato Pockets
• Pickled Pink Onion Relish

Casseroles, Tofu and Legumes

• Spaghetti and Soyballs
• Pasta Bake
• Three-Bean Chili
• Shepherd's Pie
• Stuffed Pepper Boats
• Udon Noodles with Spicy Tofu and Asian Vegetables
• Barbecued Tofu Nuggets
• Polenta with Eggplant and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Baked Beans and Rice Casserole
• Curried Chickpeas
• Spinach and Tofu Dumplings
• Caribbean Rice and Beans
• Sesame Noodles with Tofu
• Mexican Casserole
• Savory Artichoke Pie
• Curried Vegetables with Tofu
• Tasty Chickpea Cakes
• Asian-Style Baked Tofu
• Italian-Style Baked Tofu

For the Kids

• Cornmeal Waffles with Blueberry Maple Syrup
• Luscious Apple Butter
• Berry Smoothies
• Almond Butter
• Banana and Almond Butter Whole Wheat Pita Pockets
• Spicy Black Bean Quesadillas
• Baked French Fries
• Granola Bars
• Nutty Fruit Balls
• Cheeseless Pizza
• Sloppy Joes
• American Chop Soy
• Make-Your-Own Tacos
• Potato Pancake with Soy Sausage and Onion
• Crispy Cinnamon Roll-Ups
• Lemon Snow Cones
• Chocolate Pudding

Pastas and Grains

• Pasta Puttanesca
• Stuffed Shells
• Pad Thai
• Couscous with Indian Vegetable Stew
• Risotto
• Corn Fritters
• Vegetable Fried Rice
• Coconut Rice
• Coconut-Flavored Polenta with Beans and Peppers
• Lasagna with Spinach and Olives
• Tabbouleh
• Penne with Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Artichokes
• Rotini with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions
• Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Strictly Vegetables

• Ratatouille
• Eggplant with Garlicky Hoisin Sauce
• VeggieKabobs
• Broccoli and Red Peppers with Lime-Ginger Soy Sauce
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Spicy Hash Brown Potatoes
• Asparagus with Capers
• Tangy Green Beans
• Roasted Bell Peppers
• Baked Portobello Mushrooms
• Curried Zucchini Strips
• Tomato Sauce
• Crispy Sweet Potato Cakes
• Cubed Sweet Potato Fries
• Roasted Vegetables in Phyllo Cups
• Roasted Red Potatoes

Desserts and Baked Goods

• Almond Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Pistachio Lemon Biscotti
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Lemon Shortbread Bars
• Sticky Pecan Squares
• Brownies
• Apple Muffins
• Banana Chocolate Chip Pudding Bread
• Cranberry Nut Bread
• Cranberry Orange Scones
• Hot Chocolate Baguette
• Phyllo Cups
• Pie Crust
• Pumpkin Pie
• Fudge Pie
• Apple Crisp
• Indian Pudding
• Rice Pudding with Raisins
• Summer Fruit Compote

Resources
Index