Meet your new best friend: The Friendly Vegan Cookbook! No, that’s not a typo, despite how ubiquitous the term “vegan-friendly” has become in common parlance. Turning the phrase around makes it an all-encompassing embrace of the concept, rather than the outlying exception. Toni Okamoto and Michelle Cehn, two of my favorite people, have teamed up to create over 100 recipes that will serve you well, quite literally, from daybreak to sundown.
For the reluctant cook, the flexitarian, or the hungry health enthusiast, this one’s for you. Carefully curated with nostalgic fare like stuffed shells, pizza, and chickenless noodle soup, these glossy pages bring a taste of comfort to life in stunning full color, and flavor. It certainly helps that Michelle herself is an accomplished photographer, capturing lustrous still life scenes vibrant enough to warrant framing.
Naturally, I’m drawn to the dessert section of any cookbook first. Sweet and simple, the Fudge on page 204 is an easy win. You’ve gotta love a decadent homemade treat that you can make in minutes with seven ingredients (or only six, not counting the salt.) Even though my pantry was ill-prepared for such spur of the moment inspiration, I had just enough to pull off this small miracle. Ideal for a quick craving, unexpected guests, or holiday gifts, it’s hard to imagine anyone turning down these slow-melting nutty, chocolaty morsels.
Turning to more hearty meal options, the Mac ‘n’ Cheese on page 63 was calling to me from the moment we met. No packaged vegan cheese need apply to make this creamy, gooey goodness. I took some liberties to simplify mine, skipping the baking dish and extra vegetables to make a stove-top style, blue box dupe. Nutritional yeast, AKA vegan catnip, and a touch of soy sauce takes this one to boldly savory new heights.
Another reason to love this collection so much is that it truly represents a wide swath of the vegan community itself. Tapping other lauded cookbook authors for contributions, Stephanie’s Deviled Potatoes on page 141 comes from none other than Stephanie Dreyer. Plant-based meal planning expert and the founder of Batch Cooking Club, this unstoppable mother of three knows a thing or two about making foolproof recipes on the fly. Presented as finger food that’s party-ready, I’d argue these tender little potato bites are also ideal everyday snacks or sides. Protein-rich cannellini beans make the filling both balanced and substantial, brightened with the bite of mustard and black pepper.
Whether you’re a friendly vegan or still just vegan-friendly, you can’t go wrong with The Friendly Vegan Cookbook. If you don’t take my word for it, try it yourself: Enter your details in the form below for a chance to win a copy of your own! Tell me in the comment section about your go-to best friend in the kitchen. Is it a certain seasoning, special equipment, or an actual human helper? There are no wrong answers, as long as you respond in the first place!
the food looks delicious !
Looks like a great book! I am still amazed at how much I am still in love with my food processor and Cuisinart is my favorite brand.
I can’t do anything without my vitamix! I probably use it 2-4 times a day.
a pair of clean hands. and a small knive helps.
My #1 kitchen helper is definitely my mini cutting board. At roughly 4×6 it makes cooking in my tiny kitchen a breeze. We’ve been going steady for about 6 years now :)
Definitely my 20+ year old Cuisinart food processor!
I love Soy Curls! Easy to use and delicious!
I use Trader Joe’s 21 Season Salute in so many dishes and just to flavor rice, veggies and more!
My go-to best friend is a good set of knives. You’ve got my mouth watering now, Hannah, with your descriptions and photos and it’s not yet dinner time.
janet
My most regular best friend in the kitchen is my wood cutting board that I made myself. It’s pretty and it’s fun to use something that I made.
My Vitamix blender is by current best friend in the kitchen for smoothies and sauces. This book sounds wonderful and just wow on the fudge. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Our best friend in the kitchen is a pair of good cooking chopsticks. Perfect for a quick and easy stir fry recipe. Thanks so introducing us to this delicious Vegan Cookbook.
It would be my wok and my cleaver