Whether you’re just starting out on a vegan diet or are already a fan of plant-based meals, 500 Vegan Dishes* (Sellers Publishing, 2011) is a great go-to book for vegan substitutions and tons of recipes. Deborah Gray offers information and recipes in a highly readable format. She starts out by giving an introduction with a brief overview and jumps into ingredients, listed alphabetically and with great tips, along with charts of cooking times and descriptions. Another helpful section within the ingredients are the recipes and tips on animal-free substitutions, like almond and coconut milk, nondairy cream cheese and mayonnaise.
Although there are not exactly 500 dishes in this book, they are made up of basic recipes that can be altered with numerous variations—this format gives you so many ideas and options. The way the recipes are broken down is great, too: breakfasts and brunches, soups, appetizers, salads, vegetable dishes, bean, lentil and nutty dishes, rice, grain and pasta dishes, side dishes and desserts. Each chapter gives you the basic recipes upfront and then goes into the variations. There are just so many that you’ll never get bored and you’ll be able to please anyone’s palate. Another thing I love about the recipes is that they avoid imitation meats, which I personally avoid.
Not only do these dishes sound amazing, but the photos that accompany them are incredibly enticing! Some of my favorites: Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki, Spicy Spinach and Buckwheat Crêpes, Lentil and Rice-Stuffed Tomatoes, Strawberry Tart, and Banana Cake and Passion Fruit Glaze. And of course, the variations of these dishes look delicious too! I would recommend this book for any vegan kitchen, especially if you want to be a bit more adventurous!
Here are two recipes from the book right here on VegKitchen:
Deborah Gray is a writer and editor, who contributes to food and parenting magazines and has written The Green Website Guide for Better Living and Vegetarian Cooking Made Easy,* and The Baker’s Bible.*
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suzannah says
The receipe for the banana cake says 1 egg replacer , it would be so much easier to say what the egg replacer is , as page 24 is rather confusing , and I'm trying to make the cake. Can you please help.
Thank you suzannah
Nava says
Suzannah, this is simply a review of the book; it might be better if you contacted the author, Deborah Gray, if you have a question about a specific recipe. But usually the replacement for 1 egg is 1 T ground flaxseed plus 3 T or so water, just until it gels. Or, you can use commercial egg replacer; or — you can do what I do and skip it altogether. I find that vegan cakes don't need egg replacement. Though you can sub it 2 T neutral oil for the added richness if you are skipping the actual egg replacers.
Suzannah says
can you use white vinegar , with wholemeal flour. Thank you for relying so quickly
Thank you Suzannah
Suzannah says
i tried the banana cake , followed the recipe , and I baked it for the length of time , if you could refund me for this disaster , I would appreciate it. It hasn't risen and looks nothing like the picture in the book. I was so excited and this is the 2nd time I have tried it. For me zero star,. I'm a good baker but I think in this book maybe stick to soup .
Love cooking
Suzannah