Let Them Eat Vegan by Dreena Burton

Dreena Burton’s latest book,Let Them Eat Vegan: 200 Deliciously Satisfying Plant-Powered Recipes for the Whole Family,* is indeed a satisfying addition to the growing list of a vegan pro. When I was the mother of two young children, the best I could eke out was The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet,* a book for beleaguered cooks in which the word "gourmet" is used quite loosely. Yet Dreena, the mother of three young children, managed to produce this polished tome filled with warmth, kitchen wisdom, and in general, a wealth of yummy and nourishing fare.

The recipes are at once sophisticated and do-able, and made from whole, natural foods. A big fan of raw kale salads, I sampled Kale-slaw with Curried Almond Dressing, and it was a grand fusion of texture and flavor. I was happy to enjoy the leftovers the following day for lunch. I also am mad for chickpeas, and loved the complex flavors of Jerk Chickpeas.

Unlike me, Dreena is a dessert maven and in this book has a wide selection of both baked and raw sweets. I’m looking forward to trying some of the raw desserts, such as the Raw Orange Chocolate Pudding, and the award-winning “B-raw-nies.” Other recipes calling to me are Lemon Dijon Green Beans, Raw Yellow Tomato Sauce, and BBQ Sunflower Tofu.

Reading through Dreena’s recipes, novel-style, one appreciates her words of wisdom, for it’s like having a friend in the kitchen with you. Recipes are followed with tips tagged as “If This Apron Could Talk;” “Ingredients 411” discusses ingredients that are less familiar or that just warrant more discussion; Savvy Subs suggests swaps for ingredients so that they can be made slightly differently when you revisit them; and Kid-Friendly give pointers on how to make the dishes even more appealing to younger palates.

The center of the book is graced with an insert of vivid photos by the Hannah Kaminsky, a talented author in her own right (My Sweet Vegan* and Vegan Desserts*).

Here are the chapters you’ll find in this book. All are packed with great recipes and ideas:

Chapter 1: Breakfast Bites and Smoothies
Chapter 2: Salads That Make a Meal
Chapter 3: Proud to Be Saucy and Dippy
Chapter 4: Vegan Soup for the Soul
Chapter 5: Side Stars
Chapter 6: Your Main Squeeze: Casseroles, One-Pot Wonders, and Tarts
Chapter 7: When Burgers Get Better
Chapter 8: Good Pasta Belongs on a Plate - Not the Wall!
Chapter 9: C Is for Cookie, That's Good Enough for Me
Chapter 10: Let Them Eat Cake, Pies, and Pudding
Chapter 11: Dreena Dazs ( a whole chapter for ice cream!)

Sample these recipes from Let Them Eat Vegan:

• Thai Chickpea Almond Curry
• Banana-Scented Vanilla Cake or Cupcakes (Gluten Free)

Dreena Burton is also the author of Vive le Vegan* and Eat and Drink, and Be Vegan* (see the review of the latter here on VegKitchen). For more of Dreena’s recipes, visit her blog.

• Read more of VegKitchen's book reviews.

*This post contains affiliate links. If the product is purchased by linking through this review, VegKitchen receives a modest commission, which helps maintain our site and helps it to continue growing!