Monday, March 27, 2017

Giveaway: Veganize It

Robin Robertson has another new book out, y'all. Seriously, how does she do it? If you're not familiar with Robin's name, you'll surely recognize the names of one of her 20 or so vegan cookbooks. You probably even have a few on your cookbook shelf. There's Vegan Planet, Vegan Without Borders, Quick-Fix Vegan, and Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker to name a few. Now she has a new book — Veganize It — and I think it may be her best work yet!


Veganize It features easy DIY recipes for vegan staples and also recipes that use those staples to mimic beloved classics we all grew up eating in our omnivore past lives. For example, you'll find recipes for homemade coconut milk or oat milk, aquafaba butter, and smoky vegan queso. You'll also see recipes for homemade plant meats, like seitan roast or tempeh bacon.

But then there are other recipes in the book that use those homemade ingredients — Piccata Meatballs with Penne and Asparagus (using homemade vegan butter and homemade meat-free meatballs), Devilish Ham Salad (made with homemade vegan ham and homemade mayo), or Summer Rolls with Fish-Free Nuoc Cham (using, you guessed it, homemade fish-free fish sauce). Of course, Robin makes it simple for those who'd rather not spend extra time making staples; she also suggests store-bought items that can be used in their place.

I love the variety of meals included in this book. The recipes run the global gamut, and some feature veggies as the center of the dish (like Jumpin' Jackfruit Chili) while others are focused on vegan protein (like Seitan Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce). I had a hard time choosing what to try first because everything looks so amazing (the full-color pics are gorgeously styled). But then I came across Breakfast Nachos, and well, my choice was clear. Because nachos. For breakfast.


Tortilla chips are topped with a tofu scramble-black bean mixture that's seasoned with onion, garlic, and cumin. Then that's topped with Robin's homemade Smoky Vegan Queso, a spicy dip with a nooch-cornstarch base. This dip is so good, and I'm glad I've got leftovers for eating on its own. It's like the classic nooch sauce that all vegans made in the early 2000s, except there's no flour, so it's creamy without that gravy-like consistency. The cornstarch thickens and gives it a silky smooth texture.

That's all topped with fresh tomato, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, and avocado. Delicious! I air-fried some corn tortillas to make my chips, so they were pretty much fat-free. Nothing against fat, but I love it when chips are basically health food. One thing to note: I actually didn't eat these for breakfast. I made them for a hearty brinner last night! But they'd be perfect in the morning too.

The publisher has graciously offered to let me give a copy of Veganize It away to one lucky reader (U.S. residents only, please -- their rules!). So just leave a comment on this post letting me know what meal you love to veganize. Be sure and leave an email address (unless you're sure I already know how to contact you through a blog or Facebook or something). I'll randomly select a winner on Friday (March 31st) morning at 9 a.m. CST.

Also, the publisher has given me permission to share the Breakfast Nachos and Smoky Vegan Queso recipes! Here ya go!


Text excerpted from VEGANIZE IT! © 2017 by Robin Robertson. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. Photo by William and Susan Brinson.
BREAKFAST NACHOS
SERVES 4
Nachos for breakfast is a fun way to start the day. Make the queso sauce in advance and the nachos will come together quickly.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 scallions, chopped
12 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained and diced
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1⁄4 teaspoon turmeric
1 ½ cups cooked or 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 large tomato, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
¼ cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 recipe Smoky Queso Sauce (below), kept warm
1 (13-ounce) bag restaurant-style tortilla chips

1 Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, then add the garlic and scallions and cook 2 minutes longer. Add the tofu and salt, and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the nutritional yeast, cumin, and turmeric. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. Stir in the beans, cover, and keep warm.
2 In a medium bowl, combine the tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt to taste and mix well. Gently stir in the avocado.
3 To assemble, spoon a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom of a large plate. Place half of the chips on top of the sauce. Spoon half of the sauce on top of the chips, followed by half of the tofu and beans, and then half of the salsa. Top with the remaining chips and repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve immediately, garnished with additional cilantro, if using.
***
Text excerpted from VEGANIZE IT! © 2017 by Robin Robertson. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
SMOKY QUESO SAUCE
MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS
This easy-cheesy sauce is great for nachos or folded into cooked pasta for a zesty mac and cheese. If chopped pimientos are unavailable, you can substitute 3 tablespoons chopped roasted red bell pepper.
1 (2-ounce) jar chopped pimientos, drained
1 teaspoon canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
cup nutritional yeast
3 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 ½ cups plain unsweetened almond milk or water

1 Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

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2 Transfer to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. Use as desired.

41 comments:

Unknown said...

Reubens! I love the tempeh versions better than the original. Mmmmmmm!

Anonymous said...

Bacon! It's simple but I love tempeh bacon so much.

Damonbodine@gmail.com

girlrunner said...

Cuban sandwich!
blainewilkes@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Spinach artichoke dip! Christophersroland@gmail.com
Thx for doing the Lord's works ��

Unknown said...

Massaged Kale Salad with Cashew Dressing topped with veggies and Soy Sesame Tempeh !

Unknown said...

I am a big fan of veganized tacos. I've made them all kinds of ways - different veggies, different vegan burger crumbles and/or beans, etc.

My email address is theautumndandelion @ gmail.com

Thanks!

Hillary said...

I didn't realize Robin had a new cookbook. She is one of my favorite cookbook authors. She holds a special place in my heart because her recipes were some of the first I tried when I first went vegan. I believe she was very helpful in those early times when I didn't know what I was doing, and could have easily given up.
Your breakfast nachos look drool worthy!

Unknown said...

Cabbage rolls! :)

Carla said...

I love any vegan riff on nachos or pizza.

theslajcherts AT gmail.com

Karen Delaney said...

Biscuits and gravy

karengdelaney (at) yahoo [dot} com

Jennifer said...

OMG I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to win this book! This is one that is on my wishlist at the moment! I like to veganize just about anything, really! Because I wasn't bit into meats as a kid (when I wasn't veg) to begin with I really am not into fake meats much anyways! But when it comes to vegan cheeses, vegan dressings, dips, spread, and vegan sour creams - that is something I try and try again and often to veganize that is for sure! I think there are endless Vegan Nacho options as well as endless Vegan Bowls! And for that I'm thankful! It's funny but I often have Vegan Nacho's for Breakfast on the weekends! It's a great way to use leftovers! I usually call them 9am Nacho's! LOL

That pizza on the cover looks amazing! I'm always nervous to make crusts at home.

After looking at Robin's site for more on this book I'm curious about the Burmese Tofu! I've been veg for over 23 years and only have tofu every once in a blue moon but for some reason I have had more tofu in the last 2 months than I have in YEARS!

I'm overly curious about the veganized seafood only because I haven't really attempted any/many in my 23 years of being veg.

I'm also a horrible baker and shy away from vegan baked goods and desserts so I would LOVE to win this book for those and many other reason! Thanks so much for the opportunity!!! WOWZA!

veganfromtheville said...

I'd love vegan tacos and pizza. Email is jtamara@hotmail.com

Brittney said...

I make healthy nachos with bell peppers as the chips, lentils as the protein, and fresh veggies on top. It's the one vegan dish I've learned how to whip-up super fast in my kitchen.

brittneymemphis@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Well my motto is "anything you can do, I can do vegan!" I made an awesome vegan filet mignon for Valentine's Day.

Sarah said...

Oooh this looks amazing!! I definitely have to try those breakfast nachos!

I love experimenting with vegan baking! I think my favorite thing I've made was vegan brownies with cookie dough frosting :)

Jason Cooper said...

I never was much of a cook, so this is not much of a "recipe", but I love to make vegan sloppy joes with sauteed onions and bell peppers, Daiya cheese, on a toasted bun. I use the Beyond Meat crumbles and the Manwich Bold mix. It's a great go-to easy dish that always makes my belly happy.

V said...

Vegan tofu tikka masala!

RidesaSurly said...

Pizza, pizza, always pizza!

KathyD said...

Many different kinds of pasta - with "meat"balls, bolognese, etc.

GingerVeggie said...

Thanks for the review and recipe! I love to veganize everything! Right now I'm loving Mexican style casseroles for easy work lunches :)

Mynameishaleyo At gmail.com

Lynsi said...

Dang I wanna try making oat milk and aquafaba butter!

I love Vegan Planet, so I'm sure this book is bomb, too.

lynsi.burton@gmail.com

PaganAngel said...

Stuffed shells with tofu-ricotta. It's the one dish that always leaves my guests in shock (that was tofu?!)

Jenny said...

I love to veganize desserts! Subbing flax meal or applesauce for eggs, and wowing omnivores with the deliciousness. Requesting this for my library, too! Thanks, jenny.levine@gmail.com

NichelleMarie said...

Uh everything? My most recent fave is a chickpea-noodle casserole that reminds me a lot of a tuna noodle casserole my mom always made when I was a kid. (nichellenicholes@gmail.com)

Unknown said...

This week, Nachos!!
Dry roast some potatoes, make an onion-y tvp taco seasoned "meat" and pour ungodly amounts of potato/carrot cheese on top.


Melissaleighcoleman@gmail.com

charj said...

I've been eating a lot of pasta with spaghetti sauce and soy crumbles.

Buttercup2489 said...

I'm entering for My Daughter--She loves to veganize tacos, mac n cheese, and loves anything with tofu!! She would love to have some new recipes to try if she won this book!!
buttercup2489@comcast.net

Stacielynn said...

Oh god...to choose just one!! I'd have to saaaayyy...boiled dinner. I miss that salty goodness. I mean, I can make the veggies but it's just not the saaaaame.

stacieandadam@gmail.com

Thanks for an awesome giveaway, woop woop!

MizzB said...

Love to veganize recipes from family members, especially "heirloom recipes" passed down from family traditions. Recipes from your first book, Cookin Crunk, are great for inspiration for felloe Southerners.

Anonymous said...

I would love to veganize a spicy Mexican cheese dip!
Rachelbishopwoods@gmail.com

Terri Cole said...

I love veganizing my grandma's German potato salad recipe. Sweet Earth "bacon" is my not-so-secret ingredient.

gaia at cinci dot rr dot com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to veganize Southern cornbread dressing.
randycoats@yahoo.com

Jody from VegChic said...

Mac and Cheese is my favorite to veganize. There are so many great recipes out there from cheezy original to chipotle bbq. (vegchic at gmail is the easiest place to reach me!)

ieatmodestmouse said...

i love to veganize everything! lately it's been chili mac!

Lauren said...

Caesar salad with a tahini super garlicky dressing and spicy roasted chickpeas as croutons!

Laulswhitney@yahoo.com

Honey said...

Pizza and lasagna!

queenhoneyb @ yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

tinygoatstacker at yahoo.com

jdierkes said...

Panchos cheese dip with nutritional yeast. Jabdart@aol.com

Amy L said...

This looks like another great book from R.R!

My husband is German and loves his mom's rouladen, so I like to make a seitan rouladen that he enjoys too. :)

Amy Lucero
Alpetcr8z@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Anything Mexican. But mostly tacos because my husband loves them and I like to keep him happy😍
Jenispice@yahoo.com

sarahhhhhh said...

egg mcmuffin!