cover image Vegan, at Times: 120+ Recipes for Every Day or Every So Often

Vegan, at Times: 120+ Recipes for Every Day or Every So Often

Jessica Seinfeld with Sara Quessenberry. Gallery, $20.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-982149-57-4

“Once your body realizes vegan food can be flavorful, filling, and very satisfying, your mind will follow.... You will not starve,” promises Seinfeld (Deceptively Delicious) in this charming collection. Without adopting a vegan lifestyle wholesale, Seinfeld (who was initially a skeptic of the “dogmatic” trend herself) offers a simple approach to “ease into veganism” by occasionally incorporating more plant-based foods into one’s diet. These uncomplicated and recognizable recipes don’t scream “vegan”—most simply switch out dairy for plant-derived options (cashew, almond, oat) or swap butter for nut and vegetable oils. Breakfast offerings include flaky biscuits “that could be a catalyst for any nonbeliever” and are made with plant-based butter and milk, and chia pudding with caramelized bananas. Legumes and mushrooms serve as the foundation for an all-purpose meat substitute in dishes such as mushroom bolognese or taco salad. A chapter of small bites, dubbed “quickies”—including a green hummus (made verdant with parsley or cilantro) and a meatless club sandwich—and lists for vegan pantry basics (chickpeas, shallots, Dijon mustard), cooking equipment, and menu ideas offer an encouraging push for those ready to take the leap into meatless cooking. The result is a pleasurable and practical guide for testing the vegan waters. Agent: Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, WME. (Nov.)