Vegan Planet/ Veganomicon

[scotophobic]

I just went vegan and bought Vegan Planet and Veganomicon to get some meal ideas, but I'm very overwhelmed! What are your favorite recipes from each of these books and is there a reason why other than "it's super delicious"? Thanks!
x-posted to vegan cooking

Comments

[phrenia]

Haven't read either.
But as far as meal ideas go, I always suggest beans. Lots of beans. Mmmmm. Black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans.
Oh, and spinach, polenta, and tempeh.

[soozthecat]

+1 I think of Veganamonion as a sort of uberly posh vegan book that I will feel more comfortable with when I have more experience and time in the kitchen.

[soozthecat]

I personally find Sarah Kramers books easier to get on with, the vegweb website may be a great help too. Good luck!

[rice_dream_girl]

+1 - I wouldn't have gone vegan without Sarah Kramer, I owe her a lot! Now I'm a more 'experienced' vegan cook/baker, I tend to prefer Isa Chandra's recipes, but a lot of the ingredients can be hard to find, especially in the UK (for example, the ever elusive vital wheat gluten!). As for Veganomicon though, I hear people go crazy for the chickpea cutlets, though I've never tried them myself. Good luck! :)

[laceyslostlove]

i have to tweak the hell out of everything in Sarah Kramer's books where as with Isa's books, i can follow the recipes exactly and have the food come out delicious.

[soozthecat]

Haha I find it to be the complete opposite!

[helen4morrissey]

The chickpea cutlets from Veganomicon are not only delicious, but great for impressing people. The first time you make them, it can take a while, but once you know the ratios and what seasonings you like, you can whip a batch up really quickly. I prefer them baked rather than fried - about the only food in the world where that's the case! And the chickpea noodle soup is a great winter comforter. I like chickpeas! Oh, and there's an amazing mushroom pâté in there too - classy and very special-tasting.

Have fun!

[spookytrees]

+1 chickpea cutlets!!!

[emmalovessasha]

the broccoli millet cakes/croquettes(?) are really good from vcon. I like to make both types of sauce that they recommend to go with them (one is tangy and light, the other is creamy and garlicky). I especially like the recipe b/c it is a mix between impress your friends and comfort food.

I also really like the lentil rice with carmelized onions. it needs more salt than the recipe calls for but it is great comfort food with a twist also.

I second the baked ziti with pumpkin. and the yuca quesadillas are good and fairly easy to make.

some of the recipes are time intensive but if you make them a couple times it goes easier. and the other thing I like, is that even though a lot of the ingredients can seem unusual the recipes almost always turn out to impress even picky eaters.