Vegan Recipes | DanaSlatkin.com

Spring Fritters with Chick Peas and Lentils

04/24/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

A few posts ago, I wrote about cooking your way back to groovy with some Justin Timberlake-inspired meatless cooking. How’s that going for you? Hopefully you’ve begun the season with some fresh, home-cooked fare. I’d love to hear about it! As promised, here is another “make-ahead marvel” for a quick and flavorful lunch or dinner. I’ve adapted the recipe from my friend Matt Poley of Heirloom L.A. Catering, who was kind enough to share some of his favorite vegan recipes with my students last month. The fritters are a lighter version of felafel, and even lighter than the fritters I posted a couple seasons ago. Absent breadcrumbs or fillers, the cumin-scented patties pack a lot of pizazz. The whole chick peas and lentils add some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Vegan Recipes

Vegan (or vegetarian) Kale Caesar Salad with Miso Almond Crumble

02/11/2013 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Since we’re in the midst of the month of love, the age of Aquarius, and my birthday, I thought I’d give a shout out to someone I really love. My heart. Yes, my tireless little blood sausage of life deserves some appreciation this week. Did you know that neglected hearts account for more deaths in women than all of the cancers combined? I’m making sure to give mine plenty of love. In fact, I’ve been cooking just what it wants lately, thanks to the trove of new tips I learned from Ashley Koff, the renowned dietician that Dr. Oz and Dr. Weil turn to when they need answers. Last week, Ashley and I teamed up for the third time to teach a Heart-Healthy class aimed at teaching my students how their hearts like to be fed. With her … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dairy-free, In the Kitchen, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Vegan Lentil Meatballs

01/09/2013 By Dana Slatkin 2 Comments

"Good to go, good to come home." This was one of my father-in-law’s favorite aphorisms, one he would say after doling out bear hugs whenever we’d return from a trip. Though Papa Burt is no longer with us, my husband and I often find ourselves quoting him, with a wink and a smile. In the car on our way back from our holiday safari, I thought about coming home. We had spent the day at the San Diego Safari Park, feeding a rhino, petting giraffes, cuddling an armadillo and watching wildebeests mate. It was as up close and personal as we had ever come to these beautiful creatures…less than two hours from the city. As we drove back to our concrete jungle, past sprawling malls and office parks, I wanted to bring the animals and their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Easy Dairy-free Gluten-free Cheese Puffs

11/15/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

The last time I came up with a recipe that seemed too good to be true, it actually was. Good and true, that is. A luscious dark chocolate pudding made with coconut milk and maple syrup, ten minutes to prep and good to go days later. It sounded like a fantasy, but it turned out to be one of the big hits of the year. So last week, when I stumbled upon a recipe for a gluten-free cheese bread called Pão de Queijo, I thought I was dreaming again. The adorable little puffs reminded me of the heavenly rolls we used to buy every week at the farmers market over the summer. Made of tapioca flour (a.k.a. tapioca starch, cassava flour, or manioc flour), they were crusty on the outside, chewy and cheesy on the inside, and totally addictive. I pictured … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes, Dairy-free, Gluten-Free Recipes, In the Kitchen, Side Dish Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Vegan Creamed Spinach

10/01/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Dinnertime is usually when my kids get their fill of Mom wisdom. The other night, over bowls of polenta and Stephanie Izard’s tasty wild mushroom ragout (thank you, Food + Wine Magazine), I told them a story about how I made a new friend recently, just on the heels of having to let another one go. “You see,” I shared, “When one door closes, another one opens.” My teenagers sat rolling their eyes, but the kindergartner chimed in winsomely, “And when two doors close, I open the window!” Hilarious! We all burst out laughing. But when I thought about it that night, I realized the little guy was absolutely right. We all have those moments in our lives where we just need to breathe in some fresh air. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dairy-free, Gluten-Free Recipes, Side Dish Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Luscious Vegan Red Wine Sauce

09/18/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

When I was cooking in France just a couple of years — okay, decades — ago, nouvelle cuisine was just beginning to emerge onto the haute cuisine scene. At the time, it was almost heretical to think of French food prepared without massive quantities of cream and butter. Michel Guèrard, proprietor of the idyllic resort and spa Les Pres d’Eugenie, and my boss at the time, was daring to cook without either, using vegetable purées or yogurt to thicken luxuriously flavorful sauces. His enlightened style of cooking drew crowds of gastronomes from around the globe. How did Chef Guèrard manage to polish up centuries of baked-in Gallic tradition? After a few months apprenticing in his kitchen, I managed to crack … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten-Free Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Kelp Noodle and Veggie Stir-Fry

09/07/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

There’s been a lot of talk lately about cleansing. It may take shape as a juice fast, a junk food crackdown, a desk clutter clearout, or a friendship detox. These days, it seems we have a collective urge to purge. Perhaps it’s because of the new school year kicking in, or the holidays looming on the horizon. In any case, September’s an ideal time to keep it simple and go lightly. At least that’s my plan. With all the projects I have on my plate now, I need to be on my game. Anything that’s been weighing me down has to go. That goes for my cooking, too. This month, I’m going for lean and mean. In next week’s cooking class with M Café, I’ll be demonstrating some delicious recipes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten-Free Recipes, Vegan Recipes

Moroccan Tofu Stew with Whole Wheat Couscous (Vegan)

04/30/2012 By Dana Slatkin 1 Comment

May is the time of year my stove gets its last workout for a while. Once summer rolls around, I find myself preparing more salads and firing up the gill rather than the burners. But before I give the range a rest, I thought I would share with you one last stew — and it’s a goodie. If you haven’t implemented Meatless Mondays yet in your house, this is a perfect recipe with which to kick it off. With a compelling blend of Moroccan spices, sweet raisins and plenty of colorful veggies, it’s a meal in one, lovely to serve in ceramic bowls or a bright tagine. Don’t be dissuaded by all the slicing — it’s a snap with a sturdy peeler (I love this one) and a handy V-blade Slicer (OXO makes a sleek one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vegan Recipes