Vegan Cooking | DanaSlatkin.com

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...]

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

Spice Rubbed Barbequed Tofu

08/13/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

During summer, if you’re not firing up your grill, you’re missing the party. It’s all happening where the heat is…the inviting smoke, the sweet and spicy aromas, the camaraderie around the barbeque. But if you don’t do meat — or are trying to minimize your animal consumption — there’s no reason to feel left out. A simple hunk of tofu is a protein-packed (approximately 20 grams per 8 ounces) meatless alternative for any cookout. My summer addiction to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives inspired a classic down-home take on tofu. Choose the firm kind of tofu and make it organic (we don’t trust you, GMO’s). Slice the tofu into “steaks,” then raid your spice drawer and mix … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Condiments

Summer Vegetable Ceviche

07/25/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like a summer breakup to make you feel all young again. Last week, a friend and I parted ways, and though I saw it coming for months, I wasn’t prepared for the teenager-like symptoms that hit me soon after: the moping, the zits, the loss of appetite. For the past few days, I just haven’t been myself. So I got busy cooking. Luckily, I had a brand new cookbook on my counter, Nobu’s Vegetarian Cookbook. It was the perfect distraction, and I sat down and perused it cover to cover. It’s a spectacular book, crammed with the celebrated chef Matsuhisa’s imaginative vegetable musings and glorious photos. Just as I was starting to get hungry again, I came across a recipe for vegetable ceviche. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes

Vegan Almond Pancakes

07/17/2012 By Dana Slatkin 4 Comments

During the school year, a typical morning in my house looks like someone pressed the fast forward button. Five people scuttle around the kitchen in haphazard directions, stopping only for a few seconds to guzzle breakfast, then dispersing into the day. But during summer, the morning unfolds leisurely, with a more substantial meal to send everyone off on their way. This week, I was in the mood for a tall stack of fluffy, golden pancakes, but I had forgotten to restock eggs, flour, and buttermilk (hey, the kids aren’t the only ones on vacation). In my summer state of mind, I tend to shrug off just about everything with a “whatever,” so I carried on anyway. I used almond flour in place of regular flour, omitted the eggs … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Barefoot Peach Bellinis, Sugar-Free

06/15/2012 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

June is a month of goodbyes. My kids graduate — from preschool, elementary school, and junior high — leaving behind familiar classrooms, teachers, and friends. My oldest takes off for camp in Maine. And the rest of us bid our annual adieu to L.A. as we recamp to a tiny mountain town in Colorado. There will be tears of joy and farewell hugs. And (you know me so well by now) my kids will get a good dose of mom wisdom to pocket for their journeys ahead. But lest you think I’m about as much fun as fish oil, I assure you there will be numerous festivities. We’ll mark the milestones with bubbly drinks, bountiful fare, and plenty of togetherness around the table. This effervescent summer cocktail is what I’ll be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beverages

Kale and Quinoa Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette (adapted from Porta Via)

06/06/2012 By Dana Slatkin 5 Comments

Last month, I taught a class with Peter Garland, owner of Porta Via here in Beverly Hills. If you have never heard of the restaurant, it’s probably because Peter likes it that way. Because he knows that if word got out on this darling neighborhood canteen, it might cease to feel like home to his adoring clientele. Porta Via serves the kind of farmers market-inspired dishes that you would make yourself if you had the time. Seasonal salads, vegan soups, simply grilled fish and Double Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies have made Peter one of the most popular restaurateurs in town (of course, it hasn’t hurt that he is charming, handsome, and single). This beautifully balanced salad is a perfect sampling of Porta Via’s fare. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Salad Recipes