I am super excited to be hosting The Occasional Vegan Blog Hop today. Thanks for stopping by. If you are looking for some easy and no-fuss delicious vegan recipes then you are in luck! Newly published cookbook, The Occasional Vegan by Sarah Philpott offers a selection of recipes bound to please vegans and non-vegans alike.
Sarah Philpott has had a long love affair with food and recreates, in this book, some of her favourite childhood meals inspired by her mum’s cooking. She talks about how her mum taught her to appreciate simple homemade recipes and how food shaped many of her life experiences. While Sarah grew up with the big appetite of an omnivore, her vegan journey started in her thirties when she became aware of the plight of animals in the meat, fish and dairy industries.
Whether you are a devoted vegan or someone looking simply to cook more plant-based recipes, The Occasional Vegan is filled with straightforward dishes using ingredients that can easily be found in your local supermarkets or shops. The emphasis of this cookbook is on a balanced diet and not a “clean eating” fad, something I also feel strongly about and certainly try to promote on The Flexitarian. While certain Instagrammers and bloggers out there are all about “Free-From Everything” diets, Sarah’s no-nonsense approach to cooking is certainly refreshing. It is not about becoming obsessed about what you can or cannot eat but in fact enjoying wholesome plant-based food that will in turn nourish and nurture your health and wellbeing.
After explaining her own journey from meat eater to vegan, Sarah goes on to talk about vitamins and nutrients which are essential to good health and should be part of a balanced diet. These are the basics of nutrition which we should all be aware of while not necessarily being obsessed by.
Sarah also makes a handy list of ingredients needed in a typical vegan pantry and gives a selection of seasonal produce to look out for throughout the year. Beginner cooks will also find a handy section to help with some simple cooking techniques.
The Occasional Vegan is organised in four sections:
- The working week: quick and easy breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
- Something for the weekend: lazy brunches, lunches and meals for friends and family.
- High days and holidays: dishes for special occasions.
- Comfort food and childhood favourites: think cawl, lasagne and chocolate brownies.
Illustrated by beautiful photography, The Occasional Vegan is a book for every occasion from weekend brunch to quick weekday dinner or Christmas Day lunch.
Some of the recipes that caught my tastebuds are Black Bean, Sweetcorn and Coconut Stew, Baked Lemony “Feta” with Lentils, To-Fish and Chips with Minty Mushy Peas, Banana and Peanut Butter Loaf, Tacos with Pulled Jackfruit, Kentucky Fried Cauliflower (KFC) with Sweet Potato Fries, Chocolate and Chestnut Puddings.
Inspired by flavours from around the world, Sarah creates recipes made from wholesome ingredients and demonstrates how easy, hearty and delicious vegan food can be.
The Occasional Vegan is a cookbook for anyone interested in enjoying a balanced plant-based diet. Forget the latest fad diet and embrace a vegan lifestyle. Take it in your own stride. It could be for a day, two days a week or by being fully vegan. Whatever your journey, you will soon feel the benefits as in Sarah’s own words “it can make you healthy & happy while you really can have your cake and eat it”.
The Occasional Vegan by Sarah Philpott is published by Seren Books and available from Amazon
Thanks to Seren Books for inviting me to be part of The Occasional Vegan Blog Hop. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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