Pure Vegan Review & Giveaway + Recipe!

By Jennie

Editor's note: I received a complimentary copy of Pure Vegan direct from Chronicle Books, well-suited because of my vegetarian posts at Food Lush. This review is completely mine, though, and neither I nor Food Lush received compensation for this post.

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Chronicle Books reached out to me recently, after finding a few of my I'm-now-a-vegetarian posts, and kindly offered me a copy of Pure Vegan to review and make a recipe from. 

They also asked that I fill in the following blank, "Pure Vegan, Pure ______" with a word that fits my new meatless journey. I easily plugged in the word progress. This concept is something I've (tried) to remember for years. Life is not about perfection or being the best at something; it's about progress. I can't promise my vegetarian lifestyle will be perfect (in fact, I can likely promise it won't be) but I can promise that my goal is to keep progressing toward a healthier way of living and eating. 

Pure Vegan is a gorgeous book. It arrived and I actually gasped, which is always a nice surprise when opening a package, I think. The recipes ranged from easily recognizable (hummus, margaritas, etc.) to new and fun-sounding (Muhammara). I also have my eye on a few recipes that seem delicious and easy, which are great adjectives to describe the recipes I want to make on a work night (Garbanzo Bean & Tomato Soup and Potato Torte). 

A little more about the book:

Pure Vegan proves that embracing a vegan lifestyle can be stylish and beautiful via 70 recipes that are both plant-based and indulgent. The only vegan cookbook that celebrates eating and enjoyment rather than emphasizing the politics of a vegan lifestyle, this beautiful compilation features novel, vivacious recipes. Yes, they’re non-meat-egg-dairy, and they’re fabulous! Pure ingredients and unique combinations appeal to meat lovers and committed vegans alike. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are represented, and a special chapter is dedicated to late-night indulgences such as chocolate truffles and herbal cocktails. Seventy-five gorgeous pictures round out this fetching package.

Now, onto what I made for this post:

Chocolate-Tahini Timbales

4 oz semisweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened plain soymilk
2/3 cup Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
1/2 cup tahini
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the soymilk over medium heat until it begins to steam and almost comes to a boil. Pour the soymilk over the chopped chocolate, then add the Kahlua, tahini, and vanilla. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate is entirely mixed.

Sift the flour, powdered sugar, baking powder, cocoa, and salt together into a large bowl. Add the chocolate mixture and stir gently until just combined. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag without a tip or a resealable plastic bag with one corner snipped off.

Put about two dozen timbale molds on a baking sheet. Pipe the batter into the molds, filling each about two-thirds full.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the tops are firm but the middle is still sligthly soft (test with a wooden skewer or toothpick). Transfer the molds to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes, then invert the molds and let the timbales cool completely, about 15 minutes. Lift off the molds and dust the timables with powdered sugar.

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These were delicious and so easy. I had my doubts, as I had never baked with tahini before, but they turned out rich, dense, and super tasty and filling. (They were rich but not too sweet. A nice combination.)

(Molly would realllllly like me to drop one.)

A few notes: I didn't have timbale molds, but you can still make these delicious treats without them. I used a regular muffin tin and they turned out fantastic. (This is where the progress not perfection motto comes into play!) Definitely dust the tops with powdered sugar, too.

Good news, Food Lush readers, we're also giving away one copy of Pure Vegan to a randomly selected commenter.

The rules & guidelines:

• To enter: Leave a comment answering the question: My favorite meatless dish is ______.
• Giveaway ends: Tuesday, 6/19, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 
• Who can enter?: Anyone in North America!
• Other notes: One comment per person, the winner will be selected by random.org and announced on the site by 6/20.

Good luck!

Comments

[gail]

vegetable lasagne

[Sharon]

My favourite meatless dish is mushroom risotto. I'm definitely adding this to my Amazon wishlist, because my diet is mostly vegan, and I'm always looking for new recipes to add to my arsenal. Thanks for the heads up on this!

[Melody_NC]

I've been vegan for over a year now and have never felt better! My favorite meatless dish is black bean and sweet potato enchiladas.

[Christy]

I made wonderful eggplant Parmesan once and I think it's my ever.

[Kady]

My favorite meatless dish is banana bread - does that count? I'd love to do more vegan baking and easy meatless dinners though, so I'll definitely be checking out this book!

[Jesabes]

Black bean tacos - which is what we happened to have for dinner tonight!

[Wendi]

We've been trying to eat more vegetarian dishes -- one of our favorites is sweet peppers and kale tossed with pasta.

[Emily]

Falafel! I've recently been making baked falafel from Appetite for Reduction to take in my lunch and I look forward to it all day!

[Danette]

Drunken Ravioli! Or Italian Omelet Grilled Sandwich. (Neither are vegan, but both are/can be meatless!)

[Bets]

We saw Top Chef a few years ago and they did a vegetarian challenge and one recipe stood out and has become our go favorite. Smoked kale, mashed potatoes, candied ginger, and mushrooms.

[Alice]

(not an entry for the giveaway!)

do you know if subbing milk back in for the soymilk would work just as well? i realize i'm missing the point of these, but they do look delicious and i do not have any personal vegan constraints :)

[wendy]

Tofurkey!!!

[Danae]

I think my favorite would be stacked roasted veggie enchiladas. Yum!

[stephanie]

As a vegetarian, ALL of my dishes are meatless, so it's hard to choose just one. I guess I'd have to say my favorite meatless dish (at the moment) are spinach enchiladas.

[Lisa Blundell]

I love the walnut power salad. That is my favorite meatless dish!! A close second are the spinach enchiladas. Love them.