Fabulous Reads: Great inspo for plant-based wannabees

Five Ingredient Vegan, Katy Beskow, Jonathan Ball Publishers, ISBN: 9781787135284

AS someone who has wanted to eat more plant-based foods but struggles to know how to make tasty meals without meat, I was delighted to read Five Ingredient Vegan by chef Katy Beskow. Not only is the book beautifully designed with gorgeous photos and set out in a neat, simple and organised manner, but the recipes are outstanding. And it’s in hardback!

What appealed to me was that you only need five ingredients per recipe (excluding salt and pepper and oil). When you make recipes simple and easy to follow – and not difficult to buy food for – you make them accessible to the everyday cook. Most recipe books have complicated, gourmet recipes that are a copy of what a chef makes in a restaurant instead of something doable and seamless for those who live busy lives and don’t cook for a living or a serious hobby but for function and nutrition.

Not only are they easy to follow, but they look delicious. I have tried out two of them and found them satisfying and scrumptious. I feel hope now that I can eat more plant-based without spending a fortune or hours in the kitchen.

The only concern I had was that some of the ingredients are a little harder to find in South Africa. I have not found soya cream anywhere before – although you can occasionally find soya yoghurt in Woolworths at a massive price. Maybe coconut cream could be substituted, but I am concerned that it would change the flavour of the recipe. That is not the author’s fault, though – it’s due to the sad dearth of soy-based dairy-free products in our country.

Several of the recipes in the sweet treats section contain nuts or peanuts which those who suffer from allergies should be aware of. She does offer a substitute for one of them. I would’ve loved more substitute suggestions, but I suppose the book wasn’t designed for allergy sufferers.

Already, just by reading the book, I have discovered new ways to cook without dairy and meat. Beskow seems to have a knack for making something taste good without fuss. I can’t wait to try more recipes. 4½/5 stars – Kathy Bosman

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