By Laura Hunter
Last summer, when the Plum Village community asked us to eat a compassionate vegan diet for the two weeks of the 2016 Paris climate talks, I was determined to join the community and respect the Earth in this way. I hoped I could eat in a way that allowed for cultural and culinary experiences but not at the cost of another being’s life or the planet. To my great joy,
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By Laura Hunter
Last summer, when the Plum Village community asked us to eat a compassionate vegan diet for the two weeks of the 2016 Paris climate talks, I was determined to join the community and respect the Earth in this way. I hoped I could eat in a way that allowed for cultural and culinary experiences but not at the cost of another being’s life or the planet. To my great joy, I found the following excellent and creative plant-based cookbooks.
My deepest bow is for The Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples by Miyoko Schinner. Schinner lays out clearly how you can make yummy, vegan alternatives for all the foods you once loved—and can again! Butter, cheeses, eggnog, chicken, meatballs, seafood, white chocolate, etc. This book helped me find new ways to enjoy staples I love while living in harmony with the animals and planet I love even more.
Because I am a resident of southern California, Mexican food makes up most of my cellular structure. However, our local commercial foods are heavily reliant on animal products. I wasn’t sure how to make my own vegan Mexican food. Two books by Jason Wyrick changed all of that: Vegan Mexico: Soul-Satisfying Regional Recipes from Tamales to Tostadas and Vegan Tacos. They include all your Mexican food favorites: enchiladas, mole, tamales, tortas, bebidas, and even your own tortillas. And life-changing tacos. To enhance your Sangha building, he encourages throwing a taquiza (taco party) and, with the help of brothers and sisters from Deer Park Monastery, we did it! For all of us who long for a vegan taco truck on every corner, these books are for us.
If you were raised on traditional foods from the Southern US and Africa, you might like Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine by Bryant Terry. It is a deep dive into African American culture. Each recipe comes with its own selected soundtrack, work of art, movie, or book to accompany the dish. Each recipe is delicious!
Pure and Beautiful Vegan Cooking: Recipes Inspired by Rural Life in Alaska by Kathleen Henry is a beautiful offering of wild food and love, and it proves that you can be plant-based anywhere. Hot chocolate, bagels, and tofu scrambled “eggs” are comfort foods not to be missed. These recipes are inventive and delicious, but beware: the vanilla french toast with maple roasted strawberries may induce extreme grasping.
In plant-based cooking and eating, we can have everything: flavor, history, culture, and harmony with the planet. May all beings be nourished on this plant-based path.
