Today I’m super excited to be reviewing a new cookbook, Homestyle Vegan, (released last month) by my friend and fellow blogger Amber St. Peter of Fettle Vegan! I love Amber’s approach to cooking on her blog, which is warm, inviting, healthy and accessible. She has managed to beautifully capture all of these qualities and more in print, with a stunning collection of 80 recipes (with a gorgeous photo for each), inspired by her childhood memories in Maine to her current life in California.
Homestyle Vegan primarily takes traditional (meat- and dairy-heavy) classics that Amber grew up with and transforms them into healthier, less labor-intensive and non-fussy recipes like Chick’un + Dumplings, Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup, Caesar Salad, Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza, Mac and Cheese, Apple Cider Donuts and Blueberry Crumb Cake, as well as staples like Eggless Mayo and Easy Cashew Cheese. Other recipes are simply plant-based dishes that she enjoys making in her own kitchen with a budget and minimal timing in mind.
Food, cooking, eating, and the memories associated along with them has clearly had a significant influence and impact on her life, and Amber has succinctly but passionately captured a lot of that beautifully in most of her recipe headnotes. If she isn’t recalling a memory, she’s helping out with a cooking tip or describing the dish in vivid and relateable detail.
None of the recipes in Homestyle Vegan use faux meat, and most recipes include soy- and/or gluten-free options. All recipes use ingredients that are easy to find, and techniques that anyone can learn. I also love that Amber is such an expert baker and dessert-maker. I am definitely not, so especially love that it will show me how to make things like Perfect Pizza Dough, Fluffy Whole Wheat Biscuits and Old-Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls with Walnuts +Vanilla Bean Glaze.
If you’d like to learn more about Amber, check out my Why I Cook series and our April interview! If you’d like to grab a copy of Homestyle Vegan for a gift to yourself or another, it’s currently on sale at amazon. But keep reading below for an additional way to snag a free copy!
But first, you are probably wondering about this hasselback potato … it’s one of the first dishes I made from Homestyle Vegan. Like most of the recipes, prep is simple, the ingredients minimal, but the end result is fantastic! I loved the crispy outside and soft interior of the potato, and the warm scent of rosemary and garlic that kind of melts into all of those little nooks and crannies in the potato, along with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Oh, and this smells fantastic baking, and even more so once it’s hit with the rosemary and garlic.
If you are curious about this technique and recipe, I’m so happy that the kind folks over at Page Street Publishing Co. are not only allowing me to share it here, but are also offering a free copy of Homestyle Vegan to one lucky reader through this post!
To Enter:
Just leave a comment below that includes your favorite vegan comfort food dish. That’s it! I’ll randomly pick and announce a winner on December 9! (Shipping is limited to US only.)
The winner of this giveaway is Djuna, congrats! And thanks to everyone who entered!
ROSEMARY GARLIC HASSELBACK POTATOES
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 2-4 servings
Recipe reprinted with permission from Homestyle Vegan by Amber St. Peter, Page Street Publishing Co. 2016
I am a total potato head. I grew up in Maine, where we had some form of potatoes at least two meals a day. I love ’em! This recipe is a really easy dinner idea that looks much fancier and more impressive than the amount of work required to make it. Just a few ingredients and you’re on your way to a delicious date night dinner or meatless Monday meal!
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes (about 1 lb [450 g] each)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 or 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, stems discarded, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF (218ºC).
- Thinly slice the potatoes three-fourths of the way through for the entire length of the potato.
- Lay the potatoes in a cast-iron pan or on a lined baking sheet and brush all over with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven, brush them generously with more olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 more minutes.
- Remove the potatoes one last time from the oven and carefully sprinkle the garlic and rosemary all over, making sure to push most of it into the crevices of each slice. Bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, then serve immediately!
This looks delicious and VERY similar to one of my favorite vegan comfort food dishes, that being Accordion Zucchini!
That photo is gorgeous! My favorite comfort food is probably any creamy, spicy dal — sooo warming and comforting.
Oh, that looks good! I am going to try it soon. My favorite vegan comfort food is soup, especially African peanut soup. Of course with a piece of bread. 🙂
mashed potatoes all the wayyy!! thanks for the giveaway, these potatoes look amazing as well!
Straight up beans and rice, that’s my jam. Also pretty much any type of soup…so hard to pick one.
buffalo “chicken” pizza all the way
Curry. Untraditional, I know. But I love it.
My favorite vegan foods are anything with potatoes, but mashed potatoes are probably my most favorite ? These look delicious!
Favorite comfort food is spicy avacado toast
Mac and cheese is my ultimate comfort food!
Biscuits and tvp gravy (from The Farm Cookbook).
My favorite vegan comfort food is potatoes, chck peas and olives baked in a romesco sauce. Yum!
Vegan mac n cheese is my fav comfort food!
I’m a huge chili fan, especially now during the colder months!
Looks very tasty! My favorite is homemade chickpea veggie burgers.
Polenta …with vegan Italian or vegan French..can not LOSE with that delish goodness….I weep with love…
Biscuits and nutritional yeast gravy! Love it! Thanks
This looks sooo good!
I have a great vegan mac and “cheese’ recipe that’s a go to for comfort. Also like Happy Dancing mushroom soup
This looks incredibly delicious! My go-to comfort food is soup! Right when I’m sure I’ve made my finest pot…I concoct a new favorite! Can’t get enough!
Oh I must try this. I love potatoes. One of my favorite dishes is Colcannon. I omit the dairy and add some kale for color. Yum
vegan mac and cheese 🙂
i love making fried vegetable quiona with tofu .
My favorite comfort food is probably Vegan Mac and Cheese, or Vegan Turkey Hash
Red Beans and Rice – good ‘ole South Louisiana dish!
Everyone’s picks all sound so good! I think mine grilled cheese. I’ve always been a fan. It took me a while to find an acceptable cheese alternative. Even my omni 10yo son likes it.
I love vegan risotto as a comfort dish
green papaya salad. I know, I’m weird!
My favorite comfort food is a vegan toasted cheese sandwich with vegan cream of tomato soup. It takes me right back to happy childhood memories and warms me up on these cold winter days at the same time.
I am all about the mac and cheese, but I’m never one to turn down a potato in any form.
Yum!Can’t wait to try more recipes soon as I am fairly new to the vegan lifestyle but my current go – to is a spicy lentil soup!!!
Chili mac is my definite winter time comfort food. Hearty whole grain elbow macaroni drenched in Garbanzo bean chili we made with our own homemade blend of spices and chilis. SO GOOD!!
Vegan Shepard’s Pie with lots of mashed potatoes!
Those look delicious… and so easy! Comfort food for me is mashed potatoes and cauliflower with mushroom gravy from Oh She Glows.
I am all about the vegan comfort food. If I have to pick one, my favorite is a veggie pot pie with chickpeas or faux chicken and a biscuit topping. My kid loves it too!
My favorite comfort foods are Vegan Mac and Cheese or Vegan Shepherd’s Pie, THIS BOOK LOOKS AMAZING. PICTURES ARE GORGEOUS.
Hands down, my favorite comfort food: vegan pot pie!!
thanks!! Will try this recipe tonight! My comfort food is 3 “cheese” mac and cheese baked with a bread crumb topping.
Vegan Pot Pie and/or Lasagna is my comfort food!! Perfect for cold winter nights!
Looks delish! My favorite comfort food is anything with pasta!
The book looks fabulous. The favorite comfort food at our house is vegan pizza with homemade whole wheat crust.
Mushroom stroganoff
Comfort food: seitan chops with sweet potato mash
My favorite vegan comfort food is anything pasta related–mac and cheese, pesto, alfredo, etc. It always makes everything right with the world again.
I love vegan, easy and tastes great! YUM….this book looks terrific.
Ginger tofu stir fry with garlic roasted broccoli?
Vegan pizza or potato leek soup with cornbread have to be my favorite vegan comfort foods!
My favorite vegan comfort food is shepherd’s pie/ or other mashed potato involved casserole.
Mac and Cheeze is my go to comfort food.
Looks heavenly. My favorite comfort food dish is aBuddha Bowl with mashed potato, Brussels sprouts, and grilled vegetables.
My favorite vegan comfort food is malai kofta. Yum!
My favorite is seitan with greens, sweet potatoes, and mushroom gravy!
My favourite comfort food has to be a big vegan stew with fake sausages, white beans, fennel, potatoes and carrots. Add dumplings and I’m in heaven.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Beautiful pictures & Looks Yummy! Broccoli chedder soap warms my soul on a cold day!
My comfort food is ALWAYS mashed potatoes. 🙂
My comfort food is a Pad Thai, with a peanut butter base, that is in one of my cookbooks. It’s my go to. I love it!! But that Hasselback Potato looks amazing!!
Saag tofu + naan. nom nom nom
I need some potatoes, now. My favorite comfort food is a veganized version of my family’s Portuguese octopus stew. It uses a *lot* of mushrooms, spanning a wide variety. Deep dish pizza is definitely a close second 🙂
Huevos rancheros (vegan of course)!
Anything with pasta and tomatoes. Some of my favorites including substituting mushrooms for meat or vegan crumbles in my standby tomato sauce recipe featuring onion, celery, green pepper, seasoned with garlic and Italian seasoning.
I love beefy mac and cheese (like hamburger helper) OR pizza all day 🙂
Potatoes and rosemary are a marriage made in heaven !!!!!!!!
Mac n cheese the best comfort food!!!
I love any gluten free pasta dish with peas and garlic!
It depends on the time of year, but in the winter I love a good hearty stew! And a side of chocolate chip cookie. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
This looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it. My favorite vegan comfort food is baked oats…almost any variety will do. But, my favorite for today is Apple Butter Oats with Salted Caramel Drizzle. Just thinking about eating this makes me happy!
My favorite Vegan comfort food would be a crock pot brown rice noodle vegetable soup. My vegan version of the chicken noodle soup.
Woah, Homestyle Vegan looks awesome! My favorite comfort food is definitely any kind of creamy coconut curry!
Looks AWFULLY yummy! And, my rosemary plant is still alive! My favorite vegan comfort food is an incredibly delicious butter bean and root veg ragout. SO hearty, warming, filling, AND healthy!
Vegan butternut squash soup is always my go-to comfort food 🙂
Vegan mac and cheese is definitely my go-to comfort dish…but this recipe looks like it might become a close second.
OMG I love veggie Sushi. Thats why I’m here, too look up some of your recipes.
My favorite vegan comfort food is a sweet potato casserole sweetened with maple syrup, and topped with a pecan crumble! So good!!
Vegan chilli is one of my favorites
I make a shepard’s pie with lentils and ground walnuts. I think I just want the mashed potato top!
Favorite comfort food is definitely mushroom fettuccine alfredo, I make a cashew-based sauce from scratch…my Italian husband is over the moon for it 🙂
That made my mouth water! My favorite comfort food dish would have to be a veggie chunky soup, sort of like minestrone! Yummmm!
Veggie Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
My favorite comfort food is whatever makes me smile. Right now black beans and all kinds of vegan cheeses are what gives me great comfort. Also books such as yours are giving me more to be excited about. Congratulations on it.
Vegan stroganoff is my favorite comfort food dish! Whether it’s made with mushrooms, tempeh, seitan, or a combination, it’s delicious and hearty. Vegan sour cream plus stock help to make an unbelievable sauce for it. It’s one of my go-tos for feeding non-vegan friends, and kind of feels like a secret message to them: “Hey, it can be easy and THIS good to be vegan.”
My favorite comfort food is mac & cheeze!
My favorite vegan comfort food is a grilled cheese with sautéed onions and mushrooms in it and tomato soup to dip it in.
This looks delish! My fave comfort food = vegan mac ‘n cheeze!