The kind folks over at The Vegan Heritage Press sent me a copy of Zsu Dever’s cookbook, Everyday Vegan Eats, and I’m glad they did! This was a fantastic opportunity to learn about Zsu’s cooking style, which is comfort food made vegan. Zsu has a unique ability to fuse together completely accessible ingredients with easy and approachable techniques to create well-balanced flavors and textures that anyone can create and enjoy.
Packed with a ton of homestyle favorites like baked macaroni and cheese, vegan meatloaf with herbed gravy and mushroom stroganoff, Zsu’s recipes are perfect for the new vegan who is seeking out ways to enjoy classic comfort food but not exactly sure where to start. In addition to her fantastic recipes, Zsu also includes helpful tips on how to plan menus, stock a vegan pantry and where the shop to maximize your dollar and get the most out of your grocery shopping trips.
For the seasoned vegan, this book is a great reminder that classic homestyle vegan food is not only accessible and approachable, but also fun and easy. After flipping through Zsu’s book, I first made her chicken-free salad sandwiches, which utilize tofu, tvp or soy curls as the protein base. I chose soy curls and seasoned them with Zsu’s savory broth mix (recipe can be found on page 19), which infused them with an amazing depth of flavor that complemented the other salad components perfectly.
I loved every bite of this dish, so I’m excited that Vegan Heritage Press has not only kindly agreed to allow me to share the recipe here but is also offering a free copy of Everyday Vegan Eats through this post!
To enter, just leave a comment below that includes your favorite vegan comfort food dish, and please include your email address or some way to contact you if your comment is drawn as the winner. Shipping for this giveaway is limited to the US only.
I’ll randomly choose a winner on July 25. Good luck!
Congratulations to bitt, winner of this giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Chicken-Free Salad Sandwiches
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
From Everyday Vegan Eats: Family Favorites from My Kitchen to Yours by Zsu Dever. Copyright ©2014 by Zsu Dever. Used with permission from Vegan Heritage Press.
Your protein of choice – Soy Curls, tofu, or TVP – is right at home in this easy-to-make sandwich filling. You can take a step back in time to the eighties and stuff it into a tomato or just add it to a bed of crisp green salad. Of course, it’s also fantastic between two slices of bread or served in lettuce cups.
Ingredients
- 4 cups coarsely chopped tender soy curls, marinated tofu, or savory tvp, cooled thoroughly
- 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 small red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
- 3/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish
- sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 8 slices toasted bread, gluten free bread, or butter lettuce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine your protein of choice with the celery, onion, bell pepper, mayonnaise, relish, and salt, and pepper to taste. Set aside for 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Make sandwiches with the mixture, using either toasted bread or lettuce cups.
zazazu says
Favorite vegan comfort food is nutritional yeast mac-n-cheeze. Mmmmm…
msred5 at gmail dot com
Anonymous says
The recipe looks great. Comfort food mashed potato's- nileta@centurylink.net
infinitezest says
my favorite vegan comfort food is definitely mac + cheeze! I love it with kale, peas, or mustard greens added and lots of nutritional yeast!
hewokemeup@yahoo.com
Dawn Thomason says
I'd love to win this. I love chickpea-kale sandwich spread and mac & cheez. dpropp@hotmail.com
irishis says
I'm brand new to vegan, have been a vegetarian for awhile. I supposed anything with tofu is a favorite. I like a vegan Pad Thai.
Anonymous says
Zucchini pasta with marinara! Susan@crookedcarrot.com
Veronica says
MY favorite vegan dish is definitely Pad Thai with edamame, broccoli, cilantro and peanuts with crushed red pepper flakes!! I would eat that daily if I could! Love your site!!
girlrunner says
Eggplant parm. blainewilkes@yahoo.com
Stephanie Jordan says
I love the cashew cheese recipe. Thank you for inspiring me with so many wonderful ideas.
elementfive@icloud.com
Tracy Ewing says
Pasta with pesto!
Annette&Bob says
Yes, please! I have been vegetarian for 20 years and have been toying with the idea of veganism. My comfort foods are anything creamy and anything Thai. I would love a whole book devoted to vegan comfort foods. YUM!!
s says
I love vegan Pad Thai. I like Veronica's additions so I'm going to have to make a few improvements to mine! Thanks!!
susan says
I would love this book, to celebrate my 30th vegan anniversary. My favorite vegan comfort food is mac and cheese.
Jill Van Vlack says
Oh Hands down vegan meat loaf with herbed gravy and mushroom stroganoff and of course you have to serve vegan mac & cheese on the side as well
Nicole Koziel says
my favorite recipe is vegan man n cheese (made with sweet potatoes) topped with portobello mushrooms. i make a big batch, and my husband and i take it to work for lunch! i am always looking for new recipes, and i love your blog. keep up the great work!
niks07@gmail.com
4everLosing says
During the holidays, I make mini vegan wellingtons. Puff pastry, portabello mushrooms, vegan cheese, pine nuts. TO…DIE…FOR. Which is exactly why we make them only then.lol
Ben says
My favorite vegan comfort food is really anything Thai. Such rich, flavorful dishes
Anonymous says
The mushroom burgundy recipe from Smitten Kitten was one of the first vegan recipes I learned and it has been on constant rotation in my house ever since. In fact, I'm making it today. 🙂 summers.jenifer@gmail.com
Deborah says
I love the recipe and I'd love the book don't live in the US – I wish you could enter, if you agreed to pay the postage – we don't get vegan cookbooks over here!
T.M. says
My favorite comfort food is any kind of pasta! Thanks for the chance, I'd love to have this.
skywisefahr2@aol.com
Jenni says
Hard to choose just 1 vegan comfort food! I'll make a list 🙂
Ultimate favorite is vegan Chicago style deep dish pizza!
I also love lazy anya – my lazy lasagna inspired casserole.
Tofu sandwiches with savory sauce and all the fixings on sourdough.
Anything with avocado- add tomatoes & I'm in heaven!
Jenni @ Sparkyfirepants.com
Sally Tinker Smith says
Rice/quinoa pasta with cashew cheese, nutritional yeast, salt, olive oil OR pasta with just cashew cheese and dill. Those are my go-to summer favorites for comfort food. Oh, and I'm loving toasted quinoa patties, cut into fingers and dipped in ketchup (they taste like onion rings to me). Thank you for asking!
thevioletfern.com says
Please pick me please pick me – ha! I love to cook VEGAN! It is my favorite new hobby and this looks delish. I must try. I have some nice swiss chard out in the garden to wrap it up in …
myveryveggieblog.com says
That recipe looks amazing. I can't wait to try this book!
Amanda J says
It's so simple and boring, but buttery rice/quinoa/noodles, sprinkled with nooch, is my go-to comfort food.
Jill says
My favorite would be potato skins ir spinach artichoke dip! Jillnipper@yahoo.com
Anna Starostinetskaya says
(not sure my last post went through). Vegan ramen! email: astarostinet@gmail.com
Ali says
Vegan homemade pizza
Eric Stamey says
Our comfort food is Kale Salad; we eat it almost everyday! Our email is eric@stamey.com
Purnima Barve says
My favorite vegan comfort food is veggie burgers. purnima.barve@gmail.com
bitt says
tacos! bittofraw (at) gmail.com
Anonymous says
Massel Bouillon Gravy and Rice (amuseawhile@aol.com)
Anonymous says
I love homemade pizza with all the veggies you can think of and with marinated tofu, yum! Wendy mwwelly@yahoo.com
KathyD says
Sloppy joes and chili mac, either made with tvp, soy crumbles or lentils, are my favorite vegan comfort foods. Yum!
Louise says
Vegan mac 'n cheese, or vegan bacon cheese burgers!
jn.lynne@gmail.com
farmersmarketvegan says
I ADORE your recipe for vegan "tuna" salad with chickpeas. ali.seiter@gmail.com
Anu says
chickpea salad sandwiches from vegan with a vengeance. achathampally@gmail.com
Bobbie {the vegan crew} says
Creamy cashew macaroni and cheese! It's always trouble when I make it because I have to eat the whole pot. 🙂
bobbie@thevegancrew.com
A Dreaded Vegan says
Not quite a comfort food on its own, but coconut "bacon" is one of my fave items to bring comfort to foods by using it atop salads, baked potatoes, soups, etc… Shariweiner5@yahoo.com
melissa.malteselover says
Vegan pizza – preferably grilled. Even in winter! I love your site. Keep up the good work!
Anonymous says
Black bean soup with soy chorizo and kale.
The Lost Spells of Lixo says
My fav this time of year is pizza made with homemade flatbread on the grill, roasted veggies and topped with a vegan béchamel sauce with herbs. mirrorpool8@gmail.com
Sheila Tajima says
My favorite comfort food is a cashew based Alfredo sauce over whole wheat noodles with whatever veggies I have tossed in .
miss_mermaid says
Ack! I can't pick just one! I would have to say any kind of soup or creamy pasta dish. michellecrisp25@yahoo.com
Ember says
I have to say right now my favorite comfort food is buffalo cauliflower. The vegan homemade buffalo sauce makes it perfect. I like mine pretty spicy and can put really nice unique hot sauce in the mixture. I skip the breading and bake it which makes me feel better about eating the entire pyrex full. embercmiller@aol.com
Laura says
My favorite vegan comfort food is a peanut butter and "jelly" (strawberry preserves) sandwich on Ezekial Sprouted English Muffins (my favorite vegan bread product)! arlena07aol.com
Lydia Claire says
Vegan Mac & Cheese FTW!
Corrine Greenfield says
Casseroles are always a favorite! Creamy and filling. =)
Elizabeth says
Vegan Mac n Cheeze is my comfort go-to also!
Amber Pollard says
My comfort go-to is cashew creamed greens: kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, you name it.
Anonymous says
Hope this does not count against me, the 1st day I could not find a place to comment, so emailed you! My favorite recipe is for Quinoa Pizza Bites – y'all can find it on Deliciously Dairy Free's face book page. Or just post a request there and one of the admins will help you find the blog! My email is: teribeariblue@yahoo.com Thank you!
Heather Kessler says
My go-to comfort food is mushroom stroganoff. Reminds me of being little, and my mom would make beef stroganoff for me. I took her recipe and veganized it 🙂
Katzilla says
My favorite comfort food are marinated mushroom wraps, from Penni Shelton's "Raw Food Cleanse". I change it every time, but it's essentially sliced mushrooms, onion, garlic and liquid aminos left to marinate for an hour or so, and then served in stemmed raw collard greens with julienne carrots and cucumbers, and a generous amount of avocado. They are soooo good.
Anonymous says
Soup! Always soup!
jstew52@hotmail.com
Elijah Blagg says
Vegan mac and cheese!
Beth Switzer says
My favorite comfort food is definitely any kind of creamy vegan pasta.
Johanna says
When I want something I made a lovely vegan Puttanesca Sauce from scratch with lots of kalamata olives, capers, crushed red pepper, and red wine. Over any kind of pasta is great.
RochelleK says
My vegan comfort foods include anything with potatoes in them! =)
Magic and Mayhem says
Sounds lovely but I wonder how many of the recipes involve wheat? Most of our family is gluten free and it's made it so tricky to find cookbooks that work for us. I have to adapt all of the GF cookbooks to be vegetarian, and I have to adapt all of the vegan cookbooks to be GF. In any case, it sounds wonderful.
My favorite vegan comfort food is definitely burrito bowls (brown or white rice, black beans and oodles of toppings for us all to personalize our bowls). (alicia.bayer@gmail.com)
Glo says
I love a good meatloaf (vegan of course) sandwich with plenty of vegannaise on it. UMMMM – Thanks for the opportunity to win this cookbook (kers9455@gmail.com)
Leannepb says
Since I am just starting to try vegan foods, I don't really have a "go to" comfort food yet, but I really look forward to trying Zsu's mac and cheese . . . and lots of others. Thanks for the opportunity!
Leanne.pb@comcast.net
Anonymous says
My favorite vegan comfort food is…sadly…French fries. 🙁 So unhealthy, I know!
elena_always@hotmail.com
ethna piazza says
Butternut squash sautéed with shallots and sage served over spiced black lentils.
Emily B. says
I'll join the chorus of praise for nooch Mac n' Cheese 🙂 My go to is a big bowl of pasta with spicy tomato sauce and whatever veggies I have in my fridge.
ejbradfo@gmail.com
Brennan Winter says
Biscuits and gravy! My husband and I are both from the South and even though he's an omni he loves it on a cold Sunday too.
punkrockmartha says
i wish i could say otherwise, but mashed potatoes whipped with salt and tons of westsoy milk are my very favorite treat. thank you for the giveaway!
Anonymous says
Hands down, your Farro Crab Cakes (100003946396395@facebook.com.parkridge.lane@facebook.com)