Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Great Gluten Free Vegan Goes Global! Blog Tour & Giveaway

For all you folks out there looking for more vegan and gluten-free options, Allyson Kramer (of Manifest Vegan) has a new book out: Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats from Around The World (phew!). A little while back, Allyson asked if I would be a part of her new book's blog tour, and I happily said yes!

Unfortunately, my sample copy of GGFVEFATW didn't arrive until I was off at VidaVeganCon, so I've still only had a few days to hang out with it and cook from it. The book is organized by region: Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and so on... and each section offers recipes for lighter fare, entrees and a handful of sweeties.  The recipes don't look too complicated, and they seem easy to modify according to your personal tastes (more seasoning, leave something out, etc). I always appreciate recipes like that.

Once I had pulled myself together after VidaVeganCon, I got into the kitchen and got to work! I've made a few things so far:

Red Potato & Watercress Soup (from Ireland)

Minted Green Salad with Oranges, Lentils & Tomatoes (Middle East)

and this wonderful Spiced Lentil Harira (Morocco)

Of the three, this Harira was our real favorite. It was quick and easy to prepare, but was hearty and bursting with both flavor and nutrition. We both loved it, so I'm going to share the recipe with you!

Spiced Lentil Harira
(yield: 6 servings)

1 large can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 cup (192 g) dried lentils
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
6 cups (1.4 L) salted vegetable broth
1 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less depending on your spice tastes)
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp dried ginger
2 cups (480 g) cooked chickpeas
    (added after cooking soup halfway)
2 Tbsp (15 g) gram flour mixed with 1/4 cup (60 ml) water until smooth
1/2 c (30 g) chopped parsley
1/4 cup (4 g) chopped cilantro
1 tsp salt, or to taste
2 large lemons, sliced into wedges, for serving

Place all the ingredients through the ginger in a large stockpot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, to maintain a constant simmer, and let cook for about 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Stir in the chickpeas, gram flour mixture, parsley, and cilantro. Cook an additional 10 minutes to cook the gram flour completely and to thicken the soup. Salt to taste and serve with a lemon wedge.

veggie prep!

GGFVEFATW has a lot to offer, and some of the recipes I have my eye on to try out in the future include: 
- Peppery Banana, Avocado and Papaya Salad
- Sweet Coconut Orange Cookies
- Veggie Frittata with Salsa Verde
- Farinata Pizza
- Bambara Peanut Butter Rice Pudding
- Fig Pastries

A few thoughts:
~ The book is really beautifully laid out, with great fonts, beautiful pictures, and really clear instructions

~ I really appreciate that the recipes include both volume and weight measurements. I like using 
weights to measure when I cook. Plus, it makes it more versatile for U.S. & European kitchens.

~ I think my only complaint about the book is that tons of the baked goods call for Superfine Brown Rice Flour, which isn't available where I live. I guess I'll probably end up ordering some online, because all the gluten-free bakers I know swear by it (and I know Allyson's sweeties are probably worth it). I know that the audience for this book is probably used to special ordering a lot of ingredients and products, but I think that special ingredients make a lot of the recipes a bit inaccesible. At least, if I do order it, there are a lot recipes that call for it (not just one or two).

It's like travelling around the world --
but actually being able to eat the food!

Great news!! Allyson's publishers are sponsoring a giveaway (open to U.S. and Canada) for one of my readers to win their very own copy of GGFVEFATW!! Just leave a comment on this post, and I'll draw a winner this weekend!

p.s. Even if you don't win from my giveaway, check out the other stops along the way in the blog tour for more chances to win. You can find the whole schedule here.

49 comments:

  1. jllnbnsn@gmail.com

    I'm gluten free this month! And this book would be a huge help!

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  2. The harira looks delicous! I love Moroccan food. And Allyson.

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  3. Gluten-free or not, these recipes sound delicious! I'd sure love to get my hands on a copy of the book.

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  4. The lentil harira does look especially delicious. Does the new book come with a new bookcase? I love cookbooks too much!

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  5. I would love to check out this book, and get my worldly cuisine on. Thanks for the great post and giveaway!

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  6. wow, that harira does look fabulous! and i love all of your pictures. this book looks pretty awesome and i'd love a copy!

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  7. I love traveling, and celiac disease requires me to eat gluten-free. I've been living more and more in vegan-land, too--so this book looks awesome!

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  8. Everything Allyson makes is delicious! I would love to get my hands on her cookbook (even though gluten-free, I am not!)

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  9. one of my goals in life is to learn to love lentils! :) Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  10. Oooh, I saw an early preview of one of the chapters, and it looks so awesome!!!!!!!!

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  11. I am slowly going gluten-free, so this book would help me immensely!

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  12. This book sounds great, I'd love to win!

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  13. Anonymous2:58 PM

    I normally avoid gluten-free things but these recipes make it look worth a shot. Delic!


    Midnite
    harrypotter_rox (at) msn.com

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  14. wow, this book sounds awesome! I would love to get a copy of the book :)

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  15. ah!!!!! I am a gluten free (mostly) vegan who owns ZERO gf/v cookbooks... I have so many old vegan cookbooks who use wheat in every meal..
    :)

    P,S. Portland looked so fun :)

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  16. I own Allyson's first cookbook, and I'm really looking forward to having this one too!

    I totally hear you on the superfine brown rice flour. I am gluten-free and vegan, and yet I never special order anything because our local food co-ops are very well stocked in xgfx flours and ingredients - but that one's not available here either, and special ordering from across the border doesn't always feel like it's worth it... Thus I haven't yet made any of the recipes calling for it, but I'm planning on trying some of them substituting other flours for the superfine brown rice one. If there's one superpower we develop as we have to make the switch to a xgfx diet, it has to be the substitution one! :)

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    1. indeed, the art of substitution is a finely honed skill! :)

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  17. I'd love to dig into that bowl of lentil salad! This summer I want to find a lot of different salad recipes for alternatives to my everyday kale or green leaf lettuce salads.

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  18. Would love to win this one! I have Allyson's first book and would enjoy to see what she does with a worldwide theme!

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  19. This book sounds amazing! : ) Would love to have a cookbook just for gluten free recipes! Yum!

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  20. Anonymous3:59 AM

    I have her first book and swear by it! I am dying to get this one too.

    Cindy

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  21. Anonymous4:03 AM

    Ooh, I've been excited for this book for a loooong time! :D

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  22. Can't wait to try the Spiced Lentil Harira. Looks delicious!

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  23. wow this is so fun, i hope you have a great time on the tour! you get to do amazing things. my one friend is gluten free and working hard to try and become a vegetarian, i would love to give this to her!

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  24. Hmmm that spiced lentil harira looks divine... I'm buying the ingredients tonight to make it later this week ! Thanks for the recipe !

    And I've been trying to eat less gluten lately; this cookbook sounds perfect !

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  25. Yes, thank you for the recipe! Sounds delicious. Cooking around the world is such fun. Would love to win this book.

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  26. Anonymous2:27 PM

    I'm vegan and gluten-free and I would love some delicious recipes to help me stay inspired!

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  27. I love her first book! looking forward to this one

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  28. Becca3:33 PM

    Thanks for the chance to win! I'm a vegan with a wheat allergy so this would be great! BeccaMFerguson@aim.com

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  29. I hear you on the Superfine Brown Rice flour. I was Gluten Free for 4 years before I finally broke down and bought some. I then spent the next six months kicking my own backside for not having done so sooner. I'd come to believe that there was no way to make decent GF vegan treats but brother (and sister) was I wrong. I don't know where you live but there are several places to but it other than Authentic Foods. Domata flour and Nuts online spring to mind. Besides, Allyson's recipes are always so worth it!

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    1. Thanks for the superfine tips. It's good to know that you liked it so much once you finally broke down and bought it... very encouraging!

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  30. Another vegan cookbook to add to my collection, muahahaha!

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  31. I loved Allyson's first book Great Gluten Free Vegan Eats and it has quickly become my favorite one to recommend to other gluten-free vegans. I love love love that she always includes so many pictures and I'm sure this book is no different.

    Also, I just have to say ... LOVE your little drawings. I followed you before Vida Vegan Con but after seeing the cute little recipe zine you made with adorable animal drawings I must admit I end up coming back to your site even more now to see more drawings. LOL.

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    1. Thank you so much, Megan!! <3!!! :)

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  32. I love your first cookbook! Even my meat loving family raves about the recipes I've made. I would love to add your second book to my collection and make more wonderful things!

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  33. The Spiced Lentil Harira sounds delicious - I'm always looking for ways to jazz up lentils, and I'd love to try the harira =)

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  34. Peanut butter rice pudding! That needs to be in my life!

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  35. Our son is newly gf and we are all vegan so this book is perfect for us. The other kids (and the unwitting baby) have all decided to jump on board with him so we will all be gf vegan alongside him while he figures it all out. He's being pretty brave for a five year old so I feel like it is imperative to keep the food fun and delicious. More ideas are always great to have around.

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  36. My mom is gluten free and we've cooked quite a few recipes from her blog. I would love to try this cookbook! Those spiced lentils look crazy good.

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  37. I would love to try gluten free recipes to see if there is an improvement in my health. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  38. The recipes look delicious!

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  39. I would love to win the cookbook! It sounds really great :-)

    Courtney

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  40. I've been meaning to try gluten free, so this would really help out. I totally love foods from around the world.

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  41. I'd love to get this book - my mom is gluten free, and it'd be great to cook her some vegan food!

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  42. Weee! These dishes look so wonderful!!!

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  43. https://www.facebook.com/rochelle.cunningham.92

    What an awesome giveaway! My kids and I have been vegan for about a year now (my husband for a bit longer), and as we cook together, we find that we keep on discovering new ways to use produce to make delicious, mind-boggling meals. With your cookbook, our food horizon will continue to expand! How exciting!

    Mahalo,
    Rochelle Daniels

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  44. This food all looks so good. Even if I don't win I'm probably going to buy it eventually! I find it hard to find good vegan cook books for me and my partner and have just been using my initiative and adjusting non vegan recipes and hoping they work :P So yes this book would be a massive help in our kitchen!

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