Monday, August 22, 2016

Book Review & Giveaway: Vegan Bowl Attack!

When I went to Portland Oregon for the first Vida Vegan Con, I fell in love with "bowls." When I think of a "bowl," I think of a complete meal all in one bowl: some veggies, some grains, some protein, some kind of sauce to hold it all together, and a few tasty garnishes. Ahhh. Yummy, beautiful, satisfying, full of diverse flavors and textures... a proper bowl is a great meal.

Speaking of Vida Vegan Con, that's where I first met my pal Jackie Sobon, who blogs at the excellent blog Vegan Yack Attack! You've probably also seen her recipes and photos in VegNews Magazine, because she is so fancy and talented. Jackie is the author (and photographer) of the excellent new cookbook "Vegan Bowl Attack!"

I've been cooking up a storm from Vegan Bowl Attack! and absolutely loving it. VBA has many bowls like I described above, but also creatively stretches the definition of a "bowl" to mean "pretty much anything delicious that you can eat in a bowl." I am in favor of this!

A champion of a book!


Mezze Fusion Bowl

Oh Swoon. This just had to be the first recipe I made from the book, because this is my power cuisine, and this delicious meal did not disappoint. Mezze Fusion Bowl has: quinoa tabbouleh, Herbed Tofu Feta, olives, artichoke hearts, and some super delicious babaghanoush. The recipe calls for pita chips, which would be delicious, but I didn't have any -- so I threw in some cherry tomatoes from my garden instead. Even though this bowl combines several components, it was quick and simple to assemble. The Herbed Tofu needs to marinate for several hours before hand, but only takes seconds to assemble. The result was briny and salty and herby! 


White Bean Beer Fondue

This was one of our favorite meals (so far!) from Vegan Bowls Attack! When I first told Mr. VE&T that I was going to make something called "White Bean Beer Fondue," he was a little confused and didn't know what to expect. But after the first bite, he was an immediate fan! This is a rich and warm beany dip that's filling, nutritious and delicious. We loved the dippers too - especially the bread cubes, the pretzels, and the broccoli. This was a super fast and super easy dinner to assemble and was so satisfying. It's also really fun to dip little goodies into the fondue and eat dinner that way. I think it's a new family favorite!

dipping dinner is super fun! 


Grilled Romaine Chop Salad

I've never grilled lettuce before! This salad was delicious and summery - grilled lettuce, grilled tomatoes and corn, grilled eggplant, with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes -- just a glorious combo! The dressing is a light vinaigrette with a little nooch and dijon mustard for added vegan power! I love a good super summer salad full of all the best produce that summer has to offer, and this salad will definitely go into regular summer rotation for us.


Orange Cauliflower Soba Chow Mein Bowl

This was a super fun meal to make - definitely unlike anything I make or eat on a regular basis. I love that! This bowl consists of two separate components: Orange Cauliflower and Soba Chow Mein. The orange cauliflower is cooked with garlic, ginger, orange juice & zest, seasoning, and a little sugar (though I reduced the sugar quite a bit and was still happy with it! ~ from 2 Tbsp to 1 tsp). The Soba Chow Mein is super delicious -- soba noodles are stir-fried with veggies and seasoning for maximum yumminess! Mr. VE&T especially loved the chow mein and ate all of it, so I had the left over Orange Cauliflower with lunch the next day. What a great dinner. 

prepare yourself for the attack of the bowls!
be victorious with the help of this magnificent cookbook! 

Roasted Cauliflower Tomato Soup

This was probably Mr. VE&T's favorite from Vegan Bowl Attack, because if you make any form of tomato soup, it will always be his favorite. I like tomato soup okay, but sometimes I think it's a little plain. This recipe however, is a tomato soup that I can really get behind! I LOVED that it was chock full of roasted cauliflower, chard, and chickpeas -- the result is almost more like tomato stew than tomato soup and I loved it. I think this is a tomato soup we can both agree on with enthusiasm! 

the family that bowls together stays together


Grilled Mango Peach with Raspberry Coulis

This dish is from the Lil' Snack Bowls section, and since it's easier to find peaches than mangos, I took Jackie's suggestion to try this recipe with peaches instead of mangos. It's so quick and tasty: grilled peaches tossed with a lovely raspberry sauce. I was a renegade and converted this snack bowl into a breakfast bowl - after taking this picture, I mixed my grilled peaches into my homemade yogurt (with cereal underneath, which you can't see) and it was such a delicious and satisfying Sunday morning breakfast! It's fun to grill in the morning!


Vegan Bowl Attack! is divided into several chapters:
Bountiful Breakfast Bowls 
~ recipes that catch my eye: Caramel Apple Slices, Loaded Potato Breakfast Bowl, Nectarine Quinoa Porridge, Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola
Lil' Snack Bowls
~ recipes that catch my eye: Spicy Sesame Brussels Bites, Mediterranean Layer Dip, Crudite Boquets
Satisfying Soup & Salad Bowls
~ recipes that catch my eye: Herbed Tofu Tomato Salad, Walnut Chorizo Taco Salad, Banh Mi Panzanella Salad, Smoky Corn Chowder Bread Bowl, Kabocha Squash Pozole, Sweet Potato Eggplant Curry
Enticing Entree Bowls:
~ recipes that catch my eye: Southern Comfort Bowl, Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash, Aloha Bowl, Kimchi Bowl with Red Curry Almond Sauce
Damn Good Dessert Bowls
~ recipes that catch my eye: Amaretto Cherry Ice Cream, Roasted Peach Parfait with Crumble and Whiskey Buttercream


falling in love with my new crush
a hot tub is kind of like a human bowl

Giveaway!
Hoorah! I'm so happy to be able to offer a copy of Vegan Bowl Attack to one lucky winner (limited to readers in the USA and Canada), thanks to the publishers, Fair Winds Press. To enter the giveaway: leave a comment here and tell me about your favorite bowl, or your favorite thing to eat out of a bowl! And please make sure you leave an email or blogger contact, or I will just pick a different winner!


66 comments:

  1. My favorite bowl combo as of late has been faro, roasted eggplant and zucchini, roasted tofu and a quick sauce made of thinned hummus (lately balsamic-caramelized onion hummus). If I think of it, I will sprinkle on some sunflower seeds for crunch.

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  2. My favorite bowl is a sushi bowl make with vegan tuna (made from watermelon)!

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  3. I always do various versions of burrito bowls. Mexican is always easy as a vegetarian. Rice, black beans, artichoke hearts, red peppers topped with some whipped avocado, jalapeno, lime. You can pretty much throw anything on and it's good.

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  4. This book sounds so great! I would love a copy! My favorite thing to eat out of a bowl would be one scoop, no two, let's just say three scoops of vegan ice cream, with hot fudge, coconut whipped cream, a cherry, and lots of sprinkles on top. That counts as a bowl meal right? ;)

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  5. taco salad is my favourite bowl!

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  6. I love hummus bowls with falafel and veggies!

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  7. I love all kinds of bowls but I really like to have raw greens under the cooked part of my bowl! I also add raw veggies for some crunch!

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  8. I eat pretty much everything in bowls, so this book, with its loose definition of a bowl, would be a perfect fit for us! Seriously, serving everything (the only exceptions being pizza and sandwiches!) in bowls makes life easier: I never have to wonder if, say, the stew is too soupy to be served on a plate, or anything like that… But if I think of the kinds of dishes now known as "bowls", such as the ones you mention at the beginning of your post, my favorite has to be the "Thai bowl" I always get at one of my fave vegan restaurants: brown rice, tofu, shredded carrots, daikon (both straight and marinated), bok choy, cilantro, peanuts, and a delicious peanut sauce. It's really good!

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  9. I am just starting to get into bowl meals! Tonight I am making a Thai Ginger and Garlic Noodle Bowl so I am going to say this is going to be my favorite so far!

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  10. This book sounds great! I love bowls - they are great for batch cooking ahead of time and having things ready to go in the fridge, which is the way I prefer to handle most of my meals. Lately, my favorite "bowl" has been red lentil rotini (new discovery), tons of broccoli and a tahini sauce. Not very exciting, but super delicious and healthy!

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  11. The Mezze fusion bowl looks so yummy! I love making bowl meals and am making a Mexican bowl tonight in fact. Thanks for sharing your pics and experience with this cookbook and for the awesome giveaway!

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  12. I love vegan Pad Thai with tofu and veggies!

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  13. I really like burrito bowls. I definitely save calories by eliminating the tortilla and I like the addition of extra lettuce.

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  15. my favorite bowl has quinoa, pesto, tofu, sun dried tomatoes, corn, and sunflower seeds! YUM! jacquelinefcolman@gmail.com

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  16. I love grain, tempeh and veg bowls with Choosing Raw's turmeric tahini sauce!

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  17. That mezze fusion bowl looks amaaaaaazing!

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  18. I love the cauliflower tomato soup but I really haven't tried alot of bowls.

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  19. Any bowl with sauerkraut is usually my fave.

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  20. Jacky8:29 PM

    I love the queso blanco bowl from Isa Does It! Rice, beans, veggies, guac, and kale chips topped with the yummiest cashew queso!

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  21. Jacky8:30 PM

    Oops, forgot to leave my email - jackydlt at gmail! Thanks for the chance! :)

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  22. This looks amazing!! I LOVE Veggie Grill's Banh Mi Salad - so good!! lburnett at alumnae dot mills dot edu

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  23. I love the curried peanut with tofu and kale bowl from Isa Does It. Jackie's book looks amazing!

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  24. My favorite bowl is a "beans & greens" bowl: a little veggie broth, some navy beans, let simmer then turn off heat, throw in handfuls of baby kale or power greens to wilt and finish with a big spoonful of miso paste and let those delicious flavors get acquainted with one another :). Thanks for sharing! beverleerichmond@gmail.com

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  25. I'm dying to try the Orange Cauliflower Soba Bowl!

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  26. I love taco bowls! I make one with lentil Taco Meat :)

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  27. Anonymous4:36 AM

    I'm also a fan of eating anything I can out of a bowl. The other day I made a miso gravy, and I've been bowling with it since, over seitan, roasted broccoli, and (sometimes) quinoa with scallion garnish. Simple, filling, delicious. (Gabrielle)

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  28. I just made myself a bowl : shredded cabbage, brown and wild rice, spicy sunflower seeds, tofu, mushrooms, shredded beet and basil. With a lovely and garlicky sesame-ginger dressing :)

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  29. I love a sushi bowl with rice, seaweed salad, kimchi, cucumbers, avocado and green onions. Maybe some baked tofu if I have any. Now I'm hungry.

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  30. I could get on board with any of these bowls! My favorite bowl is simply quinoa, steamed veggies, hummus or a tahini sauce and seitan. I can eat that every day and never get tired of it! murry4@hormail.com

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  31. I like making a big bowl of salad that includes rice, fruit in season, and chopped nuts. karengdelaney (at) yahoo {dot} com

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  32. I like making a big bowl of salad that includes rice, fruit in season, and chopped nuts. karengdelaney (at) yahoo {dot} com

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  33. I really liked the Miso bowl at Whole Heart Provisions in Boston: roasted broccoli, smashed cucumber, edamame, shaved brussels sprouts, red cabbage slaw, sesame crunch, orange miso dressing. I love to cook, but I'm not very creative when it comes to bowls!

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  34. Anonymous8:45 AM

    I like smoothie bowls and topping them with chia seeds,coconut,granola and fruit. mss50099@yahoo.com

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  35. Anything with carrots in my bowl is fair game! Celery is a close second.

    bren.guardado@gmail.com

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  36. Ahhhhhh I need this book! My hubby isn't vegan but he is loving his veggies now, the turning point for him was a "sushi bowl" I make- tons of cucumber, diced carrots, brown rice, soy sauce, mashed avocado and equal parts vegan mayo and sweet chili sauce mixed together and drizzled (ahem dollopped) on top, topped with a sprinkle of furikake. Sooooooo good, eat it at least once a week. Jackiebug1@gmail.com

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  37. Great review. I love to eat a meal in a bowl, and if you could see how many bowls I own, you'd believe me without question! I especially enjoy Asian inspired bowls with rice noodles, tofu, veggies. But beans, rice, broccoli and tahini sauce also makes me happy!

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  38. Wow this definitely made me want this book! I love bowls of all kind, especially those with guacamole a-plenty <33

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  39. I love a good bowl! The roasty soba bowl from Isa Does It is my favourite bowl recipe but I've put that miso tahini sauce on EVERYTHING.

    That said, my favourite thing to eat in a bowl is soup. Basically any soup. I really love soup.

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  40. everything goes better in a bowl :) some kind of beans and oven roasted veggies is a frequent dinner. and of course fruit w/ a bit of ice cream on top to round out the meal :)

    fruitcrmble AT Comcast DOT net

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  41. My favorite thing to eat from a bowl is oatmeal! I like mine with toasted sesame seeds, banana, and chia seeds. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

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  42. I was just talking about veg bowls with my niece (Rebecca) at college! I love hot cereal bowls with all kinds of nuts, fruit, nut butters, etc. YUM!

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  43. Oh what delicious looking bowls! Everything you tried looks amazing especially that tomato soup, love all the ingredients packed into it. :-)

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  44. Guacamole is great out the bowl.thanks

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  45. That White Bean Beer Fondue looks amazing! I think that would be the first thing I would make from the book.

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  46. I make a baconesque tempeh with smoked paprika, brown rice, brocoli, and a purple slaw. As a single parent, I discovered a bowl approach for dinner with my son (where everyone washed their own bowl!). Over the years I've started calling it a monk's bowl and it's always an antidote to the over-indulgence of travel or holidays. Now it not only nourishes me but helps me to return to simplicity and feels like home. Love your sweet newsletter! elsaweber4@yahoo.com

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  47. my favourite bowl is açaí with banana, almonds, chia, coconut and hemp seeds, I looooove to have it for breakfast

    kimberley . jolly @ gmail.com

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  48. My favorite bowl is chickpeas, onions, black and green olives, tomatoes and sesame dressing.

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  49. Favourite thing to eat out of a bowl other than soup? Isa's and Terry,'s Mac Daddy of course. 😉

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  50. Terri Cole1:06 PM

    My favorite Buddha bowl is: farro, greens (raw or sauteed), roasted sweet potato, glazed tempeh and tahini sauce. Chopped scallions for garnish.

    gaia at cinci dot rr dot com

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  51. My favorite bowl is one I haven't tried yet! I love coming up with new ideas and recipes to try. :)
    Jessanadeangel@gmail.com

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  52. One of my all-time favorite things to eat from a bowl is bibimbap or vegan (or vegetarian) pho! So so good!! This book sounds AWESOME.

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  53. I was just in Vancouver and every day was a Buddha bowl or some Indian inspired noodle bowl. And yes I could eat like that every single day!

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  54. Woohoo! I'm making bowls tonight! I'm stir frying up the eggplant, summer squash and cabbage in our fridge, putting it over some leftover frozen rice, and making a kick butt tahini buffalo sauce. Om nom nom! Happy Friday!

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  55. I've really been craving bowls lately. Currently I'm into salad bowls with more veggies than salad greens. Lots of roasted & raw veggies, some grains and a delicious sauce, usually maple mustard or tahini-based! PinkAlpaca@gmail.com

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  56. I eat all of the oatmeal!

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  57. What a fantastic sounding cookbook! I love bowls and make them most every night. I think my favourite is a burrito-type bowl with rice, beans, tomato, cucumber & guac. YUM. That being said, I tend to make the same kind of bowls and I love that this book seems to break out of the traditional bowl food and get creative!

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  58. Anonymous3:36 PM

    soup bowls are my fave! but also anything involving noodles.

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  59. bowls are taking the world by storm! i anything out of a bowl, but especially beans and greens, which is exactly what it sounds like, in a soupy broth. thanks for the great giveaway!
    lydia_webster@yahoo.com <3

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  60. I like my favorite bowls to include sweet potatoes, brussels, cauliflower, quinoa and tahini. wonderfeather@gmail.com

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  61. Preston2:37 PM

    I love a seitan, quinoa, broccoli, and mushroom gravy bowl! prestonhart628 at gmail

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  62. I'll eat pretty much anything out of a bowl, but one of my favorite things, and I also thought unique, was a bowl of coffee from a little espresso shop my husband and I found. I'd never had coffee served that way before and it was kind of a fun experience. :)

    aimeesavon@hotmail.com

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  63. Soup. Any kind, any way. With some awesome biscuits on the side!

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  64. Annie B4:29 PM

    Granola cereal with toasted coconut and raisins for breakfast, and also veggie potpie stew, Mmmmmm:) anniebrat2010@gmail.com

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  65. OATMEAL in all of my bowls!

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