Leeka's Reviews
232 recipes reviewed. Showing 1 to 50Sort by: Book Title 
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The 30-Minute Vegan: Over 175 Quick, Delicious, and Healthy Recipes for Everyday Cooking
By Mark Reinfeld, Jennifer Murray
Da Capo Lifelong Books - 2009
This is a simple, creamy vegetable stew that's very easy to make in a short amount of time. I found it quite peppery and that's with only adding about half the called for amount of pepper. The great thing about these types of dishes is that you can throw in a variety of vegetables for variation in addition to the potatoes, carrots, onions and celery. I used cauliflower and think it would also be tasty with the addition of greens, sweet potato, squash or parsnips.
I found the dumplings a little bland but they could easily be spiced up with the addition of some herbs as the author suggests.
useful (2)
Blended smooth, gingery and full of healthy ingredients, eating this soup had me feeling very virtuous. I had a bunch of kale to use up and this was the perfect solution. Without any fresh parsley in the house, I had to use dried so I added an extra handful of other fresh greens. This soup would probably kick a cold in the butt!
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Website: All Recipes
Simple, down home, goopy, peach pie! I altered the recipe somewhat from the original on All Recipes by cutting the sugar, adding cinnamon and using Earth Balance in place of butter.
This was not a sophisticated or difficult pie to make but it sure was yummy.
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Appetite for Reduction: 125 Fast and Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes
By Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Matthew Ruscigno
Da Capo Lifelong Books - 2010
These biscuits were moist and fluffy with a hint of sweetness provided by the sweet potato. Next time round I will cut the 1 teaspoon of nutmeg in half because it was too much.
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This soup has all the flavours I love; roasted bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic, chickpeas, coriander and rosemary. I found the rosemary a little too dominant and will reduce the amount the next time I make it. It’s a very hearty soup and made for an easy week-night supper and with a few, tiny tweaks it gets a big, thumbs up!
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A simple and effective way to make your mashed potatoes a little healthier. The author makes it easy to jazz up the flavour with 6 suggestions of various ingredient additions such as herbs, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon zest etc.
I made them simple the first time and think they would taste even better accompanied with some kind of gravy or served with a saucy dish.
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A good, creamy slaw dressing made with a blended cashew base and a hint of sweetness from agave nectar.
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I wasn't sure if I was going to like this Hoisin-Mustard combination but I was curious enough to try it and I'm happy to report it was delicious. If you like honey-mustard sauce then you will probably like this flavour combination with ginger, garlic, mustard and the Hoisin barbecue sauce making for a great sweet and savory mix. Wrapping the tofu mixture in lettuce provided the perfect crisp complement. I used Romaine instead of iceburg and my husband and I gobbled this dish up.
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These were the best brussel sprouts I have ever eaten. I would have never have thought to slice them up so finely but the result was a delicious and flavourful dish with garlic and onions complementing the nutty browned leaves perfectly. Yum!
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A remarkably easy cheezy-tasting sauce with a surprisingly creamy texture and the added bonus of having no added fat. My husband and daughter give this a 3 and 3.5 respectively but I'm bumping it up to a 4 for ease of preparation and good flavour.
The recipe called for 2 teaspoons of onion flakes which I did not have. Instead I used 2 teaspooons of onion powder which gave it quite an onion-y taste but I love onions so it didn't bother me.
We served this poured over and mixed with pasta and broccoli.
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The apples, ginger and cinnamon definitely added an extra dimension of flavour to these sweet mashed potatoes but I think I still prefer them simple without all the extras.
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This is a very simple soup with few ingredients - red lentils, onion, carrots, rice and a few spices. The lemon zest and fresh lemon juice added at the end provided a wonderful brightness to this otherwise earthy soup seasoned mainly with cumin.
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Another fairly quick dish to prepare using Thai red curry paste as a shortcut. Fresh ginger, garlic and scallions are always a hit with me and the curry paste added a good hit of spice. I didn't have any fresh basil leaves on hand so I chopped up and added fresh kale to the pan and served it over rice. Easy and yummy.
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This is the first recipe from this book that has been a disappointment. I found the flavours to be muddy and boring. I have used cocoa powder in other chili recipes which have turned out much better than this one. After my first bowl, I've had no desire to taste any more when usually a pot of chili in the fridge is a big draw.
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I had never previously made any type of sauce or gravy with pureed chickpeas and found this to be a very substantial, hearty and flavourful gravy. I'm not sure if I would agree with the silky part of the recipe name but I enjoyed the leftovers the second and third day with home-made oven fries and veggie loaf. I may reduce the amount of thyme slightly next time round but I will definitely make this gravy again. I also added a little extra water/veggie stock to thin it out a little as it was quite thick.
useful (3)
Yum. Creamy, garlicky, dill goodness! I love making these delicious dressings with a silken tofu base. Who would have thought eating vegan would be so saucily delicious!
I used the dressing immediately in a delicous wrap with fresh tomatoes, grated carrot and some tofu balls. This would be fantastic as a dip for veggies or salad.
Note: I used soft silken tofu intead of extra-firm and I did not blanch it as written in the recipe. I also omitted the 2 Tbl of mayonaise because I didn't have any and it was perfectly fine. I just threw all of the ingredients in the blender and whipped it up!
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This was good but not outstanding. I think I had too much cauliflower in the pan because even though I left it in the oven for double the time stated in the recipe, it didn't brown. We became impatient and just ate it as it was. The flavour of the breadcrumb and herb mix was fine but again, I think my execution was poor because it just clumped and was a bit wet.
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I did not think this was going to be as good as it was but wow, it was delicious. I think leaving it on the stove for an hour after it was done while I made biscuits contributed to the rich flavour that resulted.
The recipe called for 4 teaspoons of smoked paprika and I thought that was too much so I used 2 teaspoons of smoked and 2 teaspoons of regular paprika. I think it was the right decision. I also subbed a small can of plain tomato sauce in place of crushed tomatoes which I didn't have and added a bit more veggie stock. I left out the lima beans.
The resulting soupy stew had a deep, smokey, tomato flavour and lots of greens. I think this is the first tempeh recipe I've given five stars.
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A very hearty and simple winter soup. The recipe calls for french lentils which I love but I had to substitute mung beans because that's what I had on hand. The soup is seasoned with thyme, tarragon and garlic and I always find tarragon to be a little overpowering as was the case here.
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Of course these would taste really yummy fried but that defeats the purpose! I did find them quite mushy and a bit sticky to work with but they baked up firmly. The flavour was nice, and for dinner we paired them with some chopped fresh tomato, stir fried greens and onions and a home-made vegannaise on tortillas.
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The Asian Vegan Kitchen: Authentic and Appetizing Dishes from a Continent of Rich Flavors
By Hema Parekh, Tae Hamamura
Kodansha International - 2008
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This recipe is from the Burmese section of the book and was very simple and tasty. I didn't have enoki mushrooms so instead used cremini mushrooms which tasted fine.
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My husband gives this dish a five, I say three and my daughter says zero because of the spice level - LOL. I cut the 1/2 tsp of cayenne in half and it was still plenty hot enough for me. This is a fairly simple dish to prepare once all the slicing prep is done.
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This is quite a liquid-y dish, more of a soup than what I had anticipated. The coconut milk adds a lovely creaminess to the curry that I love. I almost halved the amount of liquids, both coconut milk and water. I also cut the oil from 4 tablespoons to one to make the dish more calorie friendly. For the Thai soup paste, I used Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste which has almost identical ingredients and my final change was to up the amount of peas from 1/2 cup to a full cup.
I think this would have been much too thin without the above changes. The flavours were nice with just a touch of heat. Lovely served over noodles or rice.
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Website: The Blissful Chef
I love zucchini noodles so I'm always looking for new ways to dress and eat them. The avocado gave this salad dressing a lovely creaminess. I may cut down a touch on the dijon next time around. I had to add double the amount of water to get the ingredients to blend but I'm very happy with the flavour and zip in this salad.
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Website: The Blooming Platter of Vegan Recipes
thebloomingplatter.blogspot.com
This review is for the Sage-Scented White Beans which is part of the total dish. I was missing a key ingredient for the Cheddar-Spinach Sauce so I'll leave that for another day.
The beans were fantastic. The orange pepper gave them a lovely peachy colour and the fresh sage added a distinctive flavour. I pureed the bean mixture in the food processor so my onion-phobic daughter would try some. We ate this slathered on toasted baguette and I didn't want to eat anything else all day.
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Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings---And 7 Steps to End Them Naturally
By Neal D. Barnard M.D.
St. Martin's Griffin - 2004
Very easy treatment of tempeh. If you like barbecue sauce you should like this.
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Super fast and very chocolatey. I had to add a little liquid (soy milk) to get the blender to start and run.
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I didn't like these at all. The flavour wasn't bad with a hint of maple and walnut but these brownies were ruined by the texture which was extremely tough and chewy.
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Website: Chocolate and Beyond
I thought I'd give these vegan fishcakes a try in order to tempt my notoriously picky daughter with something new. I had a feeling that the Panko encrusted, pan fried coating would appeal and I wasn't wrong.
The "fishy" flavour comes from kelp powder, something I've never used and it did give these patties a distinct seafood taste. Texturally, the mixture was quite uniform and sticky. I think adding the cooked potatoes to the bean mixture in the food processor may have been overkill. Next time, I'll mash the potatoes by hand. I had to add double the amount of gluten flour in order to be able to handle them.
We all enjoyed these, a definite comfort food!
Edited to add: I accidentally used 1kg of potatoes instead of 1 pound! They still turned out great but that may be why I needed double the flour.
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Color Me Vegan: Maximize Your Nutrient Intake and Optimize Your Health by Eating Antioxidant-Rich, Fiber-Packed, Color-Intense Meals That Taste Great
By Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Fair Winds Press - 2010
Crispy, tender strips of seasoned pan-fried tofu. I wasn't sure if I would like the suggested smoked paprika but it added an interesting flavour. I intended on making a dipping sauce but we managed to finish most of the plate as a snack before that happened.
I cut the tofu into approximately 1/4" wide and thick strips, like french fries. The recipe did not specify a size but this worked well.
useful (3)
Anything that gets my child to eat zucchini gets a thumbs up from me! She especially enjoyed the chewy crust that formed on the outside of the loaf.
I baked the loaves for 55 minutes but maybe should have pulled them out to check a bit earlier. They were still moist and not too sweet. The perfect snack with a cup of afternoon tea or coffee.
I almost doubled the amount of cocoa because I didn’t think ¼ cup was sufficient chocolatey goodness for two loaves but in the end decided to follow the recipe as written (at least for the first time). After tasting the loaf, I think I will up the cocoa quotient next time round.
useful (4)
A refreshing burst of summer in a glass! I cut the sugar almost in half and it was the perfect, slightly sweet-tart accompaniment to some salty snacks.
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This was not as successful as I'd hoped. I think to acheive that delicious melding of spices with the tomato gravy that Indian sauces so often have, five minutes is nowhere near enough time to cook down fresh tomato with the spices. I added the chopped tomatoes a little early, near the end of the potato cooking process and it still had no effect. I also added a touch of sweetener because I found the fresh tomato too acidic. I'm hoping the leftovers taste better once the flavours have more time to combine.
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Quite a bit of cooking time for such a simple recipe but it was yummy slathered on mashed potatoes. I don't know if I would classify this as a gravy because it didn't have a very thick consistency.
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This was the surprise hit of dinner. I was surprised at how good the creamy hunks of avocado contrasted so beautifully with the acidic dressing and raw carrots. And every time I tasted a bite with roasted sesame seeds it was an extra hit of flavour. This salad is definitely going on the regular rotation for being easy to prepare, having relatively few ingredients and great flavour.
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Okay, I challenge anyone (who has a sweet tooth) to be able to look at the scrumptious photo of these cookies in the book and not run to your kitchen and make them immediately. When I saw them, I didn't happen to have any maraschino cherries on hand and had to wait until the weekly shopping was done.
My cookies, turned out alot darker than those pictured in the book and they had a distinctly cake-like texture. The flavour is very rich and chocolatey. The melted chocolate combined with cherry syrup drizzled on top added another hit of dark chocolate. I wonder if the texture was more cake like because I was forced to use half sugar and half liquid sweetener but they were still very good, and so cute with the half cherries nestled on top.
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I wavered between giving this soup 3 or 4 stars but my extremely picky daughter actually loved it. The curry flavour was quite strong and the apple very subtle. I thought the soup did taste better after sitting for a while in the pot. I think when I make it again, I will decrease the curry powder a touch.
The preparation was quick and simple and there are few ingredients so that's a definite plus.
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The fragrance of this rice while cooking is extraordinary. It had wonderful coconut flavour and even though I used the same basmati rice I normally do the grains did not stick together which was nice. Great to accompany an Asian inspired meal.
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This stew was really beautiful and delicious. It's hearty, earthy, colourful, a little spicy and the yams add a touch of sweetness. I forgot the mango but it was fine without. I also had to add more liquid to the pot, at least a cup when I added the beans.
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Easy Indian Cooking
By Suneeta Vaswani
Robert Rose - 2004
This dish is even more delicious with a combination of potatoes and sweet potatoes.
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Website: Elena's Pantry
This was a quick, simple and tasty soup to prepare using coconut milk, stock, lime and cilantro for flavour. Next time I make it I may add some tofu, more veggies and perhaps a little chili sauce to bump it up a notch but it's still very good as is.
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Website: Fatfree Vegan Kitchen
These patties have great flavour with a bit of kick from the cayenne. I used 1/2 cup of cilantro in place of 1/4 fresh parsley. The mixture was quite moist before they went into the oven but not so much that I couldn't form patties. I didn't love the texture after baking, they were a little dry on the outside and mushy like mashed beans on the inside but since I have no quarrel with the taste I'm giving these a four out of five. They would probably be improved by pan frying in a bit of oil and perhaps not processing the hell out of the beans to start with.
Note: I did not make the accompanying tahini sauce as I had other saucy sides so the review is for the patties only.
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Website: Fatfree Vegan Kitchen
This was an excellent tofu scramble. I love kale and am always looking for interesting ways to incorporate more of it into my diet. This recipe has quite a different flavour profile from my typical tofu scramble. The seasonings are smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, salt, garlic and nooch. I cut back on the amount of smoked paprika because I just like a hint of it and used regular paprika for the remainder. A really nice change and a great way to get lots of veggies into a breakfast dish.
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Get It Ripe: A Fresh Take on Vegan Cooking and Living
By jae steele
Arsenal Pulp Press - 2008
These muffins are entirely sweetened with dates so if you are looking for a sugar free muffin these are a pretty good bet. They were moist with a fairly mild flavour. I think I would have liked them to be a touch sweeter so next time I may add a bit of maple syrup to the date mixture.
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This dip couldn't be any simpler. Just throw four or five ingredients into the food processor and Bam! A yummy, thick, garlicky dip. I recently made a slightly different version of this recipe that had lemon in it and wasn't sure this was going to be as good without it but the fresh parsley added a nice freshness. I really like both versions.
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This is exactly what I wanted to eat! A creamy, tomato soup with a touch of heat.
The recipe specified soaking the cashews for 4 to 8 hours but I didn't feel like waiting so I only soaked them for about 40 minutes while the soup was simmering. It was just enough time to soften them slightly and they added a lovely texture to the soup.
I also accidentally added 2 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of 2 teaspoons so I increased the amount of tomatoes to balance out the sweetness.
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The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: Over 175 Delicious Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes
By Lindsay S. Nixon
BenBella Books - 2011
Okay, not bad, not great. It satisfied my craving for baked macaroni and cheese but the sauce was lacking something.
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I'm not a huge carrot fan but I do love roasted carrots and the occasional carrot stick. The lovely colour of the soup in the photo of this recipe seduced me into giving it a shot. I was also curious about the addition of instant oatmeal for creaminess. I'm afraid this soup was a complete flop. I thought it was awful and wouldn't feed it to my worst enemy. It was creamy but not in a good way and the flavour was very one dimensional.
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I liked the mix of spices; cumin, thyme, paprika, cayenne and pepper but I'm afraid this recipe fell down in the texture department. The burgers were mushy and fell apart very easily. I left them in the oven for an extra 12 minutes in the hopes of crisping and browning the outsides but the experiment was not very successful. I think something is missing from the ingredient list to help bind and firm these up.
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