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Viva Vegan!: 200 Authentic and Fabulous Recipes for Latin Food Lovers

by Terry Hope Romero

Description
As coauthor of the phenomenally successful cookbooks Veganomicon and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, Terry Hope Romero has long been one of the most popular vegan chefs around. Now, in her first solo cookbook, Romero opens the world of Latin flavor to vegans and foodies alike. Viva Vegan! expands the palates of anyone looking for a way to add fresh, seasonal ingredients and authentic spice to their meals without relying on animal products. A proud Venezuelan-American, Romero’s enthusiasm for her culture shines through every recipe.
Viva Vegan! covers every aspect of Latin cooking across the Americas: refreshing bebidas (drinks), vibrant ensaladas, hearty empanadas, nourishing stews, and one-dish wonders. Learn the basics—how to make the perfect tamale, salsa to complement any dish, and beans from scratch—plus special treats like flan, churros, and more.
Complete with gorgeous color photos, Viva Vegan! is the ultimate guide to authentic and inspired new Latin cuisine.

Review
Before getting this book, the most adventurous I got with Latin cooking at home was making my own burritos. I seriously had no idea what I was missing out on! I've had this book for only a couple of weeks, but I can't stop making food from this cookbook - everything has been so absolutely amazing. So far I've made blean bean and plantain pupusas with curtido and latin tomato sauce, chorizo-potato taquitos, calabacitas, pan-grilled vegetables in chile lime beer, fresh tomato salsa, real brown sugar limeade, refried beans, latin shredded seitan, caraotas, cilantro lime rice, and yellow rice with garlic. The refried beans are KILLER, the cilantro lime rice is the best rice I've ever made. I think it's better than Chipotle's cilantro lime rice. The chorizo seitan sausages are absolutely delicious too, and I've started incorporating them in my tofu scramble. The only recipe I didn't have complete success with was the red steamed seitan, and I think I either needed to steam it longer, or it might not have turned out because my chickpea flour is old (it turned to mush when I made the latin shredded seitan). The only reason why I haven't tried any of the desserts is because I also got the new Vegan Cookies cookbook at the same time, but I'm sure I'll change that soon enough. I've got my eye on that tres leches cake, yummmm.

P.S. The latin tomato sauce is so delicious I've taken to buying fresh tortillas from Buford Highway Farmer's Market (up way north in Atlanta) and just dipping them in there. Sooooo delicious, and a great snack.
Julia L. Spriggs (Amazon.com)