HUNGRY SOUL BY JACQUES BRENNAN

By Sara Darling

There might be sceptics out there who think that vegans (poor things) just eat beans and rice, but the only type of vegetable that those uneducated folk eat is probably a fried potato chip! 

Vegans (and vegetarians) just have to be a little experimental in the kitchen, and having been a veggie lover for decades, I was quite looking forward to expanding my culinary prowess in the kitchen. So donning my favourite pinny, I got stuck in to the Hungry Soul cookbook by Jacques Brennan over the Christmas holidays.

So while everyone else in my vicinity (I was in Wales after all), was tucking into sausage rolls and cheese on sticks, I was embracing avocados, and spicy salsa. I’ve never been much of a Jamie- and the idea of flesh in my fridge repulses me, but I was keen to find out what I could conjure up beyond cauliflower cheese, and Quorn chilli. 

Hungry Soul is a book for beginners. Each page has drawings and very simple recipes- which to be honest was perfect for me. I don’t like waiting when I’m hungry, and I like to taste as I go.. So it might appear veganism is good for those Kitchen Nazis like myself!!! 

Split into sections- including soups, salads, stir fries, sweets and sides (and other things which don’t begin with S!) I could easily get tempted with the likes of colcannon, pea and potato masala and satay noodles- and that’s with the ingredients I already have at home. 

If I did feel like slipping off the vegan- wagon for a while, a lot of the recipes can be adapted to use animal based products, and who knows whether they would taste better with cheese? 

There’s enough recipes to get you through the rest of Veganuary and beyond, so there is no time better to jump on the plant based bandwagon. Now who wants to come round mine for some cauliflower chowder? 

Hungry Soul- how to cook 100% Vegan by Jacques Brennan is out now on Troubador. 

Buy yours here with 15% Veganuary discount.