Meet Your New Favourite Vegan Cookbook: Vegan on a Budget by Olivia Biermann
I wish I’d had this book a couple of years ago when I was beginning my exploration into plant-based food and was constantly struggling to pull together a menu of healthy dishes, quick snacks, and sandwiches. With Vegan on a Budget, Olivia Biermann has succeeded in creating an easy to navigate ‘go-to’ guide of uncomplicated, speedy, and tasty meals that can be easily recreated by those with limited knowledge of cookery and plant-based cuisine.
When starting on the plant-based food path, I was challenged to create even the simplest of things such as a ‘cheese’ sauce, a yummy tofu dish, or a quick dairy-free pudding, and I found researching and testing recipes to be both challenging and time-consuming. Designing a menu consumed me, and before I knew it, cooking – my passion – became a tiresome chore. But it doesn’t have to be like that; vegan food doesn’t have to be fussy, and with a sensible list of store cupboard essentials and logical indexing, Vegan on a Budget provides everything you need to prepare healthy meals without spending the whole day in the kitchen.
From the simple ‘cheese’ sauce on page 19 – the best I’ve ever tasted – to the inspired crispy tofu (page 22), Olivia provides the basic recipes you need to go on and make exciting dishes like the Mac and Cheese Bake (page 166) and Sweet Chilli Tofu and Rice Bowls (page 174).
Mac and Cheese Bake (page 166)
Photo credit: Brilynn Ferguson
There’s also a vast assortment of desserts to top off a fantastic meal. I’m not a dessert fan myself, but have fallen in love with the versatile Chocolate Chia Pudding (page 81) that can be served as a tasty dessert, as a base for a granola breakfast bowl, or even as a topping for summer fruits. That’s three recipes in one, which has to be a winner.
Chocolate Chia Pudding (page 81)
Photo credit: Brilynn Ferguson
The Bottom Line: 5/5 Brookie Stars
If you’re transitioning to plant-based eating or are wanting to cook something straightforward and delicious for that vegan or vegetarian friend, then this book is for you. I’ve been making plant-based food for a couple of years now and I still found that the book offered many great recipes that I had to try out; most of which are now regularly featured on my weekly food menu.
Don’t just take my word for it, Why not grab yourself a copy and see how easy it can be to make some amazing plant-based foods that your friends and family will rave about? Or kick it up a notch by pairing one of those great vegan dishes with a fantastic book and making it a BooknBrunch event! Learn more about what it’s like to host an event with us here. You can see what Olivia Biermann is cooking up next by following her inspirational blog, Instagram, and Youtube channels. To learn more about Vegan on a Budget and where to find it, head over to Olivia’s website.
With 30 years of general management experience in the global insurance industry and having lived in 4 countries, Jacqui now spends her time between London and New York where she continues to pursue her passion for writing, food, books and travel.
A Reiki practitioner, yogi and huge animal advocate, her home isn’t complete without a furbaby or three. In addition to being a BooknBrunch contributor, she writes for industry publications.
Favourite book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Favourite brunch dish: avocado toast with tomato and chilli
