Make Your Own International Cuisine

Make your own international cuisine, and you then don’t have to rely on expensive ready-meals or takeaways which are okay now and then, but too expensive, long-term. We’re a cultural hotpot bunch in England, and not many of us are totally English in origin. So as a result, there is a real cultural mix food. Apparently England’s favourite meal is not a roast dinner, but a curry! But learn how to make your favourite ethnic meals from scratch, it’s empowering.

Avoid certain foods (green veggies, grapefruit) with some medicines. No nuts, seeds and nut/seed butters for young children. Cut carrot sticks/veggie hot dogs lengthwise and again, to avoid choking. Choose palm-oil-free vegan butters. See foods to keep away from pets. 

A More Natural Taste of Europe

1. Vegan Recipes from France: Terrines, Tarte Tatin, Gratin, Omelette, Quiche, Souffle, Crepes, Mousse au Chocolate and Gateau.
2. Vegan Recipes from Spain has recipes for Romesco, Gazpacho, Ajo Blanco, Mushrooms with Sherry, Stuffed Piquillo Peppers, Crispy Veggies with Orange Alioli, Paella, Tortilla and Sweet Treats.
3. Yasou (a fusion of Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine) has recipes for Taramasalata, Haloumi, Lime-infused Feta, Shaskshuka with plant-based eggs, Baked Fasolia Pie, Sapanakopita Tart, Crispy Fried Calamari, Aubergine Maqluba, Coffee Cream Caramel, Kalo Prama (Cypriot Semolina Cake with Lemon Syrup) and Galaktoboureko (baked semolina custard). Mindful Vegan Meals has many recipes (the author is Greek).
4. Vegan Italiano has recipes for Crostini with Marinated Courgette, Spaghetti with Wild Asparagus, Cream of Pumpkin & Potato Soup with Chestnuts & Cherry Strudel. Or read Purezza Vegan Pizza and Veganissimo (Arancini, Artichoke Cream with Hazelnuts, Seitan Osso Bucco, Lasagne, Amaretti, Pannacotta and Tiramisù).

A Natural Taste of Middle East

1. Just Wholefoods Organic Falafel Mix is handy to keep in the cupboard, made from kibbled chickpeas, brown rice flour and a host of spices, onion, sea salt and garlic powder. Serve in a pitta bread with fresh crisp salad and a drizzle of tahini, or on a bed of couscous with spicy vegetable stew.
2. Vegan Recipes from the Middle East has recipes for spicy stuffed veggies, cool fragrant soups, preserves, pilafs, breads, pickles, relishes & pastries.
3. Tahini and Turmeric is by two sisters who have Lebanese and Jewish heritage, live in the US and grew up in Barcelona.

A Natural Taste of the Caribbean

1. Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats: Cinnamon Toast with Strawberries, Chickpea Sweet Potato Falafel, Caribbean Fritters, Chana, Plantain Burger and Carrot Cake Waffles with Cashew Frosting.
2. Caribbean Vegan offers authentic recipes including the author’s own jerk spice mix and Rummy Rum & Raising Ice-Cream. Also read her other book Caribbean Smoothies.

A More Natural Taste of Asia

Zero waste chopsticks are sold at Yuggen or Shlurple.

1. Jackfruit & Ginger offers 90 recipes from India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and China.). Also read Vegan Street Food (by a former Masterchef finalist). Recipes include Tom Yum Soup.
2. Vegan Thai Kitchen has 75 recipes by a mother and daughter who run a Thai restaurant. Includes Lotus Root Tom Yum Soup.

A Natural Taste of the Far East

1. The Chinese Vegan Kitchen has regional recipes (Canton, Hunan, Peking, Shanghai, Szechuan, Taiwan, Tibet. Veggie Chinese Takeaway Book (tom yum soup, spring rolls, crispy noodles, sticky rice parcels).
2. Vegan Asian: A Cookbook (China, Thailand, Philippines): dumplings, pho, Fried Rice, Drunken Noodles and Curry Tofu Cakes.
3. Vegan Recipes from Japan (rice, miso, soy sauce, sake, sweet wine mirin & dashi stock). Vegan JapanEasy for tempura, onigiri, mushroom gyoza, Katsu curry, onion ramen, Sichuan Tofu, watermelon mojito & soy sauce butterscotch brownies.

A Natural Taste of India 

1. Heavenly Vegan Dals & Curries is a beautiful book by an Indian woman who lives in The Netherlands. Recipes include hot plantain curry with sugar snaps and lentil pizza (with vegetable overload).
2. Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen has been called one of the best Indian cookbooks. Her e-book Diwali Sweets donates profits to pig sanctuary (semolina crumble, doughnut balls in syrup, saffron fudge).
3. Raika offers delicious Indian food is by chef Romy Gill. Quick meals.
4. Cheeky Food Co offers lovely spice pots, handmade with love from London. The range includes superfood sprinkles & chutneys

A Natural Taste of Africa

1. Teff Love: Ethiopian recipes for a crowd, including injera bread.
2. Afro-Vegan (by a classically-trained US chef who campaigns for food justice for children). Recipes include Smashed Potato Corn Okra, Roselle-Rooibos Drink and Cocoa Spice Cake with Ginger.

A Natural Taste of Latin America

1. La Vida Verde is by a Mexican caterer in California. Make Queso Fresco (fresh cheese), Arbol Chiles with Tomatillo, Handmade Tortillas, Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos, Mushrooms in Green Mole and Coconut Flan. Serve with Kinda Co Nacho Dip.
2. Make your own organic tacos with veggie mince, veggies and seasoning, with Biona Organic Refried Beans (many conventional brands have lard).
3. Rubies in the Rubble Chilli Mayo is vegan, made with chickpea brine water.

A Natural Taste of the Deep South

1. Southern Vegan offers 60 recipes for home-cooked finger-lickin’, rib-stickin’ food with all the taste of traditional, but none of the cholesterol – serve with sweet tea, y’all!
2. Mississippi Vegan is by talented chef Timothy, who grew up on the gulf coast, and found his heart in cooking the Cajun, Creole and southern classics. From dirty pasta and jambalaya to blueberry cobbler and cheesecake, this is not health food, but comfort food!  Use your Choose palm-oil-free vegan butters.
3. Sweet Potato Soul takes the author’s George home cooking then makes it simple, healthy and vegan: coconut collard salad, peach-date BBQ jackfruit sliders, ‘crab cakes’, sweet potato-cinnamon rolls and sweet potato pie.