Spookily good vegan treats
WITH vampires and werewolves on the prowl and witches brewing up all manner of animal body parts, the celebration of Halloween doesn’t exactly scream plant-based diet.
But vegan food blogger and author Niki Webster really knows her tricks in the kitchen and has conjured up these treats especially for us.
“I’m always thinking of new recipes,” says Niki. “I get inspiration from everywhere. It’s the layers of flavour that makes plant-based food satisfying and exciting.
“Coming up with the halloween recipes was such fun.
“I’d usually veer towards more savoury food but doing something sweet allowed me to get really creative.”
Niki’s new book, Be More Vegan, is a guide to the vegan lifestyle for young people featuring facts, tips and more than 50 recipes.
“I have made the recipes super accessible and very family-friendly,” she says. “It’s not stuff that’s going to be really scary or complicated or put anyone off. But at the same time it is proper cooking – you are using fresh vegetables and spices.
“Everything in the book is checked by a dietician and there is loads of information about the nutrients you need to have as a vegan,” she says.
Niki learned to cook by experimenting in the kitchen with support from her mum and says it is an ideal way for young chefs to start creating.
“That’s how you learn,” she says. “Not everything is going to be perfect but at least if you understand how ingredients work, you can discover what the cooking processes are, which flavours you love and how it all works together.
“My book is full of really familiar stuff like fajitas, vegetable bake, sausage casserole and falafel burgers,” she adds. “The recipes are not just minus the meat – so you’re not missing out.
“This is really tasty food that everyone will like.”
Be More Vegan is out on October 29 (Welbeck Children’s, £14.99, Age 12+)
For more of Niki’s tasty food see rebelrecipes.com