Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed
Chef-author Terry (Vegan Soul Kitchen, 2009; The Inspired Vegan, 2012) introduces the concept of food justice, a philosophy that he defines as good food being an everyday right, and not just a privilege. His book is also an introduction to the various ways (more than 100, in short) that African cuisine can go mainstream. Pointing out the high incidence of African Americans with diet-preventable diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, Terry sets out to help correct that situation one meal at a time, jumping right into specific dishes and their preparation. The first section is about spices and sauces. For instance, familiar seasonings tango with pomegranate-peach barbecue sauce, while slow-braised mustard greens dance with an all-green spring slaw. Each recipe, interestingly, includes at least one soundtrack recommendation, which frequently is also accompanied by a film or book suggestion. His sidebars cover, among other topics, toasting whole spices and cooking black-eyed peas and millet. He’s careful not to overemphasize (and overproselytize) the vegan nature of his recipe collection; instead, he focuses on flavor, on coaxing out unique smells and tastes. --Barbara Jacobs