Vegan Slow Cooker Recipes Kathy Hester
1,904 reviews 190 followers
It's not easy finding good tasting recipes for vegan crockpot cooking. I've tried most come out mushy, lacking any distinguishable flavor. I looked through all the recipes, there is a good variety. I tried a couple recipes, Baigan Bharta (eggplant curry) and the Atomic Pecan Loaf, both were good and still held some flavor even after such long cooking time. Both could have been made quickly without using a crockpot. I also tried a couple that not one person out of five liked, Sage Walnut Pesto Squash, and Scrambled Tofu with Peppers. These tasted bland over cooked and had off textures. I found the ingredients easy to find but I live in a major metropolitan area, and can get to a specialty store easily. I did like the way the author set up a night before time table of prep work but why use a crockpot for such quick cooking dishes ? I cook and have made many of these dishes not using a crockpot. I don't see any time saving use for a crockpot for most of them, it actually takes away from the dish by over cooking. If you are dying to use your crockpot perhaps this is the book for you. The pictures are beautiful, the set up of the recipes wonderful, the spices are there, I might use this in the future minus the slow cooker.
616 reviews 68 followers
My friend, Tracey, loaned me this. Oh, I think I am in for a real treat! I am looking forward to trying out some of these recipes this weekend. It is hot out. I love a slow cooker and not heating up the house. Mojito PINTO beans. pg.69. Yes, please! Lime, rum, mint all come together to create a bold flavor in these beans. It's what's for dinner!!!!! I have rum here already..of course! I have fresh mint in the garden. I have limes in the fridge!! I am getting hungry! I seriously think this is one of the best cookbooks I have right now. I have loved everything I have made so far. It is hot, hot, hot in Alabama here in August/September. I won't turn on the oven. I love my crockpot! This is my friend's book, but, I will be getting my own copy later this month. YUM!
- summer-challenge-2020 vegan
2,636 reviews 1,128 followers
So, I don't have a slow cooker and might never get one. My building's electricity is such that I wouldn't trust leaving it plugged in when I wasn't home. A friend gave me a pressure cooker years ago and so far it's gone unused. I think the same thing might happen to its opposite, although this book sure makes it tempting to get and use a slow cooker. Why am I giving this book 5 stars when most dishes list at least one ingredient I don't like and there is not a photo for every recipe, and I don't have a slow cooker? (not yet, anyway) Because it's a fabulous addition to the genre of vegan cooking and a wonderful book for cooks who do have slow cookers. I love the layout and organization, the author's instructions and tips. The cooking directions are clear and yet causal, and I loved them. I appreciate that when applicable recipes are listed as soy free and/or gluten free, and so many of the recipes are both. I like that the author is frugally minded. The photos that are there are mouthwatering, and for me amazing that they were cooked in a slow cooker. And she frequently mentions whole grains as an option. I'm big on whole grains, not just for health but I find the taste and texture more satisfying than that of refined grain flours/foods. And then there are the recipes in the staples and the breads sections. Those are the ones that make it extremely temping to get a slow cooker. They might convince me to get one when my budget allows for it. Some of the staples recipes that have me longing for a slow cooker are dry beans from scratch, preserve-the-harvest tomatoes, beyond easy baked potatoes, any-occasion roasted garlic, fall harvest fruit butter, and perfect pumpkin purée. Some of the breads equally tempting are chock-full of veggies cornbread, foolproof focaccia, whole-wheat pumpkin gingerbread, crusty rosemary breakfast bread, wholesome chocolate chip banana bread. A smattering of other recipes that caught my eye (and most of the soups and stews would be perfect for me without the frequently included chicken flavored vegan bouillon) are Italian eggplant casserole with cashew-tofu ricotta, creamy butternut squash risotto, fantastic faux mashed potatoes, creamy scalloped potatoes, big pot of oatmeal, be-my-Valentine chocolate oatmeal, have-it-your way brownies, and berrylicious biscuit-topped fruit cobbler. The photo for that last one completely sold me. I can understand why the author has multiple slow cookers. It's easy to make an entire meal of many dishes in these handy cookers. I love the quote from John Robbins at the beginning of the book. That man is the reason I went vegan when I did. I'm glad I own this one. Even without a slow cooker the recipes give me ideas for many things I can make. And the recipes that have one or two or three ingredients I don't like (I guess I am a picky eater), well, they're easy to tweak. I also suspect I'd want to add more seasoning to many dishes, and spicy and hot peppers to some, and the author even specifically mentions how and when to check for seasoning strength preferences. Contents: Introduction: Slow Cooker Love
Chapter 1: Slow Cooker Basics
Chapter 2: Staples You'll Want to Know: Make Your Own Bouillon, Seitan, Sauces, and More
Chapter 3: Simmering Soups That Cook While You're Away
Chapter 4: Steamy Stews and Curries That Save the Day
Chapter 5: Casseroles (and Loaves) You Wish Your Mother Had Made
Chapter 6: Easy-to-Make Pasta and Grain-Dishes
Chapter 7: Mouthwatering Meatless Mains
Chapter 8: Super-Easy Side Dishes
Chapter 9: Sandwich, Tortilla, and Taco Fillings
Chapter 10: Beautiful Breads Not From Your Oven
Chapter 11: Party Snacks That Cook While You're Getting Ready
Chapter 12: Breakfasts Worth Waking Up For
Chapter 13: Decadent Desserts and Delightful Drinks
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
- cookbook goodreads-author non-fiction
Author 6 books 225 followers
This is a fantastic cookbook with lots of interesting recipes for vegans, vegetarians, and even their carnivorous counterparts. I was looking for a good vegetarian crockpot cookbook because my other one is a bit bland. I was immediately sold on this one for a handful of reasons: Hester actually makes use of fake meat in her recipes, which adds some nice variety; the collection has a broad range of unique recipes (not just the regular stews and soups, but baked goods in a crock pot?! + lots of Indian-inspired dishes); all the recipes are broken down into what needs to be done the night before and what's done day of; and lastly, there is just an abundance of practical tips. Hester finally sold me on pre-slow cooking and freezing beans for later use, for instance. She also has a stupendous recipe for "chickeny" bouillon that I've stocked up on and used in all sorts of things (non slow cooker recipes included). When I get ambitious, I plan to follow her instructions for making my own fake chicken and beef. Highly recommended!
- 2011 cook-books domestic-crafts
674 reviews 883 followers
I have to admit that I don't have a slow cooker and I made all the recipes that I tried from this book (more than 50% of them - just about all the ones that didn't rely on alcohol for main flavours or resemble very meaty dishes) using conventional cooking methods, which involved some rethinking and redesigning on my part. I probably missed out on some slow-cooker benefits like melty soft veggies and not having to stand at the stove, so you might like this book a lot more than me. I also tended to add spices and chillies whenever possible. There were lots of things in here that came out really good. I'm not a meat-replacement person, but I loved the sausage crumbles and the recipes that used them. The pot pie and shepherd's pie went down really well here. Loved the cornbread. I will definitely keep using the technique of making granola, flavoured nut mix and cereal snack mix in a pan over low heat instead of in the oven. Oh, and putting cardamom in granola is inspired IMHO. Ironically this book got me to push the limits of what I could do with basic equipment... The author has a nice gentle style and the recipes are well written, clearly laid out, easy to follow, photographed attractively.
- food
528 reviews 47 followers
Finally inspired to buy a slow cooker to make cooking huge batches of beans easier, I had to get a cookbook to go alongside. The layout of the recipes is helpful, telling you if you need a smaller cooker or to double or triple a recipe if you only have a larger one. She also includes simple steps (like sauteing) that need to be done the night before. I haven't made very much yet, but there are a ton of recipes that look good. So far I've made: ~Dry Beans from Scratch 5*
~Split Pea & Lentil Soup 4*
~Creamy Potato Soup 2*, not a lot of flavor, but it was due to my broth
~Pumpkin & White Bean Lasagna 5*, this is off-the-charts deliciousness!
~Spinach Artichoke Dip 4*, this was a chunky dip, a bit odd texture-wise for me, but the leftovers were scrumptious tossed with penne and topped off with cauliflower ricotta.
- delectable
172 reviews 11 followers
This book inspired me to buy a crockpot and I haven't turned back. It is probably not for a person who is new to being vegan or vegetarian--or looking for specific brand recommendations and step-by-step but as someone who has been vegetarian for 5 years and has never used a cookbook I had no problem making the recipes. Everything I have made has been super tasty, including the granola. I've also been inspired to make my own staples like cooking and freezing beans, sauce, etc. from scratch. I haven't tried any of the recipes that use fake meat. This book has changed the way I think about cooking and is a perfect companion to Wildly Affordable Organic.
- cookbooks
69 reviews 21 followers
The three things I've made so far tasted really good but I had to make several educated guesses. This book skimps on the directions, which I feel is pretty unacceptable for a cookbook. Also, most cookbooks with recipes that call for ethnic or health food store ingredients give specific details guiding the reader on exactly what to buy, often listing particular brands and suggesting stores that carry the items. This book just says "soy chorizo" and "throw it in the slow cooker". Do I mince it, crumble it, what am I supposed to do here?
- cookbooks
2,981 reviews 156 followers
Read
Edited May 11, 2017We recently upgraded our slow cookers to a model that has three different sizes that can be hooked together or used separately. We've had some great successes using the slow cookers on the super busy swim team/soccer practice days and for entertaining large groups. I am not vegan, but enjoyed some of these recipes so much I now make the vegan version instead-- and the kids still like it. I also enjoyed using these recipes as sides in one of the smaller slow cookers to feel like I had a little more to put on the table for my four hungry guys. The Faux Mash Potatoes, Chock-Full of Veggies Cornbread, and the Subtly Spicy Peanut Coconut Fondue are among my favs in this book. For readers interested in slow cooking I would also recommend the America's Test Kitchen Slow Cooker Revolution book that has some really great technique advice that can improve your success with any slow cooker recipe! – Alexis S.
- adult cookbook nonfiction
161 reviews
A Little Disappointing There are a few recipes from this book that have made it into our meal plans; however, I had hoped for more. A lot of the recipes call for meat replacements and ingredients that are not available at my normal local grocery store. I had really hoped for more recipes using fresh ingredients. Overall, I am glad that I read it. However, I wish that I had checked it out from the library instead of purchasing it.
- vegan
1,162 reviews 47 followers
I'm not a vegan (or even a vegetarian) but I got this cookbook because I wanted to try to make some healthy vegetable main entrees. I was a little disappointed in it. For one thing, I didn't have a smaller crock pot that seems necessary for some of the recipes. I did, however, go out and buy one because of this book. I had wanted more recipes that did not incorporate a meat substitute but it seems like a lot of the recipes in here used meat substitutes. Also, some of the recipes seemed a little odd for a crock pot leave-it-and-go routine. The length of time was shorter and sometimes you had to crack the lid to let water evaporate which I haven't done before. I tried "Southern-Style Green Beans" which I ended up overcooking. I tried "Vodka and Dill-Glazed Baby Carrots" which were okay but probably overcooked there, too. The "Earl Grey Poached Pears" came out fine, although I substituted Good Earth tea.
- food-and-cooking
523 reviews 3 followers
Book 29 2012 Reading Challenge. This cookbook rated okay for me mainly because so mainly of the recipes try to be meat substitutes--using meat substitutes and using names like Chic and Dumplings or Chic Cattiatoria. I felt the philosophy was off. Is it really important to taste like ,be like, but not be meat? Why not just be meat free, dairy free, and whole foods, and be okay with that? Perhaps, because it might be tough to do in a slow cooker. I don't know; this is the first slow cook vegan cookbook I have read.
1,505 reviews 2,295 followers
I already loved my slow cooker, but this book has made me appreciate it even more! So many ideas (much more than the expected soups and stews) and easy-to-find ingredients inside. I like the layout of the recipes and the suggestions of how you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time for optimal time savings (sauteing onions/garlic the night before, etc.) With the variety of recipes inside, I think I will have vegetable inspirations for many many years to come.
- cooking veggie
418 reviews 5 followers
Way too many fake meat substitutes (I'd say 85-90% of the recipes), and not enough focus on legumes, veggies, + whole grains instead. It also lacked creativity with seasonings -- almost every soup recipe called for the same 'chicken' bouillon seasoning as a base. I'll try not to ramble on about the typos I found...
- domesticity
2,137 reviews 58 followers
I found several recipes in this book that I plan to make! Good instructions and photos, and the recipes seem doable.
- 2012 cooking diet-nutrition
444 reviews 4 followers
Really like, will probably buy this one. Made the tea smoked smoked tofu already. Making the pumpkin white bean lasagna tonight.
- vegan
775 reviews 72 followers
The Vegan Slow Cooker: Simply Set It and Go with 150 Recipes for Intensely Flavorful, Fuss-Free Fare Everyone (Vegan or Not!) Will Devour by Kathy Hester is her first book based on her popular blog, but I read her second book first. The second book, Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just for You: More than 100 Delicious One-Pot Meals for Your 1.5-Quart/Litre Slow Cooker is designed for smaller meals, but otherwise the the two books are similar, so I feel like I'm repeating my review. Hester provides an introduction to using slow cookers, something useful to me, someone who has never even turned one on before. The cookbook also includes a basic introduction to spices and ingredients and a chapter on making essentials ("chicken" seitan, beans, sausage). Each recipe includes instructions for night and morning preparations with the assumption the cook will put together the dish in the evening and then put the ingredients in the pot to cook in the morning before starting the day. Each recipe is clearly labeled with preparation time (most 15 to 20 minutes), cook time, and number of servings. There is no nutritional information which doesn't bother me: I wouldn't pay attention anyway, but it might be something others miss. Although the photographs are striking, not every recipe has an accompanying illustration. Chapters include breakfast dishes, soups, stews, main dishes, and desserts. Because I am so picky, only a portion of the recipes interested me, but Ma Pa Tofu and Hearty Faux Steak and Gravy stood out in terms of meals, as did the desserts Have-It-Your-Way Brownies, Slightly Drunken Apples, and Biscuit Topped Fruit Cobbler. Eaters, vegan and non-vegan alike, who are not as picky as I will certainly find more in the pages. ...aka darzy... | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
- food-and-drink vegan
166 reviews 9 followers
We've gotten some ideas from this book which we've then modified, but for the most part haven't loved the recipes as written. I feel like almost everything in here has chicken-flavoured stock (which there is a recipe for) in it -- not a very wide range in terms of spices/flavours -- and there is way too much use of store bought pre-made items like "package of vegan sausage" or "vegan shredded cheddar" in everything. I love using my slow cooker, especially in the winter for stews and soups and chili, but don't see the point in loading it up with packaged foods when so much can be done with just vegetables and spices -- all those packaged items make the recipes needlessly expensive as well.
- cookbooks
7 reviews
I read this when I first started out with plant-based cooking and was relieved the author wrote it in a no-fuss, no-muss style. I'm a very visual person though and found myself wanting more photos; hence, the 3 stars. I would recommend this to your collection if your calendar is jam-packed with busy-ness, are just starting out with your vegan/plant-based journey, and are wanting to keep it all very simple and concise. I've now gotten more confident with my plant-based cooking, so I donated this to a friend who was wanting to make "THE change", but felt completely overwhelmed with doing so.
274 reviews
Impressive. I haven't tried any of the recipes YET, but I've bookmarked a ton of them. I'm not interested in the cheese and meat substitutes, but this book has some great slow cooker recipes. There are tips and tricks, and a pile of gluten-free and soy-free recipes (which I am especially pleased with, since all too often meatless food is loaded with soy.) If you are looking for easy recipes, vegan meals, or wondering what to do with a slow cooker - check out this book!
- cookbooks-and-food
Author 17 books 123 followers
I see about 7-10 recipes but unsure that I can do them all in the slow cooker per se. I am willing to transform some of these ideas on the stove, or in the oven, and can use the slow cooker as well. The recipes seem okay, and wonder how they will taste is most important and cost to prepare and make them.
- adrienna-reads borrowed-book cookbook
80 reviews 1 follower
One of my favorite cookbooks, this has times to prep clearly and accurately listed. Complex flavors from around the world, our family and friends live every single recipe!!! Recipes are crowd-pleasers to meat-eaters and plant-based eaters alike. In a hurry sometimes I make these recipes on the stove top if I forget to cook in the morning and that works, too!
1,004 reviews 10 followers
I thought some of the recipes were really similar and there weren't many that I found to be that unique. I also felt that many of the recipes didn't really feel like a full meal. That said there were some really delicious sounding recipes. This just was not quite what I was hoping for.
152 reviews 15 followers
Everything in this book was good; most recipes I tried were amazing. Nothing had that tinny, overcooked flavor I often associate with the slow cooker. I have become a Kathy Hester groupie, and my crockpot is now on the counter more often than not. Highly recommended.
Author 1 book 1 follower
Attractive book, some decent recipes, very clearly for a US audience, rather too much seitan and meat substitution. Inspiring though.
152 reviews 2 followers
Bookmarked lots of recipes to try. I liked the formatting of the directions and materials. Will edit rating after trying the meals 😀
626 reviews
No super inspirational recipes, but gave me a good base of recipe types to consider should I decide to get a slow cooker at some point.
- food
Good choice for vegan beginners I liked this cookbook. Simple, easy to find ingredients with familiar foods. Good for kids and picky eaters. Would recommend.
- cooking
59 reviews
This is a great book for busy families
Vegan Slow Cooker Recipes Kathy Hester
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/10765560
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