Prime Book Review: 'Viva Vegan' by Terry Hope Romero

I grabbed Viva Vegan by Terry Hope Romero a few weeks ago, and one of the many reasons that I bought this book was to discover Latin cooking. I have prepared many different types of foods from a variety of cultures, but I have not fully experimented with Latin cooking. And since traditional Latin fare involves a lot of meat, this cookbook is a find for the vegan cook.

Another big reason that I bought this book is for Terry's corn-tortilla recipe. I love corn tortillas and have a package of store-bought ones in my fridge at all times. Now I keep a bag of Masa Harina in there and make them myself. They are quick and easy to make. And the flavor of homemade tortillas is delicious-sweeter and fresher, kind of like freshly baked bread straight out of the oven.

Terry's marinades for tofu, tempeh, and seitan are easy, delicious, and different from those in my usual Asian and Mexican recipes. Try the Zesty Orange Mojo Baked Tofu—with a mixture of orange and lime juices, it's citrusy and tangy, with just the right amount of spice. It's my new favorite marinade.

Terry includes many variations on black beans, my favorite of the bean family. And since I love my mushrooms, I found a recipe that incorporated both of these: Portobello Feijoada and a Brazilian black-bean stew with portobello mushrooms and seitan. This is an awesome meal that's rich, flavorful, and perfect for stuffing into those homemade corn tortillas.

Along with beans, corn and quinoa are staples in the Latin pantry. Several quinoa recipes are included in this book. I tried the quinoa salad with spinach, olives, and roasted peanuts, and I wasn't disappointed. The savory, fresh corn pancakes with vegan cheese and avocado salsa were delicious for dinner.

There is a whole chapter on tamales and another on empanadas. Both are a bit time-consuming, but they're not difficult. And it's great to have some easy-to-follow vegan recipes for some of those classic foods that are not usually found on vegan dinner tables. A tamale dinner party sounds like fun to me, especially accompanied by some of the fantastic drinks that Terry devotes a whole chapter to. I may follow the tamales with the chocolate orange spice cake with dulce de batata, which is an easy-to-make sweet-potato jam that is spread between the cake's layers.

If you are thinking of buying a new cookbook, this is definitely one to add to your collection. It's full of different and exciting new recipes, with unusual flavors and fun combinations. If you liked Terry Hope Romero's coauthored cookbooks, you will love her new solo book.

Have you tried any of these recipes? If so, what did you think?