Feed Me Vegan: Lucy Watson

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The focus of this book is on vegan comfort food with veganised versions of classic meals such as pancakes, pizzas, lasagne, burgers, curries and cakes. It’s got all of the popular choices that us Brits tend to serve up but it doesn’t seem ‘samey’; Lucy clearly has a flair for flavour and the recipes really nail this down. Take, for example, Watson’s play on the traditional roast dinner. Once a definitive symbol of Britain’s firm ‘meat and two veg’ mind-set, there’s now no reason why vegetarians and vegans can’t put their own spin on a savoury show-stopper on Sundays. Pour the milk into a bowl and add the sugar, flour, nutritional yeast, cinnamon and salt. Whisk well.

The past decade has seen some of the biggest shifts in opinions regarding plant-based diets. Vegetarianism and veganism are no longer alien concepts to the general public – and for long-time advocates like Lucy Watson, the current climate is a brave new world for meat- and diary-free foodies. And now she’s hoping to make it even easier to go vegan, with her new cookbook, Feed Me Vegan, designed especially to help beginners make the transition. What is this recipe good for? I think this would work really well in the slow cooker for a weeknight meal. What would I change? Sadly the cooking time didn’t work for this recipe in my oven. The recipe calls for 35-50 mins. Mine took longer than this; around 55 minutes until the skewer came out clean.

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The first book was mainly just finding all the main recipes that I really loved, and I knew a lot of people loved, and just replacing them with vegan versions using all the stuff I had just discovered,” she says. “The second book is just a progression of that. I’ve discovered new things, new foods, new methods; there are probably a few healthier options in there, everything’s got a timescale of how long it takes to make each recipe which is something we found a lot of people wanted. Take the fairly nondescript sounding ‘Hot Chocolate’ recipe for example, which includes cacao (standard), cinnamon (nice twist), amaretto (oh yeah) and Baileys (GOOD LORD). If I hadn’t just polished off my bottle of vegan Bailey’s Irish Cream I would have nailed that recipe. What skill level is it targeted at?

But living a vegan lifestyle means it’s not just about the food – Lucy never wears leather and only uses beauty products that aren’t tested on animals and don’t contain animal by-products. The new dessert offering is comprised of a fruity Mango Cheesecake and a silky Chocolate Pie, both of which are vegan, gluten-free and nut-free. How complex was the recipe? Pretty easy. There were a few steps but nothing complicated – sauté onion, garlic and chilli with the spices, add beans and tomatoes and simmer for 15 mins. People ask me questions about it on a daily basis and I’m very responsive because I want to encourage people. First impressions? The recipe looks like a fairly standard bean chilli, not overly complicated so it might be good for a weeknight meal.Enough to turn the head of even the most dedicated carnivore, Feed Me Vegan is full of tasty, satisfying vegan fare which will have everyone asking for seconds. Whether you're already a full-time vegan, considering making the switch or just trying to cut down on meats, fish and dairy, this book is sure to add new favourite recipes to your repertoire. With a brand-new book and a blossoming business behind her, Lucy Watson is making the case for veganism in an era where the stigma around meat- and dairy-less diets is giving way to new ideas and – best of all – tasty new dishes! The Feed Me Vegan meals, which include shepherds pie, spicy chili, and curry, were put on shelves in 155 Waitrose & Partners stores across the country last October. But if you’re not London-based and you don’t have any veggie stores near you, many restaurants like Zizzi and Pizza Express have great vegan menus, and Pret a Manger is fantastic for vegan lunch options.