vegan London

Festive vegan baking class online

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Do you need some baking inspiration for the festive season?

Join Made in Hackney Community Kitchen on Sunday December 13, 2020 between 10am and 1pm for a sensational vegan baking class online (will take place via Zoom with class details sent the day before).

The cost of joining the baking class is £25 (£12 concession) and all funds raised go towards the Made in Hackney community meal service, providing free nutritious, tasty meals to households who need them during these challenging times.

So you’ve got the basic facts and now you want the finer details, right?

Join Bee Berrie (a twice published recipe book author, small business founder (@beesbakery) and expert plant-based baker) to learn how to create incredible plant-based Christmas bakes that look and taste stunning, to enjoy whenever you like during the festive season.

  • Learn how to make a gorgeous spiced vanilla chai cake
  • Techniques for making a dreamy vegan white (or dark) chocolate ganache to frost your cake
  • Make mouth-watering traditional mince pies
  • Learn how to make your own healthier homemade mince meat with apple and beetroot
  • You can freeze and enjoy your chai cake whenever during the festive season
  • Your mince pies will last up to a week in an airtight tin
  • Opportunity to ask Bee questions
  • Recipe handout
  • For ingredients and equipment needed see below

About Bee Berrie

Bee is a twice-published author (Bee’s Brilliant Biscuits and Bee’s Adventures in Cake Decorating), an ex-microbiologist, and the brains behind the best biscuits in London. Bee has supplied bakes to Selfridges and Harrods, become an expert plant-based baker, and transitioned her business to plant-based. She’s also a mother to a bouncy 3-year-old called Joey.

Click here to book a space and check out the ingredients/equipment you will need below.

INGREDIENTS LIST

Homemade mince pies

For the homemade fruit mincemeat:

200 g apples, chopped into small chunks
1 small raw beetroot, finely grated
50g sultanas, currants or raisins
50g dried cranberries
50g dried blueberries
30g chopped almonds
the zest and juice of 1 small orange
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp seeds / nuts of your choice (e.g. chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, millet)
For the pastry:

72 g unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
160 g coconut oil (scoopable // not liquid)*
45-90 ml ice cold water
For the glaze:

50g vegan butter / other vegetable fat
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
Spiced vanilla chai cake with chocolate ganache

The recipe works well as a layer cake (makes 2 x 8 inch rounds, OR 4 x 6 inch rounds (per image), as cupcakes (makes around 14 – 16) or muffins (10 or so), whatever takes your fancy.

HALVE FOR A SMALLER BATCH!

Ingredients:

300 ml soya or oat milk
3 tsp vinegar
200 g plain (not flavoured) soya yoghurt
380 g caster sugar
250 ml plant, nut or vegetable oil
480 g self raising flour (if GF, use 1/4 ground almonds and 2 tsp xanthan gum)
2 tsp vanilla extract
The contents of 2 high quality tea bags, decaf if you prefer
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground cloves / allspice
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
3 tsp baking powder
Two ingredient chocolate ganache / icing (make ahead of class)

Makes enough to fill the middle and ice the top of 1 x 6 inch layer cake or 16+ cupcakes

Ingredients:

135 ml soya milk
200g dark chocolate OR 200g white, dairy free chocolate (available from health food shops or online)
Method:

Melt the ingredients together over a low / medium heat, stirring gently until you have a smooth glossy mixture, do not allow to boil.
Chill until needed, for a few hours or overnight for a firmer, spreadable texture.
EQUIPMENT LIST

For the cake:

Weighing scales
Large bowl
Wooden spoon / spatula
Whisk
Measuring jug
Smaller bowl (to mix milk / yoghurt / vinegar)
Tablespoon
Teaspoon
2 x 6 inch cake tins OR cupcake tray with cases
Parchment / oil / pastry brush (for oiling tins)
Small pan (for melting ganache)
Cooling rack (optional)
Cake board (6 in) or serving plate
Palette knife
For the mince pies:

Weighing scales
Large bowl
Medium sized pan
wooden spoon
chopping board
Knife
Tablespoons and teaspoons
Grater / zester
Cupcake tin (mini or small is fine)
Pastry brush (for oiling tins)

Vegan roast dinner cooking class

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Get ready for a tasty-looking class!

Join Made In Hackney on Sunday November 29, 2020 from 11:30am until 1:30pm for a lesson in cooking that is arriving just in the nick of time.

The two-hour online class will showcase a parsnip and cranberry nut roast (plus all the trimmings) with a flavoursome miso gravy.

That’s Christmas dinner sorted!

The cost of joining the class is £20 (£10 concession). All funds raised go towards supporting the Made In Hackney community meal service providing free nutritious, tasty meals to households who need them during these challenging times.

The class will take place via Zoom with a link being sent prior to the class (recommended to check your junk folder).

Want a little more information about the event?

Join chef Steve Wilson to learn the skills to make a stunning vegan roast dinner with all the trimmings!

The class will include:

  • How to make a next-level Parsnip and Cranberry Nut-Free Nut Roast using roasted seeds and meaty puy lentils, bursting with umami flavours
  • Learn how to make fluffy and crispy yet healthier roast potatoes, using just the right amount of oil
  • Make delicious trimmings including roasted carrots, garlic & mustard sprouted broccoli, and flavoursome miso gravy
  • Opportunity to ask Steve questions
  • Recipe handout
  • For ingredients and equipment needed see below

About Steve

Chef Steve Wilson is an extremely popular Made In Hackney cookery teacher (he was also a hit with Jamie Oliver when he visited Made In Hackney!). Steve is the former Head Chef at The Russet, founder of People’s Kitchen community feasts and founder of The Dalston Cola Company.

Refunds: Made In Hackney require a minimum of 24 hours notice for any cancellations or transfers once you have booked onto a class.

Click here to book your ticket now.

INGREDIENTS LIST

Parsnip and Cranberry Nut-Free Nut Roast

Makes 1 very small roast loaf (2 slices)

80g Sunflower seeds
20g Sage and onion stuffing mix
60g Puy lentils (dried)
1 Onion
2 cloves Garlic
20g Miso paste
1 tsp Yeast extract (try to use a low salt version, e.g. Natex or Meridian) or otherwise Marmite
½ teaspoon veg stock powder
1 tablespoon Potato flour (or other thickener like cornflour or tapioca)
pinch Maldon salt (or any sea salt)
Topping (Bottom)

50g Cranberry sauce (try to get a low sugar version if possible e.g. Meridian which uses apple juice to sweeten)
1 Parsnips
Crispy Fluffy Roast Potatoes (serves 2)

500g Potatoes (use a fluffy rather than a waxy variety, like Maris piper)
50ml Cooking oil
Sea salt and pepper
Roast Carrots (serves 2)

2 Carrots
1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
Garlic & Mustard Greens (serves 2)

8 pieces Sprouting broccoli (or you can use regular broccoli)
1 clove Garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Extra virgin olive oil
Miso Gravy (serves 2)

300ml Vegetable stock
20g Miso paste
10g Dijon mustard
25g Cranberry sauce (try to get a low sugar version if possible e.g. Meridian which uses apple juice to sweeten). You can also use a heathlier raspberry jam (e.g. St Dalphour uses apple juice intsead of sugar)
5g Balsamic vinegar (or other vinegar)
½ Onion
1 clove Garlic
1 tablespoon Olive oil
EQUIPMENT LIST

● 1 baking tray
● 1 small Loaf tin (to use for nut roast) – note if you would like to make for more than 2 people you will need to scale the recipe, and the size of your loaf tin appropriately
● 2 frying pans (preferably non-stick)
● 2 mixing bowls
● 2 saucepans with lids (you can wash between uses)
● 1 colander
● 2 wooden spoons
● 1 blender
● 1 chopping board
● 1 knife
● 1 gravy jug

Vegan cheeseboard for Christmas

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I have extremely fond memories of running Hackney Downs Vegan Market, especially when I think of all the wonderful independent traders we helped nurture and grow.

The market was a real hotbed of innovation and vegan advancement.

One brand that I particularly recall as both original and stunningly popular is Kinda Co.

Kinda Co took vegan cheese to another level and it has been exciting to watch their growth ever since. The company combines the familiarity of your favourite cheeses with plant-based innovation/vegan trickery to make products that are simply exceptional.

Think I’m overselling Kinda Co? Then find out for yourself by ordering one of their exclusive cheeseboards for Christmas.

The cheeseboards from Kinda Co are available in three sizes. Choose from The Mini, The Middle, and The Magnificent. Prices range from £27.50 to £68.50.

I was really taken by the look of The Magnificent (pictured above).

The Magnificent includes:

  • Farmhouse 120g
  • Cranberry 120g
  • Summer Truffle 120g
  • Garlic + Herb 120g
  • Smoked Farmhouse 120g
  • Paprika Chilli 120g
  • Red + Black Pepper 100g
  • Sour Creme + Chive Spread 130g
  • Nacho Dip 240g
  • Faux Lox + Dill Creamy Spread 130g
  • Rosebud Preserves Spiced Plum Chutney 198g
  • The Fine Cheese Co. Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt Crackers 125g

It’s a vegan cheese dream come to life!

All Christmas cheeseboards from Kinda Co will be delivered on December 22 and 23, 2020. Someone will have to be at the delivery address to take the parcel. They ship UK wide.

All Christmas cheeseboards are also available to collect in person from the Kinda Co kitchen in Hackney Wick between December 17 and 22 if you are in the area.

Extra note: all block cheeses can be frozen and all cheeses should be kept in the fridge until served.

Click here to order now. They will sell out quickly so don’t think about it for to long!

Follow Kinda Co on Instagram.

Vegan Christmas hamper from London independents

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Wanna put your money where your plant-eating mouth is and support independent business before this disastrous year comes to a close?

Mooshies London has launched a hamper filled with gorgeous vegan items and you can buy it for yourself, a friend, or an enemy. Hey, I don’t know how you get your kicks!

Each company involved in building the hamper is paid retail price for their item, so your money is directly helping these independent companies after what can be best described as an extremely tough year.

Launched from the Mooshies shop on Brick Lane, the hamper can be delivered nationwide. The hamper can currently be ordered via the Mooshies website with delivery scheduled for December 16 and 17, 2020.

Companies and products involved include:

Breakfast pot by @bexfast_
Jackfruit wings by @biffs_uk
Vegan chocolate by @darksugars
Kimchi by @eatchayclub
Cranberry cheese by @kindaco
Pesto sauce by @pickywops
Mochi balls by @vegan_yes
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix by @vidabakery
Pick ‘N’ Mix by @sweetlifeldn @plantpoweredprince
Set of 5 sauces @mooshieslondon
Pick ‘N’ Mix by @mooshieslondon

Each company is a small independent business and local to Mooshies.

Instead of buying the products at cost price, Mooshies is purchasing them at retail to give each company a sale via their hamper. Mooshies takes no profit and does all the labor and dispatching themselves. It’s a way to keep all the small businesses in people’s mind while supporting each of these amazing companies.

Do it. Buy one!

The hamper can be bought via the Mooshies online shop at www.mooshieslondon.com/shop

Vegan things I was given for free this week

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PR gifts flowed through my front door this past week and I wanted to share them with you all.

Maybe there is something you like the look of in the selection below?

If you use Instagram, be sure to click through to the individual posts so you can follow the companies I mention.

Also, be sure to scroll through the posts to see all the photos included.

I was sent a few bags of granola and some granola bars from Keto Hana. I really don’t know what the keto food trend is about, but I do like granola!

Super fancy London restaurant Pied a Terre sent me their vegan feast for two box. It wasn’t exactly the five star experience I was expecting but it was tasty, especially the French onion soup.

The Cornish Sea Salt Co made my week with these gorgeous tubs. I’m very excited about the garlic while Gil has his eye on the chilli salt.

Planthood send vegan meals around the UK and I found this gift of three meals for two people to be pretty impressive.

Easy to follow instructions are included.

The Vurger Co carried on the trend of sending out DIY meal kits. This burger and fries for two was tasty, but a little on the strange side.

I got more lettuce than I needed and the fries needed cooking in a fryer, which I don’t have. Everything was tasty, though.

Anything in this week’s list catch your attention?

Vegan southern Indian cooking class

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The fine people of Made In Hackney have put together another wonderful online cooking class taking place on Thursday November 12, 2020 between 6:30 and 8:30pm.

With a cost of £20 to join (£10 concession), all funds raised go towards the Made in Hackney community meal service providing free nutritious, tasty meals to households who need them during these challenging times. 

What is happening during the class?

Join chef Mark Breen for a tour of the taste, textures and aromas of plant-based Southern Indian cuisine, bursting with flavours from across this incredible region. The class will include:

  • Making a delicious tomato dal.
  • How to make the perfect citranna rice.
  • Making tasty coconut rotis.
  • How to temper and spice dishes using aromatic mustard seeds, curry leaves and chillis to give your dishes an extra burst of flavour.
  • Q&A
  • Recipe handout

Mark Breen is a classically trained chef who loves showing people how to cook what is seasonal, and at its best at any given time. His passion is teaching people how to cook with skill and enjoyment to create beautiful and tasty dishes that are good for your taste-buds, bodies and soul. When Mark isn’t working with Made In Hackney or as a private chef, he’s usually in the kitchen at home perfecting flavour blends or creating ferments and pickles.

Fee: £20 (£10 concession).  All funds raised go towards the Made in Hackney community meal service providing free nutritious, tasty meals to households who need them during these challenging times. 

If you are able to donate more than this, please visit the online fundraiser.

Once you have your ticket booked for the class, check out the ingredients list below to make sure you are prepared ahead of time.

INGREDIENTS LIST  

Andra Pradesh – Tomato dal (Serves 5) 

  • 200g red lentils
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • Spices – 1 teaspoon of cumin powder, coriander power and turmeric powder (or 3 teaspoons of curry powder)
  • 1 tablespoon of oil (preferably coconut oil)
  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced (or half tin of tomatoes)
  • 1 inch of ginger, either chopped very small or grated (or one teaspoon of ginger powder)

    For tempering:
    1 tablespoon oil (preferably coconut oil)
    2 teaspoons black mustard seeds
    1 teaspoon of chilli flakes
    handful of curry leaves (fresh is best but dried is fine) 

Chitranna rice (serves 5) 

  • 300 grams basmati rice, washed
  • 1 of oil (preferably coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds. teaspoon turmeric
  • handful of curry leaves (fresh is best but dried is fine)
  • 2 tablespoons raw peanuts (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Southern Indian coconut rotis (makes about 5)

  • 200 grams plain flour
  • 100 grams desiccated coconut
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • 1-2 green chillies, finely chopped (optional)
  • Sea salt 
  • 100 millilitres water
  • Coconut oil

EQUIPMENT LIST

  • Wooden spoon
  • Chopping board
  • Knife 
  • 3 Sauce pans
  • 1 frying pan
  • Hob
  • Teaspoon and tablespoon measure

Location: Zoom, details to be provided via email (usually the day before the class). Check your junk mail if need be!

Book your spot online now.

Follow Made in Hackney on Instagram.

Order vegan brownies for UK delivery

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Cake or Death bakery in East London sent me a box of the vegan brownies and I gotta say I was blown away.

The brownies were sensational and close to some of the best I’ve tried.

Cake or Death vegan brownies are available to order online and delivered hassle-free through your letterbox.

This paragraph from the Cake or Death website sums up the product perfectly:

Beautifully packaged in a hot pink leopard print, the Cake or Death experience is luxury treat, from it dropping on your doormat, right through to the last mouthful. These aren’t any ordinary brownies. Cake or Death brownies are everything a brownie should be and more; fudgey, indulgent and very moreish, all made with the very best quality plant-based ingredients. Both vegans and non-vegans alike are huge fans. They make the perfect treat for yourself or a friend.

I concur!

Cake or Death has a tempting range of flavours including:

  • Sea Salt X Biscoff
  • Biscoff
  • Sea Salt
  • Raspberry Caramel Blondies
  • Peanut Butter
  • Raspberry
  • Hazelnut
  • Fruit and Nut
  • Orange

Click here to shop for brownies or gift vouchers and be sure to follow Cake or Death on Instagram.

Extra note: European shipping outside the UK can be selected for £5 at checkout and gluten free options exist!

Vegan butcher to open in London

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The team behind Rudy’s Vegan Diner in Camden have cooked up a new surprise for you.

A vegan butcher!

London’s first permanent vegan butcher is opening its doors on World Vegan Day 2020. To celebrate the grand opening, Rudy’s will be giving away 100 pounds of free baycon on the day (November 1, 2020) to celebrate their new bricks and mortar spot on Islington Upper Street.

Wowsers.

Every customer gets a half pound of baycon until it lasts, so get that date in your diary.

Rudy’s Vegan Butcher will be selling homemade pastrami, dirty burger patties, cheeze sauce, and chilli-non-carne. You can recreate the specials you’ve had at Rudy’s and fill your cart with a rack of jack, lobstah salad, meatballs, chick’n lover pate, or shredded BBQ pulled porc.

Make sure you get your Christmas roast turk’y, too!

And if you are not located in London, you can order from the Rudy’s Vegan Butcher selection online as they deliver nationwide. All online orders made on World Vegan Day include a free pack of baycon.

You will be able to pile your online cart high with homemade scramble v-egg, black puddin’, and soysage patties.

Perhaps their new charcuterie selection will be to your liking. Smoked ham, salami de Provence, pepperoni, and of course the pastrami.

This is a lot of excitement to take in!

Follow Rudy’s on Instagram. Shop online via the Rudy’s website.

Rudy’s Vegan Butcher
206 Upper Street, London, N1 1RQ

Rudy’s Vegan Diner
729-731 Camden Stables Market, London, NW1 8AH

DIY vegan Reuben sandwich kit

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I am still recovering from the massive vegan feast I enjoyed thanks to Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner of Camden, London.

I wasn’t at the diner, but rather I had one of their impressive DIY kits delivered to my house as a gift from the much-loved food business.

Check out this amazing line up of ingredients that we used to recreate their peerless Reuben sandwich.

You can see the quality in that shot. Everything was simply perfection.

The DIY kit to recreate the Rudy’s Reuben contains:

Vegan seitan pastrami x2
Sliced cheeze x2
whole loaf rye bread 600g
Pickles
Sauerkraut
Grilled onions
Russian dressing
Parmesan dressing
Crispy onions

All of this for £18 (£1 of which is donated to Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary) means it is sensational value. Everything is artisan and we had enough for four sandwiches.

The packing was very thoughtful with recyclable plastic bags used, as well as cardboard and glass.

The DIY kit comes with an instruction card featuring a QR code that takes you to an instructional video online.

All the guesswork is taken out of the preparation!

Here is a shot of Gil watching the video before he made the sandwiches.

And the finished product?

Check it out.

I got this DIY Reuben kit as a gift but the truth is I wouldn’t even hesitate to buy this again legitimately for myself. If I had the money, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it.

Other DIY kits from Rudy’s include Broccoli Mac ‘n’ Cheeze, Dirty Burger, and Grilled Chick’n Caesar Burger.

Visit the online shop for Rudy’s right now to order your own kit.

And be sure to follow Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner on Instagram for all their latest news, including a new deli opening in Islington very soon!

Hummus in glass jars UK delivery

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Many companies are listening to the concerns of consumers and are trying to get their products onto shelves without depending on as much plastic as they did previously.

One such food manufacturer is Chickee Food.

The London-based company recently sent me a care package of their fabulous vegan hummus flavours and I was thrilled to see them all house in glass jars.

I got the Spicy Pumpkin Hummus, Spinach & Herb Hummus, Beetroot & Rosemary Hummus, and Roasted Garlic & Thyme Hummus.

They are tasty!

You can buy Chickee Food hummus for UK delivery via their online store.

Extra news: you can visit the Chickee Food market stalls around London to reuse your jars! Eco friendly hummus for the win. Check out their other products and look out for new flavours coming soon by following them on Instagram.