Local plays an important role too, "with major efforts to save local food culture and transmit it."

Health, nutrition and sustainability are represented in the categories as well.

In the spirit of the Awards, the Irresistibly Vegan is an extraordinary plant-based repertoire of unique international recipes with surprising flavors from simple ingredients, shared by a chef whose experience was carved in three different countries.

The book features complete menus and transmits the art of pairing foods in a culinary tradition (Mexican, Thai, Greek, Italian, etc.) or under a theme (summer, winter) inspiring you to create your own combinations.

This food will leave you satisfied and your body will recognize it as healthy and nutritious. That’s it: when food fulfils your cravings and takes care of your wellbeing!!

Local has been literally the soil of the Irresistibly Vegan, inspired by the vegetables and fruits brought to the market by local farmers and the craft of vegan food artisans of the region. Even printing was done locally.

Finally, scrumptious food that is healthy and supports a kind lifestyle and sustainable planet.

I remember a dinner at my father-in-law's house where two of his daughters had returned from college and told him that they were now vegan. His response? "You never think it will happen in your own family."

Fast forward ten years and he is a vegan too, which is why Irresistibly Vegan by Elvira Rodríguez Alonso piqued my curiosity. The recipes are incredible and the full-color, full-page spread photography enhances the reading experience and, mercifully, shows us how the result should look.

The standouts to me were the Broiled Asparagus with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, Lemony Rice Bread Crumbs, and Tarragon Butter, and the Moroccan Orange-Cardamom Cake. I have made both with rave reviews from even the pickiest little eater in my home. This is the vegan cookbook for everyone and will no doubt have pride of place on the most respectable countertops. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The author presents 135 dishes in this book that will please your taste buds and your heart. All these dishes are divided into 3 parts: Appetizers, Main Courses, and Desserts. Apart from that, the book also presents suggested Gourmet Menus of the dishes included here for complementary pairings. The author doesn’t restrict herself to a single cuisine but has tried to encompass different cuisines and dishes. This inclusion gives the readers a variety of tastes to explore and experiment with. It leaps the boundaries and can be widespread through multiple cultures and countries.

The writing style is easy to read, and the instructions are detailed, making it easy to follow and cook. The list of ingredients and cooking time listed are accurate and will help ensure you achieve a delicious taste. I am not a cook, but I found the ingredients and instructions understandable and achievable. In addition, the images provided for the context provide an appetizing motivation to cook.

Overall, I very much enjoyed the cookbook. If you are a person who is looking for delicious vegan/plant-based dishes, this is the book for you.

“Irresistibly Vegan” is laid out in a reader friendly manner that is both foolproof and uncomplicated. This simplicity of organized menus gives confidence to beginner home cooks and can also be helpful to experienced restaurant chefs. Alonso covers the ingredients of a well-stocked vegan pantry and essential cookware needed in order to prepare delicious healthy meals for family and friends. Suggestions are made for staples to have on-hand for easy meal preparation. Affordable, easy to find ingredients are prevalent in the recipes with soy-free and gluten-free options.

Thoughtfully crafted mouthwatering photographs are spread throughout the pages to entice the reader while they gain the know-how to successfully recreate the recipes. I appreciate the helpful hints found while preparing recipes such as, “To separate rosemary and thyme leaves from their stems, run your fingers downward along each stem, against the leaves’ growth.” It is this user friendly approach and easy to follow directions that takes the intimidation out of gourmet cooking.

The menu sections are unique, with directions being written in preparation order to ensure both sides and the main course come out at the same time. For this reason, sometimes sides are noted before the main dish. I found this technique brilliant, especially for the inexperienced cook. Often I see the word gourmet and immediately think “nope, not for me” but in this instance that is not the case.

In preparing my review of “Irresistibly Vegan” I recreated three recipes to take to my book club. The recipes chosen were Stuffed Sweet Baby Peppers, Cauliflower Wings, and Spiced Apple Cranberry Cake. They were a huge success receiving numerous compliments and recipe requests. The recipes were simple to follow using colorful, tasty meat free ingredients. I am amazed by how fresh everything tasted. I recommend this book to restaurants hoping to broaden their menu as well as any person desiring to eat clean, sustainable, healthy meals.

There are even brief stories or explanations of many of the recipes, giving each recipe life and meaning.

Something else that's great about this book is how varied the recipes are. There are appetizers like the stuffed sweet baby peppers, main courses (entrees) like shepherd's pie (with lentil, mushroom & vegetable ragout), and desserts like pistachio-walnut balkava.

The author really seems to understand veganism, including its biggest criticisms: that it's supposedly dull, tasteless, and leads to deficiencies. Nothing could be further from the truth as far as this vegan cookbook is concerned. The author highlights several staple ingredients that accomplish several key things: adding taste/flavor and ensuring adequate nutrition. Beans, lentils, and peas are highlighted as sources of protein and nuts & seed butters are highlighted as sources of essential oils.

Another great thing about this book is that it is rich in colorful, eye-catching photos of each meal...

All in all, this is an incredible vegan cookbook. If you are vegan, vegetarian, eat a plant-based diet, or have someone in your household that eats this way, this book could really be eye-opening and helpful.