Christina Pirello’s 5 Secrets of Vegan Cooking

Do you ever wonder how vegan chefs can make such tasty, mouth-watering creations sans dairy and meat? They’ve had a lot of cooking practice and understand the tricks for making plant-based meals that are not only nutritious, but delicious as well! Christina Pirello is one of those chefs; she’s one of America’s preeminent authorities on natural and whole foods. You may have seen her Emmy-award winning television series, Christina Cooks, which airs weekly on more than 150 national public television stations nationwide, as well as in 50 foreign countries on Discovery Health and Create TV.

Check out some of Pirello’s tips for vegan cooking below, taken from her various books and articles. She is a contributor here at One Green Planet.

1. View Cooking as a Divine Art

To get excited about cooking, view it as a divine art. “There is a kind of sorcery in cooking, in choosing ingredients, coaxing each nuance of flavor from the foods we prepare,” says Pirello. If you’d much rather purchase convenience foods or eat out at restaurants, take in Pirello’ advice for inspiration to turn on the stove instead. “Cooking is a divine art with which we create life,” she wrote. “To really develop a passion for food and an appreciation for its impact on our life and health, you must cook. Sorry. I know; I know; we’re all so busy. And I’m asking you to go back into the kitchen, work up a sweat, get your hands dirty and cook. I’m asking that you reprioritize your life and make the space you need to nourish yourself and those you love. I’m asking you to skip some of your ever-important extra-curricular activities and go home and prepare a meal. Not a popular stance, I’m told, but one that can change your life.”

2. Master the Basic Techniques

In her novel, “I’m Mad as Hell and I’m Not Going to Eat it Any More,” Pirello discusses the importance of moving freely about the kitchen, since cooking is a foundation of life. “Comfort in the kitchen allows you to move from task to task, smoothly and efficiently, intoxicated as the colors and perfumes of the dishes come together,” she wrote. “There is little in life more lusty than cooking … Cooking is simple, elegant and satisfying. You only need to master some basic techniques to create a great meal — no matter what chefs or molecular gastronomists tell you.” Techniques to master include braising, grilling, broiling, roasting, baking, poaching, stewing, sautéing, pan frying, stir-frying, deep frying, blanching, and steaming. To a beginner cook, these terms may seem more like a feat to achieve than mastering “basic techniques,” but Pirello’s point here is that once you know how to use your knives and your kitchen utensils, the world of plant-based cooking is open for your taking!

3. Bake With Sprouted Whole Grain Flour

In Pirello’s eyes, sprouted whole grain flour stands to revolutionize baking as we know it. Why is it so awesome? “When whole grains are sprouted, they are naturally converted into more digestible…and in some ways, more nutritious food,” Pirello wrote. “As the grain sprouts, it turns into a plant which the body recognizes as a vegetable, which are the easiest of foods to digest, in my view, because they are broken down by vegetable enzymes instead of pancreatic enzymes (which are usually less abundant in most people).”

4. Use Herbs and Spices for Health

I’ve met people who see plant-based eating and cooking as boring, bland, and flavorless, but it does not need to be this way! There are so many herbs and spices that can transform a dish and perk up those veggies. Plus, there are a multitude of health benefits to eating herbs and spices as well. Pirello wrote, “Since ancient times, many cultures have employed herbs and spices not only to season and preserve food, but as natural ways to treat what ailed people. We may have lost our way and become enslaved to pharmaceuticals, but Mother Nature continues to provide a spicy alternative to pill-popping.”

5. Make Vegetables Part of Every Meal, Every Day

You may have met people who are vegetarian or vegan, but don’t necessarily eat the healthiest diet. It’s possible to be a “junk food vegan” – Oreos are vegan, for example – but Pirello’s rule is to have vegetables with every meal, every day. “Fill half your plate with vegetables at each meal,” she wrote. “Fresh, crisp salads, stir-fried vegetables, roasted vegetables, vegetable stews and soups: a plate half-filled with brightly colored antioxidant- rich fare will make it so easy to reach this goal . . . deliciously.”

Now, with these five tips in mind, try your hand at some delicious plant-based creations and browse though our Recipe Monster section here at One Green Planet.

Image source: Featured Green Monster: Christina Pirello, Host, Christina Cooks