Chefs We Love
Vegan French Cuisine? Yes! With Hannah Sunderani’s Recipes
Updated on July 26, 2023
“In a culture where fromage, foie gras and charcuterie are everyday staples, a plant-based diet was not always celebrated,” says Toronto blogger (and vegan) Hannah Sunderani, who moved to France in 2015. While the relocation was for her husband’s job, Hannah took it as a chance to explore her passion for food. But the locals didn’t share the same excitement for her veganism. “Calling ahead to restaurants to inform them of my diet was often met with displeasure and, one time, resulted in being served half a cooked carrot as my main course. What they did with the other half, I will never know.”
Out of necessity, Hannah figured out how to adapt French food into at-home vegan dishes and shared those findings with hundreds of thousands of readers on her blog, Two Spoons. After spending four years in France, Hannah returned to Toronto and created The Two Spoons Cookbook, which is packed with recipes for many dishes you probably didn’t know could be vegan, from cheese fondue to croissants. But nothing is overly complicated. “It’s not a cookbook for French cooking enthusiasts or masterful chefs… it’s for the everyday home cook, one who wants to add more plant-based recipes into their diet without compromising taste,” says Hannah.
Scroll down for three French dishes you won’t believe are plant-based!
Mushroom And Spinach Quiche
“I first tried vegan quiche at a plant-based restaurant called La Clairière near our apartment in Lille. It was a welcome dish, especially for my husband, Mitch, who loved the quiches I made before going vegan. This recipe is inspired by the quiches from that go-to restaurant, the mushroom and and spinach combo being my favorite.”
Get the recipe here.
Summer Rainbow Ratatouille
“Ratatouille is a classic summer dish originating from Provence, in the South of France. Leave it to the French to make a simple stew so impressive! We absolutely love this French-inspired rainbow ratatouille for dinner, and often include it in our weekly rotation.”
Get the full recipe here.
Lemon Tart
“Lemon tart was served at our wedding in the Dordogne region of France. Even though all the food was a smashing success, it’s the lemon tart that my mum always raves about. I created this recipe in tribute to that tart, so that I can serve it to my mum for years to come.”
Get the full recipe here.
The Two Spoons Cookbook features 100-plus French- inspired vegan recipes.
Hannah has learned a lot from the French about eating (and living) well, despite their feelings about her plant-based diet. Perhaps the most important? “Enjoy your dishes as an occasion to be celebrated, no matter how big or small, even if just for a moment.”
Hannah Sunderani
House & Home June 2022 Published by Penguin, an imprint of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved