Vegan Africa: Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal

by Marie Kacouchia

An authentically African and naturally vegan culinary journey across the continent  
 
Drawing from the cultures and traditions of more than 15 countries, years of cooking expertise, and cherished memories from her own childhood on the Ivory Coast, Marie Kacouchia takes us on a tour of flavorful, healthy, naturally plant-based African dishes. Explore over 70 irresistible recipes for main courses, rice dishes, sauces, snacks, desserts, and drinks,   Vegan Africa  guides you through diverse vegan cuisine from Ghana to Ethiopia, from Nigeria to South Africa. Kacouchia also shines a spotlight on the superfoods—like cacao, garlic, ginger, and sweet potato—that make these recipes both mouthwatering  and  packed with vital nutrients. Whether you’re a newcomer to African cuisine or looking to make familiar favorites,  Vegan Africa  will help you bring healthful, delicious dishes to your kitchen. 

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Vegan, Africa, Vegetarian

192 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book with beautiful pictures of prepared dishes.
I wished that all recipes had pictures.
All recipes seem delicious and easy to prepare and I’m looking forward to trying some. We are presented with traditional African cuisines, all plant-based recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal.
The author, at the end of the book, gives suggestions for a nice complete menu for breakfast, lunch, romantic dinner and so on.
I’m sure that living in Toronto I will not have problems finding some of the ingredients.
Believe or not, I did not know that coconut sugar was available.
The ebook on Amazon.ca was on sale and I couldn’t resist, as I love Ethiopian food.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a vegan but do love vegetables and this an interesting collection of recipes from Africa I bought it for my 64th Birthday in February. The author uses coconut sugar which not heard of but got from Amazon it is sugar made from the pulp of coconut much like sugar beet. But is good on spicy aubergine 🍆. There's a wonderful recipe for sweet potato bread too. If are looking for a different taste of African foods this great book.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hurrah! Finally a new vegan cookbook with recipes I’ve never heard of and are new to me!

I especially love the simple, basic ingredients in each recipe and that most recipes aren’t long and complicated. It is truly “plant based” without requiring junky items.

The photos are beautiful and definitely helped me conceptualisé the recipe. I also liked the layout and organization. The recipes do include oil (sometimes generously) but as usual I just don’t use it or I skip the fried dishes.

Overall, I’d describe the meals as very carb heavy (potatoes and rice) with not much protein (scant use of beans and lentils) though some dishes do incorporate nuts. Coconut sugar pops up in many recipes (including non desserts) but I omitted it. I also used banana instead of plantains 🍌

I would have liked to see nutritional information and a clarification on mustard. I wasn’t sure if she meant mustard the ground spice or the condiment.

I prepared a dish that was cauliflower and olives. I wouldn’t have put them together and was surprised at how they blended. Unfortunately it was barely filling for just me. The author suggested adding beans or rice and if I make it again i will probably add lentils.

My only complaint is that my family wasn’t as enthusiastic about picking out recipes to try as I had hoped. Considering Ethiopian is our favorite or second favorite cuisine, and a few other African dishes (eg jollof, g-nut stew, red red stew from Ghana) are already regular “staple” meals for us, I thought they’d flag more recipes than they did. I think this could be because most every main dish is a stew or warm grain and it’s hot as heck summer right now. I’ll definitely leave it open again in the cold winter to see if more options get picked!

Thanks netgalley for my ARc

[K M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply do feel that I get to mark this as read as the translator

[Jenn "JR" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautiful: the photos, layout and fonts are all a pleasure to the eye. There are several really strong recipes that are very eye catching, such as "Cauliflower Tabbouleh with Pistachio and Lemon Confit" -- which I cannot wait to put into action. Some of the simplest recipes sound the most appealing - like sauteed spinach, mushrooms & ripe plantains. Plantain beignets sound really amazing as do the "Sweet Pepper and Corn Cakes" and I will be planning a meal from this book very soon.

The recipes are very accessible -- some much more than others, making me wonder about the target audience for this book. Some of the recipes remind me of recipes in a book about ancient Roman dining -- particularly the "Cauliflower Yassa with Olives" and "Cumin Spiced Orange and Chickpea Salad" -- making me wonder about the cultural exchange between Africa and the ancient Romans.

The main drawback of this book is that there are a lot of filler recipes in the book such: sprinkling the spice blend ras al hanout on popcorn, lemonade, iced tea, hot tea and avocado-based chocolate mousse.

Some recipes assume access to items that might not be normally found in most grocery stores such as the "vegan brioche" called for in the Coconut-Lime French Toast -- Where? Hook me up! At least 3 recipes call for harissa. There's no recipe for harissa in the book, which feels like a loss. Likewise leaving out instructions for creating your own "ras al hanout."

Overall - this is a good starter book for someone who is not an experienced cook and there are enough novel recipes for people who are not lucky enough to have grown up with this kind of food to keep experienced cooks interested.

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[Kelli Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic vegan cookbook, with delicious recipes that are easy to follow. Recognizable ingredients, with some traditional African ones that are great to learn about, make it easy to shop and prepare. Some of my favorites include Sweet Potato and Ginger Loaf, Sweet Pepper and Corn Cakes, Roasted Eggplant with Tamarind, and Red Red (Ghanian Red Stew). The beautiful photographs and wide variety of recipes make this journey through Africa both delicious and educational. Thanks to Netgalley and The Experiment for the advance digital copy!

[Yodamom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many recipes had the same spice blend and ingredients. I tried 4 different recipes they just weren't flavorful enough for my taste. I'm passing on buying this one

[Kaitlin Lewis-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have liked more information on how the recipes were veganized or adapted, but all in all I enjoyed it! Would love to try a lot of the recipes 🤤

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Vegan Africa is a well researched and curated look at plant based food and cuisine from Africa by Marie Kacouchia. Released 15th Nov 2022 by The Experiment, it's 192 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a richly, extravagantly written and beautiful collection of plant based recipes from Pan-African culture. There are a couple types of hummus not based on chickpeas (I would have bought the collection *just* for the hummus which is glorious), snacks, sauces (peri-peri!), salads, mains, and more than enough others to keep cooks going for ages.
The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: sauces, snacks, starters, mains, rice, desserts, and drinks. Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Nutritional info is not included in the book. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Some of the more specialized ingredients and spices will need to sourced at an international or African food store.

The food styling throughout is absolutely beautiful. Photographs accompany each of the recipes and the presentations are attractive and appetizing. The index provided includes ingredients listed with referenced recipes as well as photographs in italics. The author has also included suggested menus for various occasions with relevant recipes referenced by page number.

Five stars. This is definitely a solid choice for library acquisition, for gift giving, and for cooks who want to eat less (or no!) meat without giving up flavor, texture, and taste.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Ditte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love to learn about cuisines, and since I love the Ethiopian kitchen I wanted to give this book a try.
There are a lot of recipes I haven't seen before and I want to try many of them.
You can find almost all of the ingredients in the supermarket (at least in Dk).

The pictures are pretty, but I wished that there were more of them. Especially those that aren't easy to "see in your mind's eye" or aren't that well-known. Some of the recipes could definitely have needed the pictures instead of others, ex: I don't need to see a picture of chapati, but I would have loved to see a picture of Bobotie!

I don't understand why we didn't get a cookbook with only/mostly recipes from Ivory Coast since the author/her family is from there?
I would have loved that.

[Sylvia Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Vegan Africa" by Marie Kocouchia is a feast for the eyes, even before you delve to the wonderful treats inside. There are so many gorgeous photographs in this book that compliment the well-written and highly achievable recipes. This book covers a wide range of vegan cuisine using ingredients found in many kitchen pantries and the techniques are simple and straight-forward. I would recommend this to anyone who loves good food, has an adventurous spirit or wants to expand their repertoire of vegan dishes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to explore Vegan Africa by Marie Kacouchia, especially as it offered an opportunity to reconnect with my African roots through plant-based cuisine. The book takes an interesting approach by incorporating sugar into many African dishes, but I found that a number of the main recipes include 1-2 tablespoons of sugar or sweeteners. Personally, I prefer savoury meals without the added sweetness, so this was a bit of a downside for me.

That said, the starters in this book are incredibly appealing. I'm particularly eager to try the plantain pancakes, roasted sweet potato hummus, and peanut hummus, all of which promise bold flavours and creative twists on classic dishes.

When it comes to the mains, however, I faced a bit of a challenge. Many recipes lean heavily on tomatoes, which I personally struggle with due to sensitivities to acidic foods. As a result, I found fewer mains I could comfortably try. However, for those who can enjoy tomatoes, there are plenty of exciting options.

On the dessert front, there are some fun and tempting ideas. The sweet potato and ginger loaf sounds like a deliciously spiced treat, and the coconut-lemongrass muffins have me intrigued for their unique flavour pairing.

One of the most exciting discoveries in the book is Kinkeliba tea, a traditional West African herbal remedy known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. I look forward to brewing some of this medicinal tea, both for its health benefits and its cultural significance.

While I found fewer recipes to try due to my dietary restrictions, Vegan Africa is still an enriching read. The book broadens your culinary horizons and offers a fresh perspective on African vegan cuisine, even if some recipes may not work for everyone. If you enjoy tomatoes and lemons, you'll likely find more options to dive into than I did—but overall, it's a wonderful way to explore new flavours and learn something new.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, authentic plant-based cookbook full of full color photos. The recipes seemed fairly simple and tasty. There is no nutritional information. The recipes do tend to seem rather carb-heavy and low in protein. There is not a lot of use of vegan proteins other than some things like lentils, and there are lots of naturally sugar-heavy ingredients like fruits even in the main dishes. As someone who has to seek out higher protein and lower carb meals, most of them wouldn't work for me or my husband. Many of the recipes are naturally gluten free but wheat flour is used fairly often, so it doesn't work well for my kids. I think they might need some getting used to the flavors too, but they might enjoy them. This will be a good cookbook for those who want authentic African recipes without fake ingredients or (generally) hours of work.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Shirley Andrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent Healthy and Delicious Vegan Recipes

In "Vegan Africa: Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal", Marie Kacouchia not only provides healthy delicious recipes, but some are recipes that are from cross-cultural cooking and diversity, which she states were inspired by her childhood in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). They are both vegan and healthy.

Just to mention, the author states that you should always keep certain ingredients on hand in your vegan African pantry. These are listed in this book, along with a list of African superfoods.

She includes a great number of recipes, ranging from sauces, snacks, main dishes, to desserts with mouth-watering pictures.

This book is a must have for any vegan lover of great dishes.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I wanted to peruse this cookbook the second I saw the title and the cover (I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest).

Ms. Kacouchia offers recipes with a joyous spirit within these pages.

The photos in here are gorgeous, the layout is bright and friendly but never overpowering or stressful. The recipes are all very appealing and many are very clean, which I love.

We’ve made a few things - we’re planning on making way more. While some of the recipes do contain my teen’s allergen, sesame, it’s not in so many of the recipes that I would feel disappointed if I had ordered this upon publication.

Definitely recommended.



Temporary PDF kindly provided by The Experiment and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.

[Anna Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this not really knowing what to expect — so many vegan cookbooks are disappointing because they either oversimplify or overcomplicate their subjects. Kacouchia strikes the perfect balance. I also learned a LOT about African food along the way. It is always humbling to read a cookbook and think to yourself, "Do I know where I would buy that ingredient? Do I know what that ingredient tastes like?" It's a good excuse to find your local small-business African grocer! If I have to drive an hour to get red palm oil, that means my coworkers and friends who have migrated here from Africa ALSO have to drive an hour to get red palm oil!

Anyhoo, this is a really great read. I'm going to make at least one of the muffin recipes and then update this review.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a digital review copy of this book from NetGalley.

Vegan Africa is filled with interesting recipes and menu ideas. Each recipe is depicted by a full color photograph.

I tried two of the recipes.

The kidney bean stew had clearly written instructions and came together easily. The stew had great texture.

We also made the rice pudding. This didn’t go as well. I’m not sure if it was me, my old stove, or the recipe, but it wouldn’t thicken until I added much more rice than called for. However, the flavor was spot on.

There are many recipes I’m interested in trying in this book. I appreciate the author sharing her story and her culinary world through Vegan Africa.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review the ARC of "Vegan Africa".

In the wake of "Korean Vegan" by Joanne Molinaro, for myself and others who are vegan or not always able to source meats or ingredients from across the world, this book gives a great sight into cuisines across Africa. The recipes are short and sweet in most cases and has plenty of direction in case you need it. It was difficult not to dream of the foods in the photos and descriptions. Although I would love to have some more pictures, I am glad to have more recipes with which to explore. I am excited for the rest of the world to explore cuisines that before, may have seemed out of reach.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice recipe book!

I wish there was more pictures, I like recipe books that include pictures for each recipe so I can see what they look like. There's a variety of recipes in this book from snacks to desserts and even drinks. This book covers a big breadth of African recipes and doesn't focus on just one countries. There's some delicious looking recipes that cover a variety of ways to make breads, plantains, and rice.

Overall an interesting find!

[Melissa E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful cookbook. I can’t wait to try several of the recipes. They look straightforward and easy, with a lot of common ingredients! There are hummus recipes that are unique and that sound delicious! Beans and rice dishes that look great, too. Lots of items to choose from for starters, main, and desserts. There are pretty pictures of the recipes but not on the same page.

The only slight negative is that there isn’t calorie information, but this can be figured out pretty easily. I would recommend this book. 5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy

[Therese Brink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this cookbook a few days ago. The author has various recipes from all over Africa. Most of the recipes are easy and do not require too many ingredients or cooking time.

The book is printed on thick glossy paper. Many of the recipes have color photos of the finished dish. She also lists the estimated prep and cooking time of each recipe.

Recipes are divided into the following chapters: sauces, snacks, starters, main dishes, rice, desserts and drinks. She also provides menus at the end of the book for different occasions which I find helpful

[Kristin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore cookbooks the convey a strong sense of destination and this gorgeous book does this oh so effortlessly! Vegan Africa is a colorful compendium richly woven with the time-honored traditions and deep cultural ties of fifteen African countries. The author is a compelling storyteller and presents unique, mouthwatering, plant-based recipes using ingredients that are accessible to most. A glorious read and one that I can't wait to add to my cookbook collection!

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed looking through this one, there are some nice recipes and photography. There wasn't any recipes I wanted to make, there were lots of salad recipes which I feel I have enough of my own that I enjoy. There were several recipes that needed main ingredients that I can't get where I live, yams and plantains. If you can get these ingredients and want some new salad ideas this could be a good book to read.

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an exciting cookbook! The flavor combinations in these recipes are fantastic. And I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible these recipes are. The ingredients are easily purchased and many of the recipes are surprisingly simple to make. I've cooked African food before, but I was still under the misconception that it's a time consuming cuisine. This book as completely dispelled that illusion for me.

I've already tried out a couple of the recipes and they are yum, not to mention healthy!

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not vegan and I loved this cookbook. If you took Vegan out of the title, most people would not notice. This is just a wonderful cookbook. The recipes are well written and have (mostly) easy to find ingredients.

The pictures had my stomach grumbling. I cannot wait to work through this entire book!

[Aashna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was beautiful. The recipes all look incredible and accessible even to those of us not super familiar with African cuisine due to being a vegan/vegetarian. I tried the cauliflower and peanut sauce and it is so good! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn a little more about African cuisine.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Paul Hibbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just really catching. How the cultural explanation of the dish, the recipes, the instructions and the beautiful pictures. I love the few recipes I've tried and looking forward to making more

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious and achievable recipes using a reasonable range of ingredients. At the end of the book, there are helpful menu sets for different occasions. This is a great cookbook for beginner home chefs looking to branch out!

[Sadie Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so, I picked this book up at the library because the cover was SO PRETTY! The recipe pictures inside were wonderfully photographed also. I loved reading all of the recipes too. However, this isn't my favorite cookbook I've ever read (but it might be the prettiest😂).

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

great recipe book - some cultural context, gorgeous full colour photos of the recipes, a good variety of recipes for each category without being too many/overwhelming, mostly very accessible ingredients. I'm really looking forward to making quite a few of these!