Chic Vegan

Vegan and Fabulous!

Book Review and Giveaway: Vegan Finger Foods

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Vegan Finger FoodsFinger foods are, well, food you eat with your fingers. Sometimes called “tapas” or “small plates,” and they can even be appetizers. The recipes in Vegan Finger Foods by Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes are perfect for serving at parties, taking with you to potlucks, or to eat yourself as a light meal or snack.

 

Vegan Finger Foods explores the many types of bite-size munchies – from elegant to casual and savory to sweet. The book’s recipes are divided into 4 chapters: Veggie-Centric Finger Feasts, Stuffed and Dipped, Bread-Based Bites, and Sweet Little Somethings. Veggie-Centric Finger Feasts is a chapter where vegetables are the main star. There you’ll find recipes for such veggie-based treats as Rainbow Root Veggie Chips, Marinated Mushrooms, and Kale Cucumber Cups. In Stuffed and Dipped, you find recipes for all kinds of snacks that are stuffed with a tasty filling as well as delicious dips and sauces. Some standouts in this chapter are the Baked Mini Frittatas, Baked Buffalo Tofu Bites, and the Nacho Sauce Dip. The Bread-Based Bites chapter is full of recipes for crackers, breads, scones, and sandwiches. In Sweet Little Somethings, you’ll find lots of recipes for sweet treats, such as Better Buckeyes, Vanilla Cream Tartlets, and Brownie Nut Butter Cups.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAVegan Finger Foods arrived in April, shortly after I had major surgery, and I couldn’t quite make it into the kitchen to start cooking yet. I had originally planned on making some of the dishes in Vegan Finger Foods for a little birthday party I had in June, but I still didn’t really have the energy for it, so I set it aside for when I was feeling better. Once I started to feel like my old self again, I decided to tackle the book, and it’s a good thing I waited, because I just couldn’t stop myself from cooking more! Everything I made was eaten at home for dinner rather than served as party fare, and I discovered that the book’s recipes have a great amount of versatility to them. Rather than making The Jamaican Jerk Tempeh Skewers on toothpicks and serving them as an appetizer, I made them on large bamboo sticks and had them as the main dish for a dinner outside. Nacho Potato Skins are usually served as a snack or party dish, but I swapped the russet potatoes for sweet potatoes and served them for dinner, alongside a large salad. I made the mayo-based Pantry Raid Ranch Dip and used it as a sandwich spread rather than a dip.

 

Baked Jalapeño PoppersTwo of my favorite recipes in Vegan Finger Foods were the Baked Jalapeños and Corn Fritters. Back in my cheese-eating vegetarian days, I probably ate my body weight in jalapeño poppers, but I haven’t had them in at least 13 years now. In this much healthier recipe, jalapeños are filled with a rich “cheese” made with cashews and white beans, and coated in a crunchy “batter” made with cornflakes and panko breadcrumbs. The Corn Fritters come together so quickly and easily that it would have been silly of me not to make them. Instead of making 16 small fritters as the recipe suggests, I made 6 larger ones, and I had to stop myself from eating them straight out of the pan.

 

Corn FrittersI know I say this often when reviewing a book, but there really is something for everyone in Vegan Finger Foods. Whether you’re planning a big bash and are looking for delicious finger foods to create a buffet with, hosting a tapas dinner party, or are just looking for some tasty munchies to enjoy by yourself, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. The book is also full of Celine Steen’s gorgeous photos, which will have everyone drooling.

 

You’re in luck because we have a copy of Vegan Finger Foods for one lucky Chic Vegan reader. Follow the instructions below to enter. U.S. residents only, please. Contest ends at midnight eastern time on Sunday, August 10th. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Dianne

Dianne Wenz is the Editor-In-Chief for Chic Vegan. She is a Holistic Health Counselor, Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Plant-Based Nutrition Specialist. Dianne coaches people from across the country to help them improve their health and wellbeing, and she helps people make the dietary and lifestyle changes needed to go vegan. Dianne lives in New Jersey, where she runs the busy MeetUp group Montclair Vegans. Through the group she hosts monthly potlucks, runs charity bake sales and organizers guest speaker events. An avid cook and baker, Dianne also teaches cooking classes to local clients. In addition to food and nutrition, Dianne loves crafts and cats. To learn more, visit Dianne’s website and blog at Dianne's Vegan Kitchen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Mayravillosa says

    I love vegan snacks! I wanna give it a try for my next party!. One of my very fav ones is baked grilled cheesy potatoes with nice and tasty dips…umm yumm!

  8. Cadry says

    I would love to get my hands on this book! I am in love with Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day, and so I know this one would be an instant hit in our house. Everything you made looks terrific!

  11. Kim says

    There are so many I love, but I have a special place in my heart for any fried potatos: skins, fries, croquettes. Oh and let us not forget nachos, stuffed mushrooms, wingz. Too much awesomeness to whittle it down to one. I obviosly need this book 🙂

  13. Terri Cole says

    I don’t get too fancy with finger foods. Usually it’s just hummus and veggies. Thanks for the chance to win this book and get some new ideas!

  14. Kim Dias says

    I definitely need more vegan finger foods in my life. I have Vegan Sandwhiches Save The Day and use it quite often.

  24. Candace S. says

    veggies and hummus, jalapeno poppers – basically anything I can eat with my fingers 🙂

  30. Ashley Mauceri says

    It could change by the day, but this week I had incredible vegan mozzarella sticks! They are high on my “favorites” list now!

  32. linda hildebrand says

    Zucchini fries yum as well as hummus and raw veggies! This book looks awesome! I would love to make my grandkids some of the yumminess!!

  35. Martha :) says

    Jalapeno poppers have ALWAYS been my favorite! I haven’t had them since going veg (2 1/2 years ago). Can’t wait to try these!

  37. Melody says

    There is something fun and special about finger foods and I’ve noticed that although there a lots of yummy-looking options at the grocery, none of them are vegan. I’ve made a few things on my own, but this cookbook could really expand my finger food repertoire!

  44. KL says

    My favourite vegan finger food is chocolate peanut butter sandwiches… or vanilla almond butter… or chocolate almond butter…

  45. Korie B says

    Love cucumber slices with hummus and some sesame seeds! Simple, but a crowd pleaser to vegans and non-vegans alike!

  47. Candyce says

    I enjoy eating with my hands.. and love that this book has such a fantastic variety of options. I love zucchini stick in hummus, but am looking forward to learning about many more.

  49. Frankie says

    I love it all – lettuce cups, potato wedges, hummus, babaganoush, vegan meatballs, cucumber and Tofutti cream cheese sandwiches …..