„Liv B's Vegan on a Budget“

By:
Olivia Biermann

7.9 / 10

Who wrote it?

Olivia Biermann aka Liv B. from Canada is the recipe developer and photographer behind the food blog itslivb.com and shoots videos for her Youtube-Kanal Liv B, which she has been running since 2016. Here she showcases a mix of comfort and health-conscious recipes, all plant-based, of course. She has also published two bestselling cookbooks: “Liv B’s Vegan on a Budget” and “Liv B’s Easy Everyday”.

And what is it about?

The intention of the recipes in the book is to show simple, quick, and tasty plant-based meals, with ingredients that are easy to find anywhere and won’t break the bank.

What does it look like?

The softcover book is about US letter in size. The title shows some appetizingly prepared recipes from the book. Contrary to expectations, however, the food photography and styling of the cover and the inside are not the work of the author herself. There are photos for about 85% of the recipes and in my opinion, they are all really appealing, even if not overly special. Aside from the photos, the recipes are fairly straightforward, with ingredients listed in American units, but all translated into European units of volume as well.

What can I expect?

112 recipes are divided into the following chapters: „Staples & Sauces“, „Breakfast & Brunch“, „Snacks & Small Bites“, „Soups & Sides“, „Sandwiches, Wraps & Salads“, „Mains“ und „Sweets“.

Up front, Liv also gives a few tips for cooking “on a budget”, like “buy in bulk”, cook with “similar ingredients” and “use up leftovers”… The obligatory lists of pantry basics and kitchen appliances aren’t missing either.

Can I do that?

Yes, since Liv herself doesn’t love to spend hours in the kitchen either, she made the recipes really simple.

What do I need?

Cashews, nooch, maple syrup, and tofu belong not only in every vegan pantry but also in about every second dish in this book. In keeping with the title, the book does not make any special demands on the kitchen equipment, although it is easier to follow the cup and EL specifications with the appropriate measuring cups, etc. A powerful blender is actually also a must-have, which should really only be replaced by a hand blender if absolutely necessary.

Substitute products?

Are used – neither inflationary, nor do you have to look for them with a magnifying glass. If you are bothered by it, you will notice it negatively, for me it was not a big issue with the recipes tested so far.

Who needs it?

Admittedly, I don’t necessarily see the book as the bible of vegan budget-friendly cooking, but that’s probably largely due to the origins of the book and the author. While maple syrup, pecan nuts, and quinoa can be considered basics in Canada, other sweeteners, nuts, or (pseudo-)grains would probably be preferred in this country if you want to cook “low budget”. In this respect, I consider “Liv B’s Vegan on a Budget” to be a solid cookbook with uncomplicated recipes, some of which are budget-friendly or can be modified accordingly.

Oh yes, and does it taste good?

So far, I’ve mainly tested my way through the savory dishes and still have some post-its in the book for more savory stuff. I’ll be keen to try these as well, because I haven’t been disappointed with the taste so far.

You can find all the recipes tested and my recipe reviews on Instagram under the hashtag #VCRveganonabugdet.

Recipe tips to get cooking:

Spiced Coconut Granola
Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing
Fast and Fluffy No-Rise Cinnamon Rolls

Conclusion

A beautiful book with simple dishes that are really tasty, but unfortunately also some that in my opinion are way too simple to deserve a double page spread in a cookbook. E.g. “Broccoli with Cheese Sauce”, with the “Cheese Sauce” appearing as a separate recipe in the book – a comment like “tastes great with some steamed broccoli” in the cheese sauce recipe would have done it too. The quantities of ingredients almost always given in volumes made me crazy here and there while cooking. I mean who measures butter in cups? Nevertheless, the recipes are worth getting involved with and anyone who doesn’t expect to find the holy grail of vegan “low budget” cuisine can enjoy the book. In this respect, a recommendation with slight restrictions, but not a must-have for the home cookbook shelf.