Show 512, February 11, 2023: The Vegetarian Reset – 75 Low Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World with Author Vasudha Viswanath Part One

Vasudha Viswanath of the Vegetarian Reset

“Is the global transition to “plant-based” headed in the right direction? How sustainable is a plant-based diet if it revolves around refined carbs like bread, rice and noodles, or fake meat, uninspiring salads, and sugary smoothies? The Vegetarian Reset – 75 Low Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World by Vasudha Viswanath celebrates a lifestyle where a foodie’s sensibility intersects with eating healthy. It solves the never-ending dilemma that vegetarians face – is life fun when you eat a salad every day or is your health taking a backseat when you eat a big bowl of rice or pasta without enough protein? The Vegetarian Reset has 75 low-carb and high-protein recipes that are rooted in whole foods like vegetables, legumes, spices, and healthy fats.”

Vasudha Viswanath joins us with as slice of her signature Zucchini Bread at the ready.

“In her debut cookbook, Vasudha takes her readers on a little trip around the world, to draw inspiration from an array of traditional cuisines from east to west. Her recipes put vegetables front and center – for example, using riced cauliflower or spiralized vegetables in lieu of white rice or noodles, and creating breads out of less-processed alternatives like chickpea and almond flour. Smoothies are refreshingly savory, and desserts are lightly sweetened with whole fruit. Due to their focus on vegetables, the recipes in this book tend to be moderately low-carb and are predominantly gluten-free. Nutritional facts are provided for each recipe. Moderate amounts of full-fat dairy and eggs are called for in some recipes, but vegan alternatives are often suggested as well.”

There is even an unexpectedly decadent chapter for “Desserts.” Think Hazelnut Brownies sweetened with Mejdool Dates.

Vasudha graciously shares the recipes for Zucchini Bread and Pav Bhaji (Mumbai street food) from The Vegetarian Reset with us.

Show 512, February 11, 2023: The Vegetarian Reset – 75 Low Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World with Author Vasudha Viswanath Part Two

Vasudha Viswanath of the Vegetarian Reset

“Is the global transition to “plant-based” headed in the right direction? How sustainable is a plant-based diet if it revolves around refined carbs like bread, rice and noodles, or fake meat, uninspiring salads, and sugary smoothies? The Vegetarian Reset – 75 Low Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World by Vasudha Viswanath celebrates a lifestyle where a foodie’s sensibility intersects with eating healthy. It solves the never-ending dilemma that vegetarians face – is life fun when you eat a salad every day or is your health taking a backseat when you eat a big bowl of rice or pasta without enough protein? The Vegetarian Reset has 75 low-carb and high-protein recipes that are rooted in whole foods like vegetables, legumes, spices, and healthy fats.”

Vasudha Viswanath continues with us with a slice of her signature Zucchini Bread at the ready.

“In her debut cookbook, Vasudha takes her readers on a little trip around the world, to draw inspiration from an array of traditional cuisines from east to west. Her recipes put vegetables front and center – for example, using riced cauliflower or spiralized vegetables in lieu of white rice or noodles, and creating breads out of less-processed alternatives like chickpea and almond flour. Smoothies are refreshingly savory, and desserts are lightly sweetened with whole fruit. Due to their focus on vegetables, the recipes in this book tend to be moderately low-carb and are predominantly gluten-free. Nutritional facts are provided for each recipe. Moderate amounts of full-fat dairy and eggs are called for in some recipes, but vegan alternatives are often suggested as well.”

There is even an unexpectedly decant chapter for “Desserts.” Think Hazelnut Brownies sweetened with Mejdool Dates.

“Vasudha Viswanath is the founder of We Ate Well, a community for foodies that focuses on eating mindfully and sustainably on a vegetarian diet. She has been a lifelong vegetarian and passionate home cook. Her journey into eating healthy started with a doctor’s note about her elevated blood sugar after a routine physical. She transformed the way she cooks to cut out excessive starch and sugar and has never felt better. After spending over a decade on Wall Street where she specialized in technology and business strategy, Vasudha left her career in finance to write a cookbook and create We Ate Well. She grew up in Bangalore, India and now lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.”

Vasudha graciously shares the recipes for Zucchini Bread and Pav Bhaji (Mumbai street food) from The Vegetarian Reset with us.

Zucchini Bread

Recipe excerpt from:
The Vegetarian Reset: 75 Low-Carb, Plant-Forward Recipes from Around the World
by Vasudha Viswanath

Serves: 10

This low-carb, gluten-free, protein-rich bread has a mild savory flavor and gorgeous moist texture from the zucchini. It is endlessly versatile—useit for everything from grilled cheese to pav bhaji to croutons and even breadcrumbs! It took me dozens of tries to perfect this recipe, but now it gets rave reviews, every time. I recommend you keep a loaf on standby in the freezer because it features in several recipes in this book, such as the Avocado Toast, Pav Bhaji, Eggs Florentine and French Onion Soup.

This bread is dense and filling, so you will find that you cannot eat as much as you would of regular white or whole-wheat bread. Note that the vegan version will not rise as much as the original, but it tastes just as delicious and works better for croutons and breadcrumbs.

  • 1 medium zucchini (7 oz./200g)
  • 1⁄2 tsp. + 1 pinch salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 cup / 120g chickpea flour
  • 1 scant cup / 100g blanched almond flour
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
  • 2 eggs

Vegan Version

  • 1 medium zucchini (7 oz./200g)
  • 1⁄2 tsp. + 1 pinch salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 heaping cup / 140g chickpea flour
  • 1 heaping cup / 120g blanched almond flour
  • 1 1⁄2 Tbsp. baking powder 2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
  • 6 Tbsp. aquafaba (soaking liquid from a can of chickpeas)

Directions

Step 1: Grate zucchini using the smaller holes of a box grater. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over zucchini and let sit for 10–15 minutes to draw out moisture.

Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Lightly grease an 81/2-x-41/2-x-21/2- inch / 201/2-x-11-x-51/2-cm loaf pan.

Step 3: Combine chickpea flour, almond flour, baking powder, flaxseed, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and mix well. Beat eggs lightly in a separate bowl (skip for vegan version).

Step 4: Place zucchini in a thin towel, paper towel, or a nut-milk bag and squeeze over a bowl to get as much moisture out as possible (I usually get at least 1/4 cup zucchini water). Reserve the water for the next step.

Step 5: When oven temp reaches 350°F / 180°C, add 1/4 cup zucchini water, beaten egg or aquafaba, and grated zucchini to dry ingredients and stir well with a large spoon or whisk, breaking up any lumps. If the batter is too thick to combine, add a bit more zucchini water 1 tablespoon at a time, up to 4 tablespoons, supplementing with regular water if needed. The batter should be thick, like a lump of wet sand.

Step 6: Transfer batter to prepared pan and tap gently on the counter to settle. Bake for 35–45 minutes (45–55 minutes for the vegan version), or until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 7: Let cool 15–20 minutes. Loosen around the edges of the pan with a butter knife if necessary. Transfer to a flat surface to slice, and serve just as you would any other bread!