Vegan Casseroles: Pasta Bakes, Gratins, Pot Pies, and More

I'll admit...I own a bazillion cookbooks but this one keeps coming up whenever I plan my weekly menu! I'm not gluten intolerant but this cookbook is easily made gluten free with barely any effort on your part! Also, many of the recipes are relatively low in fat but not exactly fat free which is a bonus since most casseroles will wreck your waistline. This one will not do that unless you eat the whole casserole pan in one sitting...which would be easy to do with recipes like this. Here's a list of the recipes I tried so far:Aloo Gobi- Very flavorful and pretty close to what you get at an Indian RestaurantJambalaya-Very good one. Follow the recipe as is makes a good side, add the options...you got a good meal :)Morrocan Vegetable Stew- Oh my god!!! Just make it!!!Very Veggie Pot Pie- Similar to the one in Vegan Diner but with an oat flour based gravy. This was definitely an upgrade :)Mujadara-Simple but addictive. I can live off this stuff!Taco Casserole- Not like the version I'm used to but a nice change. This version was definitely spiced better than the one I had.Tamale Pie- This was simple and amazing. The cornbread batter may look runny and you might get nervous but TRUST THE PROCESS!!! The pie comes out perfect.Boozy Baked Penne with Caramelized Onions- It's got beer and potato chips in a creamy sauce. Comfort and happiness in a pan!Mac n' Cheese Casserole- This was a favorite for my kids. I can sneak veggies in this and they will inhale it.Roasted Butternut Squash Casserole- made this for a friend who had a baby and she was begging me for the recipe. She's not even vegan!Creamy Spinach Florintine- This was a personal favorite and easy to put together.Truffled Cauliflower Mac- I overdid the truffle salt (it was optional) AND truffle oil...I regret NOTHING!!!Truffled Potato Gratin- My husband doesn't get the allure of truffle flavored anything but he liked this recipe.Summer Corn Custard- This was the only recipe that didn't "wow" me. It was good but wasn't as custard like as I would have wanted.Spinach Artichoke Casserole- This recipe tastes like the dip but pretty guilt free if you check out the ingredients.Chickpeas with Rice, Dill and Tomatoes- This was a hit with my inlaws.Zucchini, Corn, and Blackbean Enchiladas- This was better than any enchilada recipe I ever made. And super simple!Italian Stuffed Peppers with Fennel and Garlic- I was only disappointed that there weren't any leftovers!I should also disclose that I was NOT a recipe tester for this cookbook but just someone who is a fan of Julie Hasson's work. Hope you guys enjoy this cookbook as much as me and my family does :)

Most of these recipes are "serves 4." Don't most people plan on feeding a larger number than that if they're making a casserole? At least include help on doubling-tripling recipes.

As other reviewers have commented there are some random "non-casserole" dishes in here like five layer hummus dip. I mean, I wasn't really looking for that type of recipe when I bought the book but maybe some people will try it and like it. I did make the Creamy Dill and Rice Casserole. The sauce the book referred me to was a snap to make really. And the casserole turned out to be SO tasty! It hit all the flavor notes I was looking for when I thought "Man, I could go for a casserole." Some people mentioned the author's reliance in some cases on store bought products/processed foods. I think if that's an issue, you can simply sub your own homemade versions, as I do. I don't see how that would detract from rating this book. A lot of people who are looking for a book like this probably have a family to feed and are looking for recipes that are simple, cruelty free, and come together easily (and taste good). I think her selection has a good broad range of difference one dish meals, and a fairly creative selection as well. I recommend this book, for sure. It's not as colorful as say Isa's cookbooks, or very high brow. I do think it succeeds well in being what is it: good recipes for vegan casseroles. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of these! One tip from me if you are using soy curls: don't bother reconstituting if they're going into a casserole. They'll absorb the rest of the soupy mixture and taste fine so skip that extra work!

This is on track to be my most-used cookbook. Casseroles are one of my favorite foods. They can be made in advance, they're one-dish meals, they're warm and comforting, they often use pantry staples, and they're quick to prepare. However, because so many casseroles rely on things like canned soup, vegan versions often take too much work in comparison. And that's where Vegan Casseroles has blown me away. The sauces (and the casseroles themselves) come together so easily. Often the sauce is just a few ingredients blended together. Occasionally, the sauce is then cooked on the stove to thicken a bit. Still, really easy.If you have an average vegan pantry (nutritional yeast, soy curls or seitan, canned beans, silken tofu, rice, pasta, raw cashews, tahini, and so on), you'll be able to make most recipes without a trip to a store. The one exception is that many recipes use oat flour as a thickener. You can make your own by throwing regular oatmeal in a blender or sub another flour, but I went the easy route and invested in a bag of Bob's Red Mill. It should last a good long time.With the oat flour as the only exception, I made Apple Kugel, bean and rice casserole, and spinach florentine with just the ingredients I normally have at home. They all came together quickly and easily, reheated well, and tasted great as leftovers, too.If you want to avoid things like vegan cheese or soy curls, I think this book is still worth it. Lots of recipes (including the three mentioned above) don't require those, and the author offers suggestions for substitutions. I've also found that the casseroles are a good place to serve whole grains (brown rice, whole grain pasta) without my family noticing. There's so much going on in the recipes we tried that that extra bit of chewiness and nuttiness isn't very noticeable.

I loved the sound of this book and it hasn't disappointed. I've made about 25 recipes so far and there are lots more that I want to make. Easy to follow, lovely pictures and comforting meals. I have particularly enjoyed making Cornbread for the first time and the Old Fashioned Tamale Pie, which uses a cornbread topping, was delicious. I also really enjoyed the Rustic White Beans with Garlic & Sage, Very Veggie Pot Pie, Smoky Corn Cheddar Quiche, Rice & Broccoli Casserole, Shepherd's Pie with Lentils & Herbs, Zucchini Basil Lasagna & Roasted Butternut Squash Casserole. The Blueberry Cobbler & Nectarine Cobbler were also delicious & unlike anything I've made before. This book does use ingredients some people may not of heard of like nutritional yeast flakes (Nooch) & some recipes need vegan cheese and soya curls. You can get the cheese from Health food shops and big supermarkets & although the soya curls are available online you can just use meat free chicken pieces.

ever wondered what to make for dinner if you were to go vegetarian or vegan? This book has you covered. A great book for cold winter evenings, this is filled with warm, filling, great tasting casseroles that are not overly fussy or difficult to make. I received it for Christmas and have tried several recipes all which turned out great. I had all of the ingredients on hand but if you don't they are not difficult to find. Add some steamed veggies on the side and done. Vegan comfort food at it's best.

This book is quite nice. I do like a good casserole in the colder months. I have made the mac and gravy a few times now, it's a very comforting dish that uses mostly pantry stuff. I have also made the mujadara. That was incredible the flavours were very complex and it was wonderfully filling, just as good as leftovers the next day. There are quite a number of gluten free recipes, I am not gluten free but it is nice to see for those who are. All her gravy recipes use oat flour, I have used the same amount of all purpose wheat flour with no issues.

I don't want to turn anyone off from this cookbook. It just wasn't for me. Wasn't thrilled with the ingredients used. Would have only made about 5 recipes in the whole book-not worth keeping. Again, it helps to see it for yourself

This is an amazing book for those new to the Vegan way of life, and for long-time Vegans. I think I want to try every recipe!