Forks Over Knives

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Darshana Thacker Wendel

Darshana Thacker Wendel

Darshana Thacker Wendel is a whole-food, plant-based chef and former culinary projects manager for Forks Over Knives. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, she is the author of Forks Over Knives: Flavor! She created the recipes for Forks Over Knives Family and was a lead recipe contributor to the New York Times bestseller The Forks Over Knives Plan. Her recipes have been published in The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook, Forks Over Knives—The Cookbook, Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health, and LA Yoga magazine online.

All Contributions from Darshana Thacker Wendel (447)

  • cheesy sauce, cheesy dressing

    Cheesy Dressing

    This versatile sauce is excellent tossed with veggies or with chips, pita bread, and anything else you or your kids like to dip. You can also mix leftover sauce with warm cooked pasta for a quick mac ‘n cheese, or use it as a cheesy spread in wraps and sandwiches. It’s a good standby for […]
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  • Small, herb-coated, cooked potatoes cut in half presented on a white plate with a sprig of rosemary on top. The plate sits on a marble table top with more rosemary and a small bowl of pomegranate arils beside it.

    Herbed Fingerling Potatoes

    This recipe uses a lot of fresh herbs, but you can make it with dried herbs instead. Use only half the quantity for dried herbs as indicated for the fresh herbs.
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  • Apple, Grapefruit, Pomegranate Salad on a large, white oval serving platter next to a bunch of fresh mint, a lemon, and fresh whole pomegranate

    Apple, Grapefruit, Pomegranate Salad

    This refreshing salad does not need any dressing or seasoning. You can substitute oranges for the grapefruit, if you like.
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  • A top down view of two halves of Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash on a white platter, with fresh red bell pepper, carrots and sprigs of rosemary surrounding the platter. The background is a pale blue washed-wood surface.

    Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash

    Winter squashes, such as acorn and butternut, can be tricky to work with because their tough skin is hard to peel. Preparing squash this way—stuffed with a savory filling and roasted—puts that sturdy shell to good use. The rice should be quite moist after it cooks in step 3; it provides good contrast to the […]
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  • Mixed Beans and Root Vegetable Stew in a white bowl on a dark wooden table top

    Mixed Beans and Root Vegetable Stew

    This is almost a chili—except that there are more root vegetables than beans. If you want to make it into a chili, just cut down on the vegetables and up the beans. Serve as is or with cooked grains, tortilla chips, or baked potatoes.
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  • Pumpkin Cranberry Cookies spread out on a marble background with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries scattered between the cookies

    Pumpkin Cranberry Cookies

    These pumpkin-cranberry cookies are a crowd pleaser at a party or an afternoon snack for the kids after game snack, so bake a double batch. These freeze well; reheat by baking at 350°F for 20 minutes. For very crispy cookies, bake them a few minutes longer.
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  • A ramekin of white navy bean hummus sprinkled with fresh herbs is on a cutting board beside whole wheat pitas and fresh veggies

    Navy Bean Hummus and Mixed Vegetable Pita Pockets

    Creamy, garlicky navy bean hummus and crunchy fresh vegetables are tucked into hearty whole-wheat pitas in a perfect marriage of textures, colors, and flavors. From The Forks Over Knives Plan
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  • Two servings of Vegan Chickpea Chili on Baked Potatoes served in wide-mouthed bowls with a pot of Chickpea Chili in the background

    Vegan Chickpea Chili on Baked Potatoes

    At a deli one afternoon, I ordered a tomato-vegetable soup and a baked potato. When I received the two items, they looked like they belonged together, so I poured the soup right over the potato. The result? A tasty new meal and the spark that led to all sorts of new dishes that turn baked […]
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  • Two large stacks of Chocolate Chip Coconut Pancakes next to a bowl of sliced banana and a small bowl of vegan chocolate chips

    Chocolate Chip Coconut Pancakes

    These pancakes are so simple and delicious, and they’re just as good for dessert as they are for breakfast! Plus, they freeze really well, so you can make an extra batch and freeze them. Use a large griddle so that you can cook three or four at a time. From Forks Over Knives Family
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  • A wide-rimmed brown bowl of Chinese Noodles in Ginger Garlic Sauce next to a blue cloth napkin

    Chinese Noodles in Ginger Garlic Sauce

    This quick and flavorful dish can be made quicker still by using frozen veggies in place of fresh. Instead of chow mein or lo mein noodles, which are traditionally made with processed wheat flour and egg, use whole wheat spaghetti or any other long whole grain noodles. From Forks Over Knives Family
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  • Spiced Sweet Potato Tacos: Vegan tacos shown from above on a gray table, open tortillas topped with sweet potato, peppers, and avocado

    Spiced Sweet Potato Tacos

    These are a favorite of my friend Judy Micklewright’s six-year-old daughter, Becky, who could not stop eating them the first time I served them to her. The potato wedges make it easier to keep the stuffing in the tacos. From Forks Over Knives Family
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  • Smashed Chickpea Avocado Dip in a white bowl on a white background with pita bread squares and a whole avocado cut in half off to the side

    Smashed Chickpea Avocado Dip

    This is probably one of the fastest appetizers I have ever made. You can serve it with toasted pita bread or corn tortillas. I make wraps or sandwiches with any leftover dip. Spice it up with some hot sauce if you like.
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Master The Art Of Plant-based Cooking.

The Forks Over Knives online cooking course helps you learn new techniques, flavors, and styles for cooking delicious plant-based, oil-free meals at home.