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)

  • Navy Bean Homemade Hummus - white creamy hummus in a small bowl, garnished with cilantro, with whole grain crackers on the side

    Navy Bean Hummus

    This garlicky homemade hummus gets its extra-creamy texture from navy beans that you cook from scratch. It’s important to sort dried beans before soaking them: Spread beans out on a kitchen towel, and remove any that are broken, shriveled, or unusually dark, as well as any rocks and debris that are in the mix.
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  • Blueberry Farro Grain Bowl - Colorful array of diced bell pepper tomatoes, fresh herbs, and corn, with farro and blueberries, in a reddish pink bowl with a glass of water beside

    Blueberry Farro Grain Bowl

    Blueberries bring refreshing bursts of sweetness to this colorful bowl. Farro, an ancient grain and a cousin of modern wheat berries, makes a satisfying base. For a gluten-free version, you can use sorghum in place of farro.
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  • 4 Glass parfait glasses of Blueberry Mint Nice Cream

    Mint and Blueberry Nice Cream

    Frozen blueberries and bananas make the most dramatic-looking nice cream you’ve ever seen. The addition of fresh mint takes the flavor to the next level. For a pretty garnish, top each serving of this frozen treat with a few fresh blueberries and a sprig of mint.
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  • blueberry balsamic glaze sauce shown drizzled over a colorful array of fruit including kiwis and mango, on a purple table

    Ginger and Blueberry Balsamic Glaze

    This sweet-tart glaze tastes great over fresh fruit (shown here over chopped mango, apple, kiwi and blueberries). It would also complement roasted vegetables or ice cream or make a tasty alternative to jelly in a peanut butter sandwich.
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  • creamy vegan risotto with mushrooms, carrots, and peas, in a white bowl on a red plate

    Lots-of-Vegetables Risotto

    Garlic, mushrooms, and vegetable broth infuse this creamy vegan risotto with savory flavor, while crisp-tender carrots and peas add a dash of sweetness to round things out. Short on time? Use precooked rice and start with Step 2, adding a little water to the rice if it’s dry.
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  • Mini tarts shown on individual plates - small tartlets with a lavender-vanilla filling and saucy blueberry topping

    Blueberry Tartlets

    With a luscious vanilla filling, saucy jewel-toned topping, and wholesome, perfectly crisp crusts, these mini blueberry tarts are a treat for the eyes and the taste buds. You don’t need special pans to turn out fancy little tartlets—a muffin mold does the trick. The crust calls for whole wheat flour, but you can use any […]
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  • Festive Oil-Free Sourdough Focaccia Bread - An 8x13 focaccia decorated with herbs and vegetables to make a springtime landscape

    Festive Sourdough Focaccia

    Here’s a fresh use for your idling sourdough starter. Decorating this festive focaccia can be a fun activity for the whole family. Feel free to get creative with the selection and placement of your toppings. I used the following herbs and veggies to create the floral effect, first placing the stems, then the flowers, then […]
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  • myrna's homemade marinara sauce

    Myrna’s Marinara Sauce

    Myrna is Forks Over Knives founder and president Brian Wendel’s mom. Her crowd-pleasing marinara sauce requires minimal prep: You just throw all the ingredients into a pot, bring it all to a simmer, and, half an hour later, your thick, rich tomato sauce is ready. Use this oil-free marinara sauce in Spaghetti Marinara with Lentil […]
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  • a bowl of minestrone with a thick broth, kale leaves, and chopped potatoes and white beans visible in soup

    Vegan Minestrone Soup with Potatoes and Kale

    Sautéed onion, mushrooms, and garlic infuse the broth of this vegan minestrone with rich, savory flavor, while fork-tender potatoes, kale, and white beans add a satisfying mix of textures.
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  • Brown rice kheer in a bowl garnished with raisins and pistachios

    Indian Brown Rice Pudding (Kheer)

    Kheer is Indian pudding made by boiling milk with a starch such as rice, tapioca, or corn. This whole-food, plant-based recipe uses plant-based milk instead of dairy milk and brown rice instead of white. The result is an aromatic sweet pudding that is as healthful as it is heavenly.
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  • brown rice casserole with broccoli and tomatoes, shown in a round white casserole dish

    Broccoli and Brown Rice Casserole with Chickpeas

    Broccoli and some pantry staples are all you need to make this comforting rice casserole, which has a subtly creamy texture thanks to a slurry of oat flour and plant milk. Dial up the chili powder and paprika if you like more heat. This recipe is gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oats. For more […]
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  • Lima bean hummus - green hummus with basil shown with pita chips

    Lima Bean Pesto Hummus

    Lima beans stand in for chickpeas in this fresh, flavorful spread or dip. Frozen lima beans don’t take long to cook, and they make a nice green base for this basil-infused hummus. Find more flavorful homemade hummus recipes here.
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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.