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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)

  • A small bowl of Spinach Ranch Dip garnished with fresh herbs next to a plate of carrot and cucumber sticks

    Spinach Ranch Dip

    This dressing has more color than a traditional creamy white ranch recipe. I like to use fresh herbs, but feel free to substitute dried ones, reducing the measure by half. Besides as an oil-free dressing for salads, you can also use this versatile recipe as a dip served with crudités or as a sandwich spread.
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  • Quinoa Millet w Kale and Butternut Squash

    Quinoa with Kale and Roasted Butternut Squash

    This is a great lunch or dinner dish no matter what season it is. During the summer, serve it chilled on a bed of greens, and during the winter, serve it at room temperature with a cup of hot soup. From The Forks Over Knives Plan Find this recipe and more in the Forks Over […]
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  • Butternut Squash Soup with Peas in a white bowl on a white plate with a sprig of basil on the side

    Butternut Squash Soup with Sautéed Green Peas and Pesto Sauce

    This butternut squash soup is so good, even if you only have time to make one of the two beautiful and tasty toppings. However, I highly recommend that you make both whenever possible, so you can fully enjoy the flavors and textural contrasts of the mildly sweet, silky-smooth soup; the tangy peas-and-green-onion topping; and the […]
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  • Pumpkin Parfait

    Pumpkin Parfait with Cashew Vanilla Cream

    This is one of the easiest Thanksgiving desserts that I have ever made. It blends the spices in the pumpkin with vanilla cream very well. I love that it tastes so delicious and yet doesn’t require any cooking except for toasting the pecans. Make and assemble it a day in advance, and it will be […]
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  • A serving of Sweet Potato Lasagna next to a casserole dish with one serving removed

    Sweet Potato Lasagna

    This dish is ideal to serve to a group. It has all sorts of different tastes and textures. Use white-fleshed sweet potatoes with brown, purple, or reddish-orange skin (they may be labeled as yams), which can be found in most well-stocked grocery stores, and at farmers’ markets. Starchier and drier than the moister, sweeter orange-fleshed […]
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  • A casserole dish of carrots and other root vegetables roasted without oil

    3 Expert Tips on How to Cook Without Oil

    Many people are surprised to learn that it’s easy to cook great food without oil or butter. Besides being healthier, it’s not hard to make the switch to oil-free cooking. You’ll still steam, poach, boil, and stew your dishes the same way. Here is a breakdown of how to sauté, stir-fry, bake, and roast without added fat. Why […]
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  • This brown rice salad recipe has been my favorite for a long time. It is filling yet refreshing, especially in the summer, and doesn't even need a dressing!

    Hollywood Bowl Brown Rice Salad

    This brown rice salad recipe has been my favorite for a long time. It is filling yet refreshing, especially in the summer, and doesn't even need a dressing!
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  • The layers of this vegan rice pudding recipe have a lovely effect when you taste it, with creamy pudding, crunchy chia seeds, and sweet-tart berry sauce.

    Rice Pudding with Mixed Berry Sauce

    Chia seeds undergo a remarkable transformation when soaked in water— they plump up and develop a jellylike coating, making them a wonderful textural addition to all sorts of dishes. If you have clear pudding cups or even cocktail glasses, these puddings make a beautiful presentation as you can see the layers of pudding, chia seeds, […]
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  • Cream of Broccoli Soup

    Cream of Broccoli Soup

    This soup is delicious, and making it gives you the enormous satisfaction of transforming a large amount of broccoli into a luscious and creamy soup.
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  • Enchilada Sauce

    Enchilada Sauce

    This tangy sauce is exactly what you need to prepare Potato Enchiladas or a delicious Pizza. Keep some on hand to whip those recipes up in mere minutes!
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  • Roasted Buckwheat Salad

    Roasted Buckwheat Salad

    Roasted buckwheat, also called kasha, has an earthy, woody flavor that I find very interesting. It makes a nice variation to my grain salads. You can easily change the grain to rice or quinoa and add any mix of herbs you like. This makes a very hearty side dish. This Roasted Buckwheat Salad recipe and other […]
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  • Three vegan desserts: nice cream with chocolate sauce, chocolate cupcakes and strawberry cupcakes

    5 Scrumptious Plant-Based Desserts

    These amazing plant-based and vegan desserts are so good for holidays and celebratory occasions. Bring one of these along to a special celebration or a family meal and everyone will thank you! 1. Double Chocolate Cupcakes Rich and moist, these chocolate cupcakes are topped with a fudgy date frosting. Feel free to dress these up for […]
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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.