Savoring now available!
After over 4 years of working on my very first cookbook, I am excited to announce that Savoring is now available for purchase!
Savoring is a collection of beautiful and vibrant plant-based recipes inspired by memories, family, across ocean travels, and with the flavors of far-reaching influences.
Beyond that, this cookbook is an ode to slow cooking–choosing to consciously slow down and create a dish without distractions:
cherishing the time in the kitchen,
celebrating the ingredients that give us life,
and slowly transforming them into something magical.
“Savoring has everything you want in a cookbook: a stunning collection of flavor-forward, inventive recipes that beg to be cooked, a beautiful tribute to shared cultures, and a thoughtful and compelling invitation to slow down and savor life and all its flavors. Murielle’s accessible, unique plant-based dishes will inspire you to be a better cook and more joyous eater.”
– HANNAH CHE, author of The Vegan Chinese Kitchen
Savoring has allowed me to channel who I am as a recipe creator, while honoring my heritage through never before shared plant-based recipes. In this cookbook, I share many recipes influenced by my upbringing in the Republic of Congo, my mom’s Russian and Ukrainian heritage, and my family’s immigration to Montreal.
With recipes that range from stuffed savory crepes to lentil-filled dumplings to cassava leaf and spinach stew, inside, you’ll find:
- Bountiful Breakfasts: Crispy Chickpea Pancakes with Avocado and Salsa; Rum-Coconut French Toast with Caramelized Bananas; Stewed Blackberries and Lemon Ricotta Toasts
- Small Plates and Salads: Pan-Fried Plantains; Pearl Barley Salad with Roasted Bell Peppers and Vegan Feta; Garlicky Miso-Glazed Bok Choy; Fufu
- Marvelous Main Dishes: Coconut-Crusted Tofu with Spicy Mango Salsa; Peanut Butter and Sweet Potato Stew; Sesame Ginger Glazed Shiitakes with Sticky Rice; Quebec Meatless Pie
- Delectable Desserts: Olive Oil and Rose Polenta Bundt Cake; Spiced Poached Pear Puff Pastry Tart; Date-Sweetened Chocolate Cream Tarts; Fried Banana Beignets
Outside of the 100 unique, flavor-forward vegan recipes, Savoring features moody, atmospheric photos to celebrate the colors, textures, and beauty of food.
More praise
“I’m inspired by the vegan interpretations of Murielle’s well-loved family recipes in this remarkable collection. Nods to tradition, new vegan classics, sophisticated options for entertaining, and quick comfort food all have a place here.”
– LAURA WRIGHT, author of The First Mess Cookbook
“Whether you eat entirely plant-based or not, this book is for you. This collection of recipes is beautifully vibrant and full of flavor, the kind of dishes that are food for the soul: nourishing, comforting, and utterly delicious. Murielle has created a gem of a cookbook that deserves to be in every kitchen.”
– DIALA CANELO, author of Diala’s Kitchen
“This cookbook is a feast for the senses, with beautiful food photography that will inspire you to get into the kitchen and start cooking! The entirely plant-based recipes burst with flavor and celebrate Murielle’s diverse culinary journey, from her childhood memories in the Congo to her passion for veganism. With a focus on slow and intentional cooking, and with everything from savory dishes to decadent desserts, this book is perfect for home cooks who want to create delicious, wholesome dishes that will delight their taste buds and impress their loved ones.”
– SADIA BADIEI, founder of Pick Up Limes
“While the promise of 15-minute dinners has never been louder, most of us still find ourselves stressed and overworked. Murielle has given us a beautiful and much-needed reminder that when we’re intentional in the kitchen, we not only appreciate our food more, but we’re also practicing the radical act of love for ourselves and others. Between the stunning photography and the wide variety of unique plant-based meals that speak to Murielle’s cross-cultural upbringing, Savoring will earn a spot both on your coffee table and in your kitchen.”
– NISHA VORA, author of The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook and creator of Rainbow Plant Life
“With intentional, slow recipes that bring out the best of nutritious ingredients, these are vegan dishes bursting with flavor. There’s a wonderful mix of recipes in Savoring from Murielle’s cultural background and I would happily make every one. With beautifully dramatic photography and an equally stunning design, this is a cookbook you’ll turn to again and again.”
– ALEXANDRA DAUM, author of Occasionally Eggs
Savoring available for purchase now
In Canada
In the US
For international orders, please visit Amazon.com and select your appropriate country, or visit your local bookstore to pre-order your copy!
FAQ
Are these recipes new or are they from your blog ? The vast majority of the recipes in Savoring are new, but there are a handful family classics that I simply had to re-share in print.
What is the level of difficulty of the recipes in this book? I would say it varies. Some recipes are definitely very beginner friendly, but others are a little more advanced. However, I really tried my best, for all the recipes, to give as much detail as possible in the instructions to make even the more complex recipes accessible to beginners. Plus, since the theme of Savoring is all about slowing down, if you take your time, read the steps carefully and are fully present, you will be just fine even if you are a beginner.
Can I find the ingredients for the recipes easily? Absolutely! There are a 2 recipes that would require you to go to an Asian or African grocery store, but outside of those, all ingredients can be found at a most grocery stores.
Are the recipes all vegan? Yes, all the recipes are free of meat, dairy, eggs, fish, or any animal product.
Does this book include gluten free recipes? Yes, over 90% of the recipes are naturally gluten-free or have an option to easily be made so. All those recipes are identified with an icon in the book.
Are there many nut-forward recipe? Actually no! I have a nut intolerance (it triggers my eczema) so I don’t cook with nuts much. Hence, this cookbook is very nut-allergy/intolerance friendly!
Are the recipes in metric unit? Some of them are yes. In the book, I provide metric weights for ingredients of 1 tablespoon or more for all the baking recipes (cakes, breads, muffins, homemade pasta…), and for any other recipe where the precise measurement of ingredients could make a noticeable difference to its success.
Where is Savoring available? To pre-order it, you can find the list of US and Canadian retailers higher on this page. For international orders, please visit Amazon.com and select your appropriate country, or visit your local bookstore to pre-order your copy!
Can I buy your book form a small bookstore? Yes, simply contact your favorite small bookstore and and place an order for the book.
While you wait to receive your copy of Savoring, I encourage you to already start incorporating more mindfulness, presence, and intention in your cooking practices.
About the Author
Murielle Banackissa is a food photographer, recipe developer, and food stylist based in Montreal.
Outside of spending hours developing new recipes and shooting them in her home studio, Murielle loves paying attention to the details surrounding her as a way to feel more grounded and present. From water droplets resting on leaves after rainfall, to the golden glow of summer nights, to the way yeasted dough rises under the ideal conditions, she is always seeking the magic in seemingly mundane moments.