Vegan Planet: Spinach and White Bean Fritters + A Cookbook Giveaway!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Spinach and White Bean Fritters + A Cookbook Giveaway!

Yes, it’s that time again — another weekly cookbook giveaway to celebrate Vegan Mofo! This week, the prize is a copy of Vegan Unplugged: A Pantry Cuisine Cookbook and Emergency Guide. My husband Jon wrote this book primarily as a way to eat well when the power goes out, but it's also great for camping or when the fridge is bare or you don't feel like cooking.

I developed the recipes for the book using only nonperishable pantry ingredients. Among them are: Almost-Instant Black Bean Chili, Samosadillas, Fire-Roasted Blueberry Cobbler, and one of my favorites, Ginger-Walnut Rum Balls. All the recipes can be ready in 15 minutes. Best of all, they are easily adapted for using fresh ingredients when you have them on hand.

A case in point are the Spinach and White Bean Fritters (shown above with agave carrots and dried blueberries). You can make the fritters with fresh or frozen spinach, but — get this — you can also make them with a jar of baby food spinach (!) which you’ve prudently stowed in your pantry for an emergency. I made the fritters in today’s photo using frozen spinach, but I’ve also made them using the other options, and they all taste great. The recipe is at the end of this post, but first —

Here are the contest details:

For your chance to win a copy of Vegan Unplugged, just leave a comment at the end of this post and tell me what your favorite non-perishable pantry ingredient is. That’s it!

The contest ends Monday 11/15 at midnight when a winner will be chosen at random and announced on 11/16. Good luck in the contest and happy MoFo-ing!

Spinach and White Bean Fritters
With no additives and a rich spinach flavor, a jar of spinach baby food is the secret ingredient to these tasty protein-rich fritters. Fresh, frozen, or rehydrated spinach can also be used in this recipe. For more recipes and info about Vegan Unplugged, check out Jon’s blog.
1 (15.5-ounce) can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 (4-ounce) jar spinach baby food (or 1/2 cup cooked chopped spinach, tightly packed)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup ground walnuts
3 tablespoons dried bread crumbs, plus more if needed
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1. In a bowl, mash the white beans. Add the remaining ingredients, stirring until well mixed.
2. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Shape the mixture into small patties (you can dredge in extra bread crumbs, if you like) and cook in the hot skillet, in batches if needed. Flatten with a metal spatula and cook until browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip the fritters and cook until the other side is golden brown. Serve hot.
Makes 4 servings

Labels: cookbook giveaway contest, Spinach adn White Bean Fritters, Vegan MoFo, Vegan Unplugged

# posted by Robin at Vegan Planet @ 9:25 AM

Comments:

Hi - my favorite pantry non-perishable is black beans!!

# posted by

Kathi : November 10, 2010 at 9:48 AM

Dried chickpeas and lentils, no question! Also, canned tomatoes.

# posted by

Rachel : November 10, 2010 at 9:51 AM

Hmmm ... I'd probably have to say canned garbanzo beans. I don't know why, but I can just eat chickpeas by the handful.

# posted by

radioactivegan : November 10, 2010 at 9:57 AM

Pepper.It flavors and it helps to cut down on the addition of salt into the diet.

# posted by

Suburban prep : November 10, 2010 at 9:57 AM

So many choices. I can't decide but I'm going to go with almonds.

# posted by

Leah : November 10, 2010 at 9:57 AM

Dried grains! I keep all types on hand in case a recipe needs a little something to accompany it. They're cheap, they cook up fast, and they can add some heft to any meal.

# posted by

Candy Beans : November 10, 2010 at 10:10 AM

Quinoa!

# posted by

Unknown : November 10, 2010 at 10:10 AM

My favorite pantry staple is organic vegetable broth. I go through a ton of it because I use it for making soups, curries, sauces, etc..

# posted by

Sharensa1 : November 10, 2010 at 10:20 AM

Definitely unsalted cashews. Needed for so many recipes, and an amazing treat just by themselves.

# posted by

Aleris : November 10, 2010 at 10:21 AM

Brown rice. :)

# posted by

Mirkat : November 10, 2010 at 10:25 AM

Canned tomatoes are a necessity!

# posted by

Erica : November 10, 2010 at 10:36 AM

got to be pasta, you can do so much with it and add almost anything to it and it'll always taste good (and my kids will always eat it!).

# posted by

Anna : November 10, 2010 at 10:50 AM

Hearts of palm!

# posted by

ilanica : November 10, 2010 at 10:52 AM

Canned beans, canned tomato products, onions or garlic. All seem to leave my pantry practically as soon as they get there!

# posted by

mirbrewer : November 10, 2010 at 10:58 AM

Tinned CHICKPEAS! I love them so much that one year Santa bought me some!

# posted by

Carla : November 10, 2010 at 11:01 AM

Dried beans here as well - but my favourite beans ever, which are very hard to get outside Styria: scarlet runner beans. They're huge, and together with some onions, salt pepper and pumpkin seed oil they make _the_ perfect salad.

# posted by

phoenix : November 10, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Rice noodles. They can be cooked by soaking in hot tap water (which you'll still have when the power goes out if you have a gas water heater), and then add some soy sauce, lime juice, chopped herbs, random vegetables, tofu, whatever else you have around to make an Asian-y noodle dish.

# posted by

S : November 10, 2010 at 11:35 AM

home-canned marmalade

# posted by

Laura : November 10, 2010 at 11:37 AM

Beans. And nutritional yeast flakes. I live on these.

# posted by

Unknown : November 10, 2010 at 11:38 AM

My favorite pantry staple is oatmeal. You can do so much with it! Hot cereal, granola, cookies, breakfast bars... ok, now I want breakfast!

# posted by

HeyitsBeth : November 10, 2010 at 11:46 AM

beans and soy curls!

# posted by

katie : November 10, 2010 at 11:55 AM

Sounds like a great cookbook! I like to keep rice and lentils around.

# posted by

Anonymous : November 10, 2010 at 12:06 PM

ah it's a toss up between peanut butter and nutritional yeast-both of which im known for eating with a spoon!

# posted by

Maggie : November 10, 2010 at 12:15 PM

I have had the worst luck with fritter type recipes, but this looks good enough that I might try it again...as for my favorite non-perishable pantry item is just some rotini pasta. So versatile and has saved me numerous times when last minute meal changes have to happen.

# posted by

Lizzie Bordello : November 10, 2010 at 12:20 PM

Thanks for the chance to win. My favorite non-perishable pantry item is black beans!!

# posted by

beastmomma : November 10, 2010 at 12:26 PM

Lizzie: I've found that the key to successful fritters is to make sure the fritter mixture isn't "wet" (for these, if using fresh or frozen cooked spinach make sure all the water is squeezed out). I also like to dredge them in some extra breadcrumbs before frying to get a nice crisp coating.

# posted by

Robin at Vegan Planet : November 10, 2010 at 12:28 PM

beans, beans, beans!
most especially black beans.
you can throw em in a quesadilla, smash em up and fry em as cakes, puree them into dip, or add a can of salsa and ta da! instant soup.

# posted by

miranda : November 10, 2010 at 1:05 PM

Great recipe!

My favorite non-perishable pantry item is a tie between lentils and chickpeas! I just LOVE them!

# posted by

Twisted Cinderella : November 10, 2010 at 1:27 PM

red lentils! cheap, and last forever.

my problem is that we end up wasting money by buying things I'll be "sure" to use but quickly forget about.

# posted by

julie : November 10, 2010 at 1:31 PM

I would absolutely love to have this book, because it's fall and perfect weather for camping! My favorite pantry item would have to be quinoa. Though it takes a bit of effort to rinse and cook it has a special place in my heart <3 thanks!

# posted by

Punkin Nerd : November 10, 2010 at 1:35 PM

My favorite is tomato paste, which is non-perishable until the jar is opened. I'm eating enormous quantities of it, almost daily.

# posted by

Rasmus : November 10, 2010 at 1:40 PM

Fav non-perishable pantry item: Canned Artichokes! Can heat them up with roasted peppers and eggplant for a main dish, puree for an appetizer dip, throw into any pasta dish or use cold in a salad. Delish!

# posted by

Amanda : November 10, 2010 at 1:47 PM

Canned beans right now, but I'm going to try to start using dried beans instead!

# posted by

palindrome : November 10, 2010 at 1:55 PM

Dried black beans -- so many potential meals, so much nutrition, and so little money!

# posted by

Maggie : November 10, 2010 at 2:06 PM

Tough question, I'd say white beans, or maybe canned tomatoes.

# posted by

N : November 10, 2010 at 3:08 PM

Too many to choose from!
I'll say 'raw' cashews! Eat them by the handful and makes fabulous recipes (like cashew creme...mmmmm!!)

# posted by

Tahn : November 10, 2010 at 3:11 PM

My fave is chickpeas--I can eat them right of the can--and as an extra bonus, my cat loves them too!!

# posted by

Karen : November 10, 2010 at 3:37 PM

I love all the usual suspects - beans and grains. What I like most, however, is canned coconut milk and thai curry paste. You can whip up a curry in a jiffy. Much nicer than a standard last minute pasta dish, no?

# posted by

Laura : November 10, 2010 at 3:58 PM

My fave would have to be dried beans.

# posted by

Quiltbug : November 10, 2010 at 4:09 PM

Those fritters look just delicious. My favorite non-perishable pantry item is canned or jarred hearts of palm.

# posted by

celyn : November 10, 2010 at 4:46 PM

I absolutely love Baked Beans! They go with anything and if you're hungry enough you can eat them cold out of the tin! They're also really good for camping!

# posted by

Blueberries : November 10, 2010 at 5:07 PM

chickpeas, chickpeas, chickpeas!

# posted by

Katie : November 10, 2010 at 5:43 PM

Quinoa! It is a great source of calcium. It can be used in baking, casseroles, as a side, etc.

# posted by

Anonymous : November 10, 2010 at 6:00 PM

My favorite pantry item is canned artichoke hearts in water. I love cooking with them. They taste so creamy.

# posted by

Rhea Parsons : November 10, 2010 at 6:06 PM

I love to eat artichoke hearts right out of the can.

# posted by

Becky : November 10, 2010 at 6:12 PM

I have to agree with tinned chickpeas!

And those fritters look like a delicious meal :)

# posted by

x : November 10, 2010 at 7:45 PM

Nutritional yeast - that's it! :)

# posted by

Becky : November 10, 2010 at 8:24 PM

so many non perishables to choose from... hmmm my current favorite pantry item is mango chutney! yum yum

# posted by

peggy : November 10, 2010 at 8:28 PM

Chickpeas..they pretty much rock my world. :)

# posted by

Ashley : November 10, 2010 at 8:39 PM

Beans. Oh, definitely beans. Any kind, though chickpeas and black beans are particular favorites.

# posted by

Chef Amber Shea : November 10, 2010 at 8:39 PM

Garlic powder! I like a few heaping tablespoons in most everything I make :)

# posted by

kelly g. : November 10, 2010 at 8:39 PM

canned, diced tomatoes

# posted by

trixie baum : November 10, 2010 at 9:08 PM

Although I totally rely on canned beans and tomatoes, my favorite pantry ingredient is canned/precooked lentils - Indian Dal is ready for lunch in 20 minutes, start to finish ^_^

# posted by

Carole : November 10, 2010 at 9:18 PM

Thank you for the White Beans and Spinach. I am allergic to soy, so it was definitely a keeper!

I love "Karen's Muffaletta" in my cupboard, but I can no longer buy in the area I currently live in :((

# posted by

Unknown : November 10, 2010 at 9:21 PM

Chickpeas!

# posted by

Amanda : November 10, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Dried beans...especially black and garbonzo, ooh, and lentils!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 10, 2010 at 10:03 PM

black beans and brown rice - that's our staple!

# posted by

Allison M. : November 10, 2010 at 10:41 PM

I love raw almonds and eat a handful almost every day. Great snack for between meal hunger pangs.

# posted by

Anonymous : November 10, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Canned tomatoes for me, too!

# posted by

Gail D : November 10, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Chickpeas. Garbanzo beans. Ceci beans. Indian peas... I love 'em. Not matter the epithet. Yum!

# posted by

The Brinkleys : November 10, 2010 at 11:48 PM

Sea Salt.

# posted by

ANRIE : November 11, 2010 at 12:07 AM

Quinoa....but Peanut Butter is a close second!!! MMMM Breakfast Lunch dinner dessert....it never lasts long enough in my cupboard to perish...haha

# posted by

Aimee Joe : November 11, 2010 at 2:28 AM

It has to be nutritional yeast... amazing in vegan gravy, on top of toast, on baked potatoes, in vegan cashew paella, I could go on but I'm drooling too much, Toast time!

# posted by

The Tasty Vegan : November 11, 2010 at 2:36 AM

The fritters look great!

Lentils, hands down!

# posted by

JL goes Vegan : November 11, 2010 at 6:43 AM

It would have to be my huge stash of dried beans. It is amazing how varieties differ in flavor. Giant lima beans, garbanzos, cannellini beans and black beans are everyday favorites. Flageolet beans are a special treat when I can find them. I usually cook them in my thermal pot - saves energy and works great. It is also essential for power outages and RVing!

# posted by

trilby : November 11, 2010 at 7:02 AM

gret book. I just got Vegan on the Cheap & Party Vegan for Christmas gifts. I love them.

I am a Latter Day Saint and in our church everyone keeps a year supply of food a;ways on hand in case of an emergency, so this giveaway book would be great for my emergency food pantry use. I love dehydrated carrots. I can make a carrot cake, I can mash them and I can make a carrot vegetable mash with the help of some spices by just soaking them in water and to make the mash. I can make a quick carrot soup along with some add vegetables from my dehydrated vegetable section in my food pantry. I love it.

this book would be added and very well used along with all your other books. Keep them coming Robin.

http://nuestracena-vegancuisine.blogspot.com

# posted by

http://frugaliciouschick.blogspot.com : November 11, 2010 at 7:28 AM

Chick peas, followed closely by butter beans, then peanut butter.
Cheers!

# posted by

moonsword : November 11, 2010 at 9:08 AM

Canned black beans.

# posted by

Shannon : November 11, 2010 at 11:40 AM

I cannot choose just one. My list: quinoa, dried mushrooms, artichoke hearts, olives, hearts of palm, chickpeas, pinto beans, dried french lentils, and when I'm really feeling like I need comfort food a can of white potates makes me happy.

# posted by

Sizzling Sapphi : November 11, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Garbanzo Beans - I always have them on hand.

# posted by

Lee Ann : November 11, 2010 at 12:43 PM

My favorite ingredient is probably chickpeas!

# posted by

Monique a.k.a. Mo : November 11, 2010 at 1:20 PM

Peanut butter! It works in sweet and savory things. :)

# posted by

Anonymous : November 11, 2010 at 1:57 PM

This is a tough choice. I have to go with canned tomatoes. I use them in so many things when they dont come out of the garden.

# posted by

marshowl : November 11, 2010 at 2:10 PM

hands-down canned beans-especially chickpeas.

# posted by

jenny : November 11, 2010 at 2:54 PM

Canned chickpeas! I can make them into chana masala, pureed into tunori salad for sandwiches, or made into hummus.

I love all your cookbooks, and would love to win a copy of Unplugged! :)

# posted by

Kate : November 11, 2010 at 10:00 PM

I always keep garbanzo beans handy. They're good in so many things!

# posted by

Nichole : November 12, 2010 at 12:14 AM

Another vote for canned beans, especially garbanzo beans because they're so versatile! Curries! Cutlets! Hummus! Roasted!

# posted by

Julie : November 12, 2010 at 12:20 AM

Probbaly a can of white beans :o)

# posted by

Elisabeth : November 12, 2010 at 6:43 AM

I'd have to say any kind of beans and a can of tomato paste!

# posted by

Stephanie : November 12, 2010 at 12:14 PM

My favorite would be Lara bars

rebeccastar at gmail dot com

# posted by

Becca : November 12, 2010 at 12:34 PM

CHICKPEAS! Ooooh yeah.
GREAT give-away.
:)

# posted by

Jen Treehugger : November 12, 2010 at 1:38 PM

Canned pumpkin or nutritional yeast!

# posted by

VerityKae : November 12, 2010 at 2:12 PM

Chickpeas, nooch, or but butter.

# posted by

Amie : November 12, 2010 at 2:49 PM

chickpeas and nutritional yeast

# posted by

veganfromtheville : November 12, 2010 at 3:53 PM

Beans for sure! Dried, canned, red, white, black, doesn't matter to me. They all RULE the school!

# posted by

Kristin (of GF Vegan Munchies) : November 12, 2010 at 4:44 PM

Chick peas!!!!! Love 'em in pasta or just out of the can (rinsed, of course).

# posted by

Julie : November 12, 2010 at 5:15 PM

Jarred roasted red peppers and canned pumpkin! I seem to use them all the time and I know in case the world comes to an end I can still whip up something! Canellinis and garbanzos come into the picture, as well.

# posted by

shen : November 12, 2010 at 5:22 PM

Chick peas, no doubt. I love them in salad, as a salad of their own, channa masala, falafal, in most curries, soup, on pasta with spinach and garlic... there is no end to wonderful things you can do with them. There's even an uncheese recipe using chickpeas, and it's great on crackers or as part of a sandwich. I can't go wrong with chick peas in my pantry. I love them plain, right out of the can.

# posted by

SheDevil : November 12, 2010 at 5:26 PM

Sounds incredible. So where do I go to have some :-)

Please don't say "Hawaii"

# posted by

bett : November 12, 2010 at 5:44 PM

My husbands favorite quick meal is Poor Mans Stew which is just cous cous, a bean, and a veggie. So I always have beans and cous cous in the pantry!

# posted by

Unknown : November 12, 2010 at 6:50 PM

My favorite non-perishable pantry item is Trader Joe's 17 Bean & Barley Mix.

# posted by

michelle (meiji) : November 12, 2010 at 7:06 PM

Organic Rice Pasta... pasta and veggies is my favorite easy to prepare meal.

# posted by

Unknown : November 12, 2010 at 7:46 PM

Dried tomatoes are my fav. I also do a ton with potatoes. While not technically non-perishable they last forever!

# posted by

Lea M. : November 12, 2010 at 8:14 PM

Chickpeas :)

# posted by

mmmorgans : November 12, 2010 at 8:28 PM

My favorite is canned coconut milk - wakens up anything!

# posted by

An American in Merida : November 12, 2010 at 8:42 PM

Dried and canned beans--cannellini are really versatile, pureed as a dip, added to pasta, or "Tuscan Beans with Garlic and Sage" from Vegan Planet. Plus all the spices and herbs in my pantry!

# posted by

Betty : November 12, 2010 at 10:10 PM

My favorite pantry staple? Dried chickpeas! They are so useful and great to have on hand for falafel emergencies.

# posted by

Anonymous : November 12, 2010 at 10:20 PM

I say molasses =)

# posted by

Unknown : November 12, 2010 at 11:12 PM

Trader Joe's Spicy Lemon Almonds! Nori sheets are delicious too. Mmmm, salty!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 13, 2010 at 3:48 AM

Hmmm, I'd say either peanut butter or chickpeas. Both are so yummy!

Your book, that is a very good idea! :)

# posted by

Jayme : November 13, 2010 at 7:11 AM

Peanut butter!

# posted by

Magenta : November 13, 2010 at 11:22 AM

My favorite is almond extract ... yum!!

# posted by

Ellie : November 13, 2010 at 4:04 PM

I love canned white kidney beans - I can't figure out why they cost so much more than the red ones!

# posted by

indigo warrior : November 13, 2010 at 8:31 PM

I like any dried beans or lentils, but garbanzo beans are my favorite!

# posted by

anna o : November 14, 2010 at 10:27 AM

Black beans! Yum Yum.

# posted by

BlissfuLife : November 14, 2010 at 10:35 AM

I'd have to say quinoa. Super healthy and easy to cook.

# posted by

Amanda : November 14, 2010 at 12:44 PM

It has to be dried beans and rice. They make a great meal, you get a lot for your money and they keep for a long time. Black beans, lentils, chick peas, pintos, I love them all!

# posted by

Kate Noel : November 14, 2010 at 12:48 PM

I would have to say that my favorite non-perishable pantry ingredient is coconut milk, but I also love peanut butter, canned beans, and canned tomatoes!

# posted by

Kim : November 14, 2010 at 2:23 PM

Both dark and light sesame seeds and Nori sheets--they can be changed in so many ways and added to so many dishes to not only add flavor but also nutrition.

# posted by

Unknown : November 14, 2010 at 4:35 PM

canned white beans

# posted by

Marge : November 14, 2010 at 7:08 PM

Chickpeas!! You can cook them up in so many dishes!!

# posted by

Vegan in Boston : November 14, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Crushed tomatoes! They're great for a quick marinara.

# posted by

Matthew : November 14, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Frijoles Negros!

# posted by

Unknown : November 15, 2010 at 5:55 AM

For me I'd have to say canned chickpeas! Love 'em in soups, salads, Mmmmm!

# posted by

Heidi : November 15, 2010 at 8:46 AM

Black beans are our favorite!

Melissab

# posted by

Anonymous : November 15, 2010 at 12:22 PM

peanut butter!!!!

# posted by

michelledukles : November 21, 2010 at 4:17 PM

I'd have to say black beans, my 14 month old is obsessed with them!

# posted by

Ashley : March 12, 2012 at 11:32 AM

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Spinach and White Bean Fritters + A Cookbook Giveaway!

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