Babita Shrestha, known as Vegan Nepal to her over three thousand followers on Instagram and Facebook, brings together stunning photos, recipes, and Nepali culture in her debut cookbook, Plant-Based Himalaya. Shrestha crafted this whole book herself, from photos to recipe testing to writing and design. Her love for her home is evident throughout, and is sure to spark an appreciation in readers. Shrestha encourages cooks from beginner to professional to expand their palates beyond their usual fare.
Shrestha starts the book with an overview of the culture and geography of Nepal. The country is roughly split into three different terrains, Himalaya, Pahad, and Terai. These differentiations in terrain, along with several other microclimates, lead to the success of a wide variety of plants and animals. According to Shrestha, the majority of the country’s citizens are directly involved in some kind of agriculture. This, and the fact that many Nepalese families have their own gardens, leads to a vibrant cooking culture. The home cooked meal is deeply embedded in the culture, with diverse flavor profiles from different peoples. Shrestha is hoping to bring a culture of home-cooking meals to people who do not cook at home.
The last part of the introduction is a diagram of the “Nepali Set”. This is a plate that features a combination of different dishes, that is central to Nepali cuisine. I appreciate Shrestha’s primer on the food culture of Nepal. As I was reading, I felt like I had a grasp on the ways food comes from farms to plates in a country across the world from me. A primary component of the Nepali Set and Nepali food in general are fresh vegetables. Shrestha’s description of the ways people work to bring food to each other gave me a deeper appreciation for the recipes that follow.
After introducing readers to the agricultural processes of Nepal, Shrestha brings on the recipes. Each is introduced with charming anecdotes about how the recipes were passed down from her mom, as well as the fond memories of shared food with family. One of my favorite recipes in the book is for Pulau, a vegetable rice dish with aromatic cardamom and cinnamon. The spices are aromatic and cashews add crunchy texture. Shrestha adds helpful tips at the end of each recipe, pointing out easy mistakes that cooks not familiar with Nepali food might make. There is a list of ingredient swaps at the back of the book, in case some of the more distinctive ingredients are unavailable. The instructions to each recipe are straight-forward and adorned with doodles of ingredients drawn by Shrestha.
The book is a piece of art in itself. Shrestha’s full color photographs capture Nepal and it’s people. Since is not from the eye of an outsider looking in, Shrestha paints an intimate portrait of Nepal. It truly feels like she is welcoming readers into her home. Shrestha’s joyous smile adorns pages along with beautiful pictures of each recipe.
I was disappointed in some of Shrestha’s language about the health benefits of her recipes. A few times Shrestha claims that a recipe is “healthy” or “healthy for kids” without supporting evidence. In the introduction, Shrestha declares that this book is a chance to diverge from the “unhealthy” meals she imagines her audience is currently eating. It seems like Shrestha is on the verge of making a point about wellness and climate action; she falls short without meaningful background to follow up her claims.
Plant-Based Himalaya is a pleasing dive into Nepali food and culture. Outstanding photos and easy-to-follow recipes bring Nepali food into readers kitchens. These vegan recipes are whole-food focused and do not rely on pre-packaged meat substitutes, which, in turn limits plastic waste. Each recipe brings joy and wondrous aromas into your home. For more from Babita Shrestha, you can follow her at Vegan Nepal on Instagram. Her next cookbook is expected in 2025.
Elinor Serumgard is a poet, artist, and book reviewer from Issaquah, WA. Elinor graduated from Western Washington University in 2022 with a degree in Creative Writing. For more of their work, please see elinorserumgard.com
