The Thousands

Veganistan’s assertion that you can be “a healthy, happy, belly-rubbin’ vegan in the Mid East” is a comforting one, seeing as just being a vegetarian in Australia is a bloody minefield. The use of gelatin in some sodas, rennet in some dairy food and isinglass in some stout means that hardcore vegetarians are recommended to avoid orangeade, parmesan and Guinness just to be on the safe side, which frankly doesn’t bear thinking about. You might as well tell me that dark chocolate is made from slow loris hearts and red wine is fermented using the crumbled bones of dead orphans.

We are assured, though, that the only thing that had to suffer for these recipes is vegetables, plus the money raised by it goes towards Vafa Animal Shelter – so, you’re helping animals in ways other than by simply not eating them. The author did say she wanted to make this zine more political, perhaps in the way Soy Not Oi was, but rightly realised that it’s indispensable enough just as a recipe book brimming with deliciousness. I mean, listen to this lot: Hummus! Apricot soup! Zucchini stuffed with almonds! Sesame doughnuts! Chickpea falafel! Tahini swirls! ‘Kurdish delight’! Oh man, you’ll have to excuse me, I’ve just salivated all over my keyboard.