Aloha Veggies

Aloha friends! We're excited to host this summer outdoors, fingers crossed for a good, not-smokey day. Aaron has a major love affair with Hawaiian food, but after going vegetarian, some of the previous recipes he loved needed more adaptation and effort. Imagine our delight at seeing a favorite Hawaiian cookbook author write a veggie focused Hawaiian cookbook! A dream come true! 🤙 Official cookbook blurb: Explore Hawai‘i’s diverse culinary heritage through 100+ flavor-packed, approachable, plant-based recipes for local Hawai‘i favorites from the bestselling author of Aloha Kitchen. When Hawai‘i-born Alana Kysar returned home as an adult, Maui’s flourishing farmers’ markets and community crop shares inspired her to create veggie-centric spins on beloved local dishes. Hawai‘i's most iconic foods came to life with vibrant freshness and satisfying new textures. Aloha Veggies brings this evolution of local Hawai‘i food to your kitchen, offering simple, irresistible, and nutritious recipes for everyday meals. Alana’s equation for a balanced veg-forward meal is based on the local Hawai‘i plate lunch: Main + Starch + Side = Complete Meal, plus a bonus sweet, of course. The recipes in Aloha Veggies are organized by classic local flavors and dishes—from Mochiko, Loco Moco, and Adobo to Fried Rice, Poke, and Potato Mac Salad—each with four variations to try. Classic Mochiko sets you up with the batter typically used for fried chicken, tweaked to accommodate any veggies you please. For a twist, try Ginger-y or Sesame-y Mochiko variations. Pair Cabbage Adobo with Butternut Squash and Black Lentils with some Mushroomy Rice and an Everyday Quickle. Next week, try Braised Miso Eggplant with Pan-Seared Crispy Rice and Namasu Sweet Potato Salad. Since no meal is complete without a treat, Alana offers a rainbow of variations on favorite local Hawai‘i desserts from Passion Fruit Chiffon Cake to Ube Butter Mochi and more. Alongside mouthwatering recipes, Alana profiles farms and farmers growing some of her favorite produce, encouraging a renewed connection to the land and the people who grow our food. Aloha Veggies reveals the limitless possibilities that arise when you center vegetables on your plate, inspiring a new generation of home cooks in Hawai‘i and beyond. Recipe sources (libraries, blogs, indie bookshops, and one more): Libraries: Seattle Public Libraries King County Library System Sno-Isle Libraries Indie bookshops: Book Larder Bookshop Articles: Huli Huli zucchini with crispy chickpeas Watermelon poke and passion fruit butter mochi Roasted miso sweet potato with pumpkin seeds Kale and Shoyu Mushroom Salad We have pics of the book's recipes here for the event as well, but please note they will be taken down soon after the event: Cookbook pics Please post your contributions to our feast in the comments, I'll work on compiling a menu closer to the date to help guide the direction and avoid duplicates. Additionally, Aaron has a tree nut allergy but peanuts are fine and Aisha is allergic to black fungus / woodear mushrooms so please avoid these where possible or note dishes that have them. We will have post-its and pens to write down any allergens and the recipe name! This is a unlimited attendee event, but please still do not RSVP if you are not committed to coming. In order to confirm your RSVP, pick a dish and list what you'll be bringing in the comments below, no later than Monday, August 24th. The rule of thumb is one dish per person scaled to allowing everyone attending to have a small portion. If you have a +1 please bring two dishes or increase your chosen recipe accordingly. If you're not feeling well, please stay home. Additional reminders: Make sure your Meetup settings allow event updates from organizers. If you don't get the emails, check your spam, or social folders (for those on gmail). Bring serving utensils for your dish - and remember to take them home! Your dish must be prepared in advanced and ready to serve when you arrive. Your dish must be prepared in advance and ready to serve when you arrive. (if you need to reheat please message me to confirm space) Please bring a few dollars to help cover the Meetup fees that Katy pays for hosting this group ($330+/year), Venmo (@katy-ionis) or PayPal equally appreciated. Thanks! Feel free to bring a beverage to share, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.