I used to love crab cakes and salmon cakes but since I went through treatment for cancer I’ve transitioned into a mainly vegan and gluten-free anti-inflammatory diet. I’m always looking for ways to get a lot of vegan protein in my foods without a lot of fat. Chickpeas/garbanzo beans (I use these terms interchangeably) are always a good choice for me. They have about 14.5 grams of protein in one cup (cooked) and 268 calories, plus they are high in fiber, at 12.5 grams dietary fiber per cup. I love their versatility, their creaminess when pureed. These veggie cakes feature mashed garbanzo beans and peas and are stuffed with more grated veggies. They’re nutrient dense and delicious.

There are so many good things about these raw vegan summer rolls, I just don’t know where to begin! Riceberry is a whole grain rice with a purplish color and it can be found in Thailand. I found these riceberry rice papers so I had to try them out, even though I’ve never successfully rolled a summer roll in rice paper. It’s a little tricky but my rolling got a little better with practice. Notice the beautiful mauve color of the rice paper. But ordinary white rice paper will work just fine too.

Rendang is a curry popular in Indonesia and Malaysia and contains lots of immune-boosting favorites like garlic, ginger, shallot, turmeric lemongrass and kaffir lime. Although it’s popular to use beef in rendang, my version is vegan and uses kabocha instead. It is anti-inflammatory, alkaline and an excellent anti-cancer dish.

Red cabbage is the new kale! Raw, it’s a gorgeous color, crunchy, slightly peppery. When cooked it becomes sweeter and hearty. It is nutrient-rich, has anti-inflammatory properties, and helps promote healthy gut and bones.

Green beans are in season pretty much all year round in Southern California and it’s easy to find high quality organic green beans. I started using this recipe when I was following a vegan diet. This recipe has an Indian influence but it’s extremely versatile. It can be a scrumptious side dish to accompany a roasted chicken, kebabs, fried rice or a curry. Buy fresh organic dried coconut flakes, unsweetened, and raw organic cashews.

This recipe is a riff on cauliflower “rice” — this “couscous” contains no grains and the flavor profile is meant to compliment Mediterranean flavors. Cauliflower is beloved by keto advocates and dieters for many reasons — it is nutrient dense, it can provide some low calorie substitutions for carbs. Cauliflower is cruciferous so an excellent component of an anti cancer anti inflammatory diet.