Hi friends!
I'm Sam Turnbull, vegan recipe blogger, and bestselling cookbook author, writing to you from Toronto, Canada.
Here's my story...
Going vegan
You might be surprised to hear that the moment I decided I was going to go vegan, I was completely and utterly bummed about it.
Let me explain, I NEVER in a million years thought I would become vegan.
I grew up in a family of foodies, chefs, butchers, and hunters (yes, it's true). My household had a flock of chickens (both for eggs and for eating), the freezers were stocked full of meat, steaks were cooked rare, and there were even real animal heads decorating the walls (not that I ever liked the heads). Now, doesn't that just sound like the most vegan household you have ever heard of? Probably not. So, as I'm sure you can imagine, switching to veganism was a BIG change for me.
So what in the world happened?
As a kid I always loved animals. I had dogs, cats, gerbils, turtles, and even a rabbit named Gravy (no, I didn't realize how incredibly odd that was at the time). But even though I loved animals, I was still an avid meat eater. It made sense to me: animals were killed because we "needed" to eat meat and that seemed a-ok to me.
I thought vegetarians, and especially vegans, were so extreme and silly. They were all dying of protein deficiency for sure. (Insert eye roll here.) So, that's how I was coasting along through life. Loving my pets, being creeped out by fur and taxidermy, all while wearing leather and eating meat, eggs, and dairy.
Then…
One fine day in 2012, I made (what turned out to be) the best decision ever: to sit down and watch a documentary about being vegan called "Vegucated". And that triggered some uncomfortable questions in my brain.
So the next morning I woke up and decided to try being vegan. I cleaned out my cupboards and fridge of anything that wasn't vegan and started this crazy new adventure. I knew I wanted to try it, but I also knew I wasn't entirely convinced yet, so that night I watched "Forks Over Knives". And then I followed that up with every health, environment, and animal cruelty book and film I could get my hands on.
The result? You guessed it, here I am today, dun dun duuuuun! A vegan. (Hi!) 👋
By the end of my documentary and book binge-fest, two things were absolutely clear to me:
- I was officially going vegan.
- I didn't want to be vegan.
After all of my research, it made 100% logical sense to me to be vegan. It was better for my health, the environment, and, of course, the animals. The problem was, I actually hated the idea of adopting a vegan lifestyle. I remember being so frustrated, almost wishing I could unlearn all of the facts I had learned. I loved meat and cheese, and I really didn't want to be "that weird vegan girl." Well, I couldn't unlearn, so I had to come up with a new plan of attack: be the best damn vegan I could be!
Becoming the best damn vegan I could be...
I had always loved to cook, so I started researching vegan cooking. I stocked my cupboards with what the recipes required: hard-to-find, expensive, and odd ingredients such as arrowroot starch, brown rice syrup, xylitol, guar gum, spelt, hemp, and other things that I still have lingering in some back corner.
All the recipes had names that included the words "energy," "glow," "detox," or "power," and were mainly for bars, balls, juices, smoothies, and salads. They required hours of prep, dehydrating, and straining, and had a ton of steps.
Cookies were raw, chocolate was frozen, desserts were healthy, dinner was spiralized, grain bowls were a must, and everything had kale, quinoa, chia seeds, sprouts, avocado, and coconut oil in it. This, to me, was indeed boring food
Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with those kinds of recipes. They just weren't for me. Sometimes I love a smoothie or juice, but for the most part, I just want pancakes and pasta. Why did I have to become all sprouts and kale just because I was vegan?
So, I began playing around in the kitchen...
Not only were my new creations satisfying, hearty, full of flavour, and straight-up delicious, but they were just as easy to make as any other meal. With limitation came inspiration, and before I knew it, going vegan had become one of the best decisions I'd ever made!
As a sweet bonus, I saw my health improve. I didn't even know that I had been feeling bad until I learned what it felt like to truly feel great! Gone were the days of feeling bloated after eating, of having a sensitive stomach, of getting drowsy mid-afternoon, of unbuttoning my jeans after meals, and of feeling guilty and grossed out when I thought about what my dinner really was. I was now healthier, leaner, more energetic, and just overall happier.
The best and most surprising part of going vegan was that I absolutely loved it!
I started to document my recipes so I could make them again and again. At first, I was just taking quick snaps on my phone and jotted down the ingredients, but I decided a better plan was to (not so subtly) woo my friends, family, and anyone who would listen to the greener side by sharing my recipes online. And so this blog, It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken, was born. Hot dang, it worked! Friends, family, vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores from across the world were making my recipes - and raving about them!
As the feedback started rolling in, I fell in love with recipe writing. It was so fun, creative, and tasty! Not only that, but I was helping to show people that a plant-based diet can be totally delicious, easy, doable, and good for you! Now, fast forward 10 years, and I'm proud to be "that weird vegan girl". Haha. I have made it my full-time career to share all of my totally scrumptious, approachable, comfort food favorites, and everyday meals made vegan. No fussing about, just good ol' food that everyone will love, vegan or not.
This blog now gets millions of visitors every month, I have two bestselling and award-winning cookbooks, I run an online subscription meal planner called The Easy Vegan Meal Plan, I teach online cooking courses at The Ultimate Vegan Kitchen, and you could easily say that going vegan was one of the best decisions I ever made. 🙂
If you are new here...
If you're like me, a reluctant vegan, or if you are just looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet, I'm here for you! I promise to help you fall in love with vegan food.
The best place to start is by signing up to receive my free eCookbook of the Top 30 Vegan Recipes! In this book, you will receive 30 fan-favorite, easy, and incredibly delicious vegan recipes. Whether you're new to plant-based cooking or not, you are going to love these recipes!
Just enter your name and email address below and get ready to start receiving a whole bunch of mouth-watering, easy-to-make vegan recipes.
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Panna says
Hi Sam!
Me and my family have been vegan for over 2 years now (and loving it, it is the best thing that happened to me). I wanted to ask you if you could try and do a recipe on crumpets because in my country there aren't any, and I'm not sure if they are vegan anyways. so me and my sisters would be really happy if we could make them at home.
and also, you are amazing and I love all of your recipes. <3 Thank you so much for the work you put in it!
You are the best cook I know with the best personality!
Panna
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you so much, Panna!!! I have added crumpets to my inspiration list 🙂
Panna says
Thank you!
Becca says
This is by far the best vegan recipe website I’ve come across!
I was non dairy pescatarian for years and in recent months went completely vegan and I find so many websites have recipes so difficult to follow or require strange ingredients.
Came across your Instagram page about half an hour ago, going through your amazing recipes while one is already in the oven!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww shucks, thank you so much, Becca!! That is exactly my goal, to make my recipes easy and without strange ingredients. So happy you are digging in already 🙂
Kristine says
Oh my gosh! I was just in a restaurant that had a "Vegan Selections" section on their menu. When I saw that almost everything had kale and quinoa in it, I just cracked up laughing!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahahaha!! I bet there were portobellos too 😉
Kristine (aka Ms G) says
Nah, it wasn't that upscale. hahaha
Sarah says
I realize this is a weird comment to leave on your blog but after watching the Melty Gooey Mozzarella video a bunch of times (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE5ikbujGas), I simply HAVE TO ASK: What lipstick are you wearing in that video?! Such a lovely, flattering cool-toned blue and I want to buy it!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! Aww thank Sarah! I always wear Lipink lipsticks and I believe that shade is just called red. 🙂 Here is a 10% off code. http://lipink.refr.cc/samturnbull
Teabag says
Where do you get protein from - when saying this point I'm not critising asking. Id see it if you were following vegetarism for example. Our family, when we watched your blog were perplexed. What I mean is, how come, you aren't protein deficient because you seem to look healthy.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi! No problem at all, happy to help inform you. Protein is found in all whole plant-based foods. It doesn't just come from animal products, it's also found in beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and grains!
Greens like spinach, kale, peas and broccoli, have somewhere around 20-30% protein, even rice has 8% protein. You only need 8%-10% of your diet to be protein, so as long as you eat a varied diet, you will easily get all the protein that you need. In fact, the average vegan gets about 70% more protein than they even need in a day! I highly recommend you watch this video which will explain in a bit more detail. I also recommend watching Forks Over Knives which can be found on Netflix. Enjoy!
Kirsty says
Hey,
My friend showed me your book as we're all on a new vegan journey. Your recipes are what I call realistic expectations and now making the scones!! The smell whilst there in the oven baking is divine..
Can I freeze them though? Not that they would last that long but was going to make extra 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Thrilled you are enjoying my recipes so much, Kirsty! And yes, the scones should freeze well. Enjoy!
Lisa says
Hi Sam! I LOVE your introduction! I’m new to veganism, made the switch in October of 2018. I do love to cook and love finding recipes that will get my family excited about trying my plant based dinners. Thanks for blogging and I look forward to trying some of your stuff out. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll do taco Tuesday tonight for dinner! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Welcome, Lisa! And Congrats!!! It's so amazing you made the switch 🙂 I hope you love my recipes and happy Taco Tuesday 🙂
Lisa says
Your tacos were amazing!!!! I added some mashed up kidney beans only cuz I had some in the fridge that need to get used up. So delicious! I’m making your chocolate cake on Thursday. ❤️
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful!! So happy you are enjoying Lisa 🙂
Diane says
I was desperate, I needed a vegan birthday cake recipe because all my partners children who are vegans were coming over and I didnt want them not being able to join in the celebration with no cake. You're 'Ultimate Chocolate cake' was amazing, we loved it so much that we were all going back for seconds, even someone who doesnt eat sweet stuff! I think I may have found the new best birthday cake ever. We will be using your site for many yummy dishes in the future as we explore being plant based. Thank you 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
That's so wonderful, Diane!! So thrilled you enjoyed the cake so much. I'm a strong believer that you don't have to sacrifice flavour to eat plant-based. I hope you enjoy many more recipes to come 🙂
Martina says
Hi, I randomly found your site through a Pinterest search for shiitake mushroom recipes. So funny, your story is so similar to mine, down to the year and the documentary. I also watched Vegucated in 2012 and tossed and turned the whole night knowing I would not be able to eat eggs, dairy or fish again, (I didn't really mind giving up meat), and how was I going to manage this! Best decision I ever made! I look forward to trying your recipes, they all look wonderful!
Sam Turnbull says
Oh how cool!! It's so funny that we were both so worried about going vegan and now both feel its the best decision we ever made! Welcome, Martina 🙂
Ben Egbers says
Dear Sam,
Love your website and feel glad to have found it. Your story sounds very similar to mine. I have not gone full vegan yet. Grateful for the list of documentaries and books, will start on those with the eventual hope of coming to the same conclusion you did. Will try the spicy Sriracha Tofu as the first recipe from the site. And will stay tuned to your site (have subscribed to email updates). Will also check out the cookbook.
Anyhoo, thanks again and look forward to exploring the site, book, etc a bit more. If you have any specific recs, I'm keen to hear them.
Best,
Ben
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Ben, welcome! So happy you found me. I hope you enjoy all the recipes you try. You can check out my list of Top 10 Vegan Recipes of 2018 to see some recent fan faves. Bon appetegan!
Chris says
I am happy to have found your site via a friend. We are both in the position of having children with vegan friends (her son's girlfriend, my son's college roommate), so we are learning new things to accommodate their way of eating. I am baking this weekend for our February care package, and my friend recommended your chocolate chip cookies. Looking forward to making them, and exploring your recipe stash!
Sam Turnbull says
Welcome, Chris! So lovely that you are being so accommodating and caring! I hope you enjoy the recipes. I'm sure you will find that many of my vegan recipes taste just as good, if not better than the traditional versions. Enjoy!
Quincy says
You are too cute! Soooo excited to try one of your recipes. I recently started dabbling in vegan food due to some personal convictions. I was gung-ho until I realized I'd have to give up cheese. Last weekend, I tried a vegan pizza from the grocery store, I almost cried because the cheese was so bad! On top of that, I've searched websites for vegan recipes only to find them complicated and eating away at my food budget. But your website has given me hope! So thankful to find a fellow no fuss cook, vegan friend!!
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you, Quincy! So glad you found me too! I have lots of vegan dairy recipes, including cheese recipes, but I actually recommend trying to cut out cheese entirely for the first month. This should break the cheese addiction, and then you may begin to appreciate the vegan cheeses a little more. I hope that helps and that you enjoy many of my recipes 🙂
Julie says
Girl thank you! I live in a place where super fancy vegan ingredients aren’t available, so seeing a blog like this is almost like a breakthrough for me! I’ve run across you a few times on Pinterest and you’ve finally won me over!!! Thanks so much!
John Malcolm says
Its New Year Eve here in New Zealand. A day or two ago a biker friend told me about the Pumpkin and Lentil Shepherds Pie his wife had cooked. He said it was delicious. I don't know if it was your recipe but Google led me to your blog-site. I cooked it last night and instantly won bragging rights with my wife. Yay! We have been plant based for just over 6 months now. All the usual good stuff as a result. Weight loss, happy hemorrhoids, better skin, more energy, reducing medications, lower blood pressure, etc. Loving it. And very happy to have found your blog. More inspiration to keep on keeping on in 2019
Sam Turnbull says
Oh that's so awesome! So happy you found my blog as well, John. Welcome, and I hope you enjoy many more recipes 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Aww that's awesome, Julie!! Thrilled you love my style of cooking. Welcome to It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken 🙂
Samantha Burshaw says
Hi Sam !!
My name is also Sam and I’m also Canadian actually im only about an hour away from Toronto.
I started my vegan journey 6 months ago and in the process my husband ended up becoming vegetarian (I can’t see him ever giving up his cheese or coffee cream but I still consider it a win!) We also made the decision to raise our 3 young sons in a vegetarian/ vegan lifestyle. I noticed the same things you did, all the recipes were full of weird ingredients and definitely weren’t the most kid friendly. Then I found your YouTube channel and everything changed. My kids eat vegan about 80% of the time and vegetarian the rest, my picky 5 year old is trying new foods all the time and loving them! Complete life changer.
As for me I had high blood pressure and was over weight. At 26 years old I shouldn’t be on blood pressure medication for the rest of my life. With this lifestyle I’ve lost 70 lbs (yes in 6 months!) and my high blood pressure is completely gone. I have you to thank for a lot of that if my family wasn’t able to get on board it would have been difficult for me to stick with because I would have been making so many separate meals all the time. Now we all eat delicious vegan dinner and a family and we enjoy every last bite! Thank you so very much. I can’t wait to buy your cookbook and try more amazing recipes.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Sam!!! (Great name 😉 )
That's so amazing!!! Congrats on all your successes. I'm so very happy my recipes have been helping you and your family on your transition. And a HUGE congrats on your amazing health accomplishments!! The power of a vegan diet is so amazing! So happy you found me, and I look forward to seeing you around in the comments 🙂
Ma salazar says
Hi Sam,
I am a student writer for El Leñador, a Humboldt State bilingual newspaper. I was wondering if it was possible to use your recipe for the ooey gooey mozzarella "cheese" dip for my upcoming issue? I wanted to know if it was okay to take a screenshot of your recipe posted at the very end of your recipe as it is easier to paste it onto the layout of the newspaper.
I am eager to hear back from you!
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks for liking my recipes! All of the text and images are the property of It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. Feel free to share photos, and/or quotes with a link back to the original post on my blog. Do NOT copy and paste entire recipes or large bodies of text. This is a breach of copyright. As long as you follow these guidelines, you do not need to email me for permission. Thanks!
Steven Wood says
Hey Sam,
I'm grateful for your site and insight! Your recipes have been helpful in my transition as well. I converted due to health reasons after being diagnosed with arteriosclerosis. The only way this was identified is through a heart score (3d wave imaging) otherwise I felt fine. I have since also discovered a site plantbaseddoctors.org and found a local cardiologist that is WFPB and prescribes it to patients that are willing to change and reverse heart disease. In my 6 months of being WFPB, I no longer take statins and will be off of HBP medicine by next May, if not sooner. My cholesterol went from 258 total to 135 total, my BP went from 140/90 with meds to 116/67.
Thank you, Thank YOU for what you do!
Steven
Sam Turnbull says
That's wonderful, Steven!!! So happy you found your way to a plant-based diet and that you are feeling better. 😀
Elissa Davis says
Hi Sam,
We have the same story. I saw Earthlings & immediately became v e g a n.....in August
2011. There is a lot of information hidden from people. Once I knew the t r u t h, I became vegan instantly. I couldn’t justify eating
animals, after educating myself.....
Sam Turnbull says
Yeah, once you learn you can't unlearn! I just wish everyone was exposed to all the information! 🙂
Roxanne says
love your site!!! huge help for me transitioning! and love your awra and spirit! keep it up, Girl!!! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Roxanne!! So happy to have you here 🙂
Amy says
I really like your recipes. Especially “cheese” ones. I’ve decided to get a Vitamix blender. Which model do you have?
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you so much! I don't actually have a vitamix, I have a Blendtec and a Breville boss blender. (Yes I have two super powered blenders, haha)! In my opinion they work about equally, but I do prefer the design of the Blendtec. Hope that helps!
Roxanne Veinotte (Maroxa) says
I got your book and am loving it.
Starting this week to cook some of your fab recipes and freezing them as I am going for hip surgery next month and will be laid back 2-3 months, so need some goodness in the house!
Today I went to the hospital for my counselling and I wore RED lipstick!
I don’t wear makeup at all, but today I thought, hey red lipstick... go for it!
Thank you for being you! And I will continue being me!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! I love it, red lipstick to the hospital, you're my kinda gal! I hope your surgery and recovery goes very well! 🙂
Lori Blevins says
Hi Sam!
I'm so beyond excited that I just found your site and I'm thrilled to share that I'm getting ready to make your 6 ingredient pulled jackfruit! Yep, this will be my maiden voyage in both cooking with and eating jackfruit! Whoo-Hoo! Thanks so much for joyously leading the way in sharing the delights of eating a plant based diet and for making it so fresh, fun, exciting and entertaining all the way! As I always tell my husband "vegan is for lovers!" and I'm pretty certain we'll both be loving your awesome pulled jackfruit tonight for dinner!
Blessings to you!
Lori Blevins
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Lori, welcome! That's so awesome, I very much you enjoy the jackfruit!! "Vegan is for lovers" ← perfection!