Brothers Shaun and Craig McAnuff are again with extra flavour-packed recipes – this time all vegan. By Prudence Wade.
Shaun and Craig McAnuff – the brothers behind meals sensation Authentic Flava, with practically 160k followers on Instagram – admit vegan dishes weren’t an enormous a part of their childhood dinners.
Rising up in a Caribbean family in South London, meat was very a lot the principle occasion, however that is shifted now, with the duo experimenting extra with plant-based meals – and their mum has even been a vegan since 2017.
Their new e book is known as Pure Flava, and Shaun dubs it “step one into making an attempt to attract individuals right into a more healthy, happier eating regimen – as a result of many of the Afro-Caribbean group [are] predominantly meat [eating]”. He desires to indicate individuals how one can strike a steadiness, saying: “We’re not making an attempt to inform individuals to be vegans. We’re not militant, as a result of I do not assume that is one of the simplest ways to introduce issues to individuals. Solely two or thrice per week – change your eating regimen, that is one of the simplest ways to start out.”
The Caribbean eating regimen is likely to be meat-heavy, however the McAnuffs discovered it straightforward to place collectively plant-based recipes from their tradition. Rising up, “Greens have been used within the sides – however they have been very flavourful sides”, explains Craig. “It was at all times an eclectic vary of various greens, slightly than simply Brussels sprouts.”
An enormous inspiration for most of the recipes is the Rastafari motion, with one part of the e book dubbed ‘Ital impressed’ (a perception that meals must be grown domestically and unmodified). Shaun calls them certainly one of “the pioneers of vegan, plant-based meals”. Meals is non secular for Rastas, with Shaun saying: “It is all about consuming from the earth and taking care of your physique.”
Craig continues: “The Rastafarian motion is not only concerning the meals – it is about how one can protect Mom Nature, respecting the environment much more. That is why they are saying the earth and every part that’s birthed naturally is nice for you, whether or not that’s meals, whether or not that’s cures. They at all times encourage to make use of what’s pure, in order that was actually the pivoting inspiration for this e book.”
Earlier than releasing their first e book in 2019, Authentic Flava, the brothers made a pilgrimage to Jamaica – and it is the plant-based meals they actually keep in mind essentially the most. “One of the best meal I ever had was a vegan meal in Jamaica,” Craig reminisces. “It was unbelievable. It was completely different vegan dishes on one plate – stewed peas, pumpkin, slaw, curried tofu, rice and peas – multi functional bowl. We have taken that pleasure and vibrancy, and people Caribbean components to what we’re doing now.”
Caribbean components are actually entrance and centre within the e book, and the brothers might wax lyrical about them for hours – together with callaloo (“like spinach”, says Shaun), ackee (“which is a fruit, but it surely’s eaten like a vegetable”), and, after all, plantain.
Plantain recipes run all through the e book, however you will not simply see it as a fried aspect dish. It is in stews, lasagnes, desserts, hummus – there’s even a recipe for making your individual plantain milk.
“We come from a Caribbean group the place we’re so used to those components, so we wished to indicate it in a brand new mild,” explains Craig. “Plantain’s fairly a cherished vegetable – scrumptious, it is within the banana household, it is candy however nonetheless starchy. There are such a lot of other ways [to cook it], and we wished to indicate our group and the world how you should utilize completely different Caribbean-based greens, and on a regular basis greens as nicely, with added flavour.”
The ‘F’ phrase – flavour – is one thing each the McAnuffs return to time and time once more, however in addition they cannot ignore the advantages they’ve each felt from consuming extra plant-based meals.
Neither of the brothers are totally vegan (though Shaun was for a 12 months in 2017) however they’ve more and more been incorporating extra plant-based meals into their diets. Craig says they’re now, “Happier in ourselves – mentally, and energised as nicely.”
Shaun says the distinction of their mom’s health – she grew to become a vegan when Shaun began experimenting – is stark. “She had sort two diabetes, hypertension, however managed to regulate it and eradicate it as nicely,” he says. “For her well being, it is carried out wonders. She misplaced a lot weight, her pores and skin’s glowing, she’s joyful. She’s actually loving it.”
For the brothers, meals has at all times been about household and it could not be clearer of their new e book, with photos of their youngsters all through (Shaun has a two-year-old son and Craig has two-year-old twin women).
There are three years between Shaun, the oldest, and Craig, and being business companions and siblings has its ups and downs. Craig admits they do bicker, saying: “Not on a regular basis, however clearly as brothers we do. I would say we bicker lower than most individuals, however we at all times flip it round in a minute or two.”
Shaun chimes in that the principle factor they argue about is “what recipes we make subsequent” – which is actually a pleasant downside to have.
Pure Flava: Fast And Straightforward Plant-Primarily based Caribbean Recipes by Craig and Shaun McAnuff is revealed by Bloomsbury, priced £22. Images by Matt Russell. Accessible now.
