I love making vegan desserts: Bhumi Rajgor

“Although I am not a vegan, everyone else in my family is. So, only vegan food is cooked at our home, and I love it,” says Bhumi Rajgor. On World Vegan Day, the Stree 2 actress, who has also done films like Fakt Mahilao Maate and Satyaprem Ki Katha, talks about why her family turned vegan 15 years ago and her love for making vegan desserts. Excerpts:‘The body feels lighter after consuming vegan food’In our family, everyone is an animal lover. We have been feeding more than 100 strays (dogs and cats) for years.

When my brother found out that cows were tortured for milk, all of us were horrified. We found out more about animal cruelty and since then, my family has been vegan. Even I eat vegan food at home. But when I travel for shoots, especially to remote locations, it’s not always possible to find vegan food. Since it’s a plant-based diet, the body feels lighter after consuming vegan food.

When my family turned vegan 15 years ago, there was very little awareness about veganism in Ahmedabad. Also, it’s a city where most people love adding cheese to almost everything (laughs)! So, whenever we went out for lunch or dinner, we faced a lot of difficulty. So, we decided that cooking at home was the best option. My brother runs a vegan cafe and if I am in Ahmedabad, I love preparing desserts there. I enjoy making vegan cream cheese from scratch. I also love making vegan cheesecakes. Earlier, people wouldn’t believe one can make vegan cheesecakes. But now, they absolutely love it. After COVID, more people are into healthy eating. I can now see more options in Ahmedabad too. If your food can taste equally good without indulging in cruelty towards animals, then why not opt for a vegan diet?‘I love experimenting with vegan desserts’I have enjoyed cooking since childhood. Since my parents were working, my brother and I loved experimenting in the kitchen. So, I would always be looking for substitutes (ingredients) for vegan dishes —for instance, what to use instead of cheese and butter. I started preparing different vegan dishes, primarily for my brother. When he opened a vegan cafe, I curated the menu. Even now, I love experimenting with vegan desserts.Bhumi’s vegan chocolate mousse recipeIngredients: 150gm melted dark chocolate, 200gm coconut cream, and a few drops of vanilla extract.Method: