Vedge Your Best, Vegan Ideas for Everyone At Any Age 275: Cut, Char, Season: Chef Ed Harris on Making Vegan Food Unforgettable
Dec 9, 2025
Chef Ed Harris, an award-winning plant-based chef and culinary consultant, shares his journey to veganism and culinary innovation. He discusses how charring and cutting techniques can elevate the flavor of vegetables, turning everyday meals into memorable experiences. Chef Ed also reflects on his time competing on Food Network, the intense focus required in cooking shows, and the importance of ingredient integrity in dishes like falafel. With a contagious enthusiasm, he emphasizes the need for bold flavors and the potential of plant-based cooking.
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Family Documentary Sparked A Vegan Turn
- Chef Ed taught himself a new direction after his family watched What the Health and decided to try veganism together.
- He described the emotional shift when his children asked if they would keep eating meat and the family chose to change their diet.
Vegetables Reward Layered Flavor
- Vegetables can be as flavorful as meat when you layer seasoning and use techniques like charring.
- Chef Ed says chefs often miss this opportunity by under-seasoning and not thinking in layers.
Char Veggies For Instant Depth
- Char vegetables to add depth even without oil by using a broiler or a dry sauté pan.
- Use charring as a simple technique to create smoky, meaty notes in plant-based dishes.
