
Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio The Vegan Nightmare! Do Vegetables Have Souls?
Oct 17, 2025
In this intriguing discussion, Joe Yonan, food and dining editor at The Washington Post and plant-based cooking expert, shares tips for delicious vegan meals, including a Greek White Bean Soup recipe. Journalist Zoë Schlanger dives into the fascinating world of plant intelligence, revealing how plants can remember their kin and even react to sounds like bee buzzing. Food writer J. M. Hirsch adds culinary techniques for the soup, making it a perfect combination of science and cuisine.
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Pour Generous Olive Oil For Tortilla
- Don't be afraid to use a lot of olive oil when making tortilla española; use a cup or more to achieve a soft, velvety texture.
- Cook potatoes gently in the oil and finish eggs in the same fat to keep the omelet unctuous rather than crispy.
Steam Then Sauté Green Beans
- Steam green beans briefly with a little water and a lid, then remove the lid and finish by sautéing to widen the perfect doneness window.
- Season after sautéing or add salt to the steaming liquid and finish with butter, toasted sesame oil, or soy-based sauces.
Decision-Making Without A Brain
- Plants can make decisions and display agency even without neurons or a brain.
- Zoë Schlanger argues intelligence may be broader than neuron-based thinking and plants meet many decision-making criteria.










