New Irish language cooking show 'Planda go Pláta' to debut on TV this week

Aghamore native, Rebecca Uí Chonaola is set to co-present TG4’s new plant-based cooking show, which is the first of its kind on Irish television!

‘Planda go Pláta’ is a show which celebrates plant-based cooking. Perfect timing for ‘Venaguary’, across eight episodes chef Niall Ó Conchúir and home cook Rebecca Uí Chonaola as they cook vegan recipes created by renowned vegan chef, Tony Keogh, of Cornucopia Restaurant in Dublin. From quick and easy pasta sauces, to impressive dinner party dishes, the dishes would make anyone fall in love with plant foods. The unique recipes are all made with seasonal produce and store cupboard staples.

Rebecca and Niall will also meet local farmers around the country. The series was filmed across a growing year, tracking the seasons to showcase the many amazing vegetables that grow here and the health benefits they have for all of us.

Rebecca is a secondary school science teacher, now living on the Aran Islands. Although not raised with Irish, she has become a fluent Irish speaker thanks to the help of the local community and her husband Fionnán Ó Conaola.

Coming from a farming background, she decided to go vegan eight years ago for ethical reasons, and after feeling the added health benefits to the lifestyle, she hasn’t looked back. Rebecca became very involved in the Galway vegan community, running monthly vegan potlucks and opening a seasonal plant based café on the Aran Islands, for which she grows her own organic vegetables and tries out new recipes.

Lots of people are choosing to reduce meat for various reasons, such as their health, the environment, and animal welfare. A plant-based diet is the biggest way to reduce your environmental impact. It also has amazing health benefits such as cutting your risk of diseases such as cancer and dementia, as well as supporting cardiovascular health, with evidence showing it can actually reverse heart disease!

The new series for a wide audience. While it’s great for people who are already following a plant-based diet, it’s also beneficial for anyone wanting to cut back on animal produce this year.

‘Planda go Pláta’ will air Thursday 18 of January at 8pm on TG4.