Veg Celeb: Carolina Sarassa

Anchor/correspondent for MundoFox National Network News, Los Angeles–based Carolina Sarassa hails from Columbia. The three-time Emmy Award winner is also co-author of the true-crime book Dancing on Her Grave: The Murder of a Las Vegas Showgirl, due for an April release. An animal lover who’s adopted two cats and two dogs, Sarassa went vegetarian three years ago and is now vegan.

What would surprise people to know about anchoring a national newscast?

Most people think my job is very glamorous. It’s rewarding and exciting, but not glamorous at all. People assume news anchors go from the makeup room to the set to read the teleprompter. The beauty of it is that we write a lot of the content that we read to our viewers. Our job as journalists starts very early in the morning to keep up with the world’s news and sometimes doesn’t necessarily end on the weekends. As a TV reporter, I’m always on standby for breaking news.

Would you say traditional Colombian cuisine is meat- or plant-based? What is the key to veganizing Columbian dishes so they retain their authentic character?

Colombian cuisine is pretty much meat-based. From the empanadas to the bandeja paisa, every meal has at least one or two kinds of meat. I’m very lucky to have such a supportive mother! She cooks Colombian dishes for me at home without meat. I would say the secret is to use a lot of vegetable broth.

What ingredient are you obsessed with lately?

Hearts of palm. I’ve made vegan ceviche with it. Besides hearts of palm, it includes lemons, pepper, rosemary, tomatoes, and avocado. It makes a fast and healthful recipe!