Q: Can you recommend me a good vegetarian cookbook? I tend to like bigger, broader, and more comprehensive type cookbooks over the smaller, specific types. I was hoping you might have some insight on the better ones out there. - AndyHmmm, good question!This is not my bookshelf. It is the bookshelf of chotda on flickr.
And isn't it lovely? (Some rights reserved.)
My recommendations for comprehensive vegetarian cookbooks:
- World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey is a big, fat book full of recipes from around the world, paired up with Ms. Jaffrey's personal stories from her many culinary travels. I love this book because she provides methods for cooking a ridiculous assortment of vegetables, grains, eggs, fruit, dairy, etc. Who else is going to tell you how to cook kohlrabi greens - and tell you the best recipe for it, too? Bonus for cheapskates like me: copies of this regularly show up at Half Price Books.
- Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero provides a strong collection of vegan recipes, as well as recipes that are safe for gluten-free and soy-free guests. Unlike many vegan cookbooks, it is comprehensive and includes both everyday and fancy foods.
- How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. Bittman writes good, straightforward recipes, both for the New York Times and in his Cookbooks. This book is no exception.
- Finally, though Vegetable Love by Barbara Kafka includes meat in many recipes, its comprehensive approach to plant-based eating allows homecooks to delve deeply into the essence of vegetarian cooking - enjoying the harvest and embracing the flavor of freshness.
But, in the meantime dear readers, please let us know which big vegetarian or mostly vegetarian books you might recommend.
6 comments:
I love Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone, by Deborah Madison
Moosewood Cookbook(s including Enchanted Broccoli Forest, Moosewood Cooks at Home, etc), definitely. The recipes seem very normal/down home to many of us who grew up with meat and potato diets, plus "new" things are introduced in a non-scary fashion. I even got one for my non-veg mom. These are at Half Price books a lot too!
I like the Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas. It seems like so much more than a mere collection of recipes. There are variations, side dishe suggestions, vegan options, quick snacks, easy sides...love it!
I know it's not a "big" cookbook, but Simple Vegetarian Pleasures By Jeanne Lemlin probably has the most miles on it at our house. Mainly because of a great polenta recipe and Jerk Sauce recipe that rocks the party...
Great suggestions, everyone. I haven't seen the Vegetarian Family Cookbook before, so I'm excited to check it out.
I might argue that Simple Vegetarian Pleasures & the Moosewood books tend to be more on the mid-size, in terms of scope and heft. And you can bet a pretty penny that they'll be included in the mid-size guide.
And, as super-excited as I am to see my Shiners here (hey there, darlin'), I should let you all know that the jerk sauce is actually in the Moosewood Low Fat book. But, the best cranberry cake ever is in Simple Vegetarian Pleasures.
We lived in Cork, Ireland home of Cafe Paradiso. CP has been ranked the top veg rest in Europe time and time again. Check out the chef's two amazing cookbooks. The original is Cafe Paradiso and the second offering's title escapes me.
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