Monday, October 21, 2019

12 Vegetarian Cookbooks That Should Be in Every Kitchen

“On Vegetables” by Jeremy Fox

These are some of the best vegetarian cookbooks out there, and they deserve a place in everyone’s kitchen, omnivores and flexitarians included.

In my less enlightened years, the mention of vegetarianism only conjured images of all the foods that I couldn’t have. A world without my beloved lobster rolls or perfect whole roasted chicken; no steak fajitas or foie gras. The culinary “sacrifice” was just totally unfathomable to me.

Now, I won’t pretend to have given any of those up—I’d eat them all more often if I could, truth be told—but I have (thankfully) evolved enough by this point to realize that vegetarian, plant-based cooking isn’t about sacrifice at all. It’s about celebrating the bounty of the seasons and the garden and pushing yourself creatively to show nay-sayers like young me just how sophisticated and comforting and unexpected the cuisine can be.

And if you’re planning on making vegetables a more significant part of your kitchen life, these are the vegetarian cookbooks you want in your arsenal.

Related Reading: The Best New Healthy Cookbooks for Fall

“The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” by Deborah Madison, $27.49 on Amazon

“The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” by Deborah Madison

Amazon

If you had to pick just one book to launch your vegetarian culinary journey, it would have to be this definitive, totally comprehensive guide from the chef heralded by pretty much everyone as the authority on the subject. The original book was released in 1997 and became an instant, best-selling success, receiving awards from the James Beard Foundation and IACP, to name a very important few. And now, in this revised edition, plant-based cooking enthusiasts have 1,600 recipes to delve into, as well as Madison’s helpful advice on how to compose a menu, an in-depth guide to ingredients, and essential kitchen equipment.Buy Now

“Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi” by Yotam Ottolenghi, $17.99 on Amazon

“Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi” by Yotam Ottolenghi

Amazon

I don’t know about you, but I’d buy this book based on the cover art alone. Because, frankly, I can’t remember the last time eggplant looked that good (and colorful!). Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who found the London-based chef’s Mediterranean-inspired vegetable cooking worthy of a double take, because in the eight years since this debut book was published, five follow-ups have appeared. And, yes, we’re ready for more.Buy Now

“On Vegetables” by Jeremy Fox, $36.73 on Amazon

“On Vegetables” by Jeremy Fox

Amazon

How does a chef with Michelin-level restaurant experience approach elevated vegetable-exclusive cooking? If you’re asking esteemed chef Jeremy Fox, the answer seems to teeter somewhere between simple, unfussy flavor collaborations and intricate, thoughtful technique. Take tandoori carrots with labneh and vadouvan: Sounds pretty straightforward (and delicious), but in this case you’re making the labneh, vadouvan butter, yogurt, and carrot purée yourself.

Yet this isn’t intended as some showy, chef-y flex. Learning to make these components is all part of building a larger larder of ingredients—salts, sauces, condiments, butters—so that you can “turn your kitchen into a grocery store” and become a more efficient cook.

Buy Now

“Six Seasons” by Joshua McFadden, $19.29 on Amazon

Six Seasons vegetarian cookbook

Amazon

Yes, you read that correctly, six seasons. In his much lauded book (we’re talking praise from the Wall Street Journal, Bon Appétit, The Atlantic, and oh yeah, a little thing called a James Beard Award for Best Book in Vegetable-Focused Cooking), the Portland, Ore.-based chef of Ava Gene’s takes an extended, hyper-focused approach to seasonal vegetable cooking. Within each of the six seasons—spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, autumn, and winter—McFadden details recipes for peak ingredients in their raw and various cooked forms.Buy Now

“Chez Panisse Vegetables” by Alice Waters, $22 on Amazon

“Chez Panisse Vegetables” by Alice Waters

Amazon

Obviously, we’d all die to have Alice Waters tag along with us to the farmer’s market and tell us what produce to pick, why, and how we should prepare it all. But since the chances of that happening are less than slim to none, thankfully we have this fabulous, friendly tome to stand in as the next best thing.

Here, Waters, the OG maven of farm-to-table of California cuisine, who’s been making simple, fresh, seasonal cooking cool for almost half a century now, offers more than 250 of her favorite recipes for vegetables. The book is (helpfully) organized alphabetically by veggie, and in addition to suggesting ways to prepare each one, the chef also informs you of its peak season(s), how it tastes, and what it should ideally look like so that you become a savvier shopper.

Buy Now

“The Moosewood Cookbook” by Mollie Katzen, $15.43 on Amazon

“The Moosewood Cookbook” by Mollie Katzen

Amazon

Speaking of OGs of the local-seasonal-eat-fresh-food-without-the-fuss culinary movement, we cannot not talk about Mollie Katzen. You could say that her 1974 book featuring the recipes she and her colleagues prepared at their Ithaca, New York restaurant co-op has come a long way since its hand-written and illustrated effort. Re-released in 2014 as a 40th anniversary edition, it’s listed as one of the top ten best-selling cookbooks of all time by The New York Times and has been inducted into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame.Buy Now

“Dirt Candy: A Cookbook: Flavor-Forward Food From the Upstart New York City Vegetarian Restaurant” by Amanda Cohen, $15.69 on Amazon

“Dirt Candy: A Cookbook: Flavor-Forward Food From the Upstart New York City Vegetarian Restaurant” by Amanda Cohen

Amazon

How can you not love a twofer? This book is part graphic novel in which chef Amanda Cohen tells the story of her ambitious and much-lauded (9 table!) New York City vegetarian restaurant, part cookbook featuring the irreverent and delectable recipes that have earned her so much success. Its place on your cookbook shelf is as much a no-brainer as broccolini fettuccine with porcini m is a no-brainer on your dinner table, ASAP.Buy Now

“Thug Kitchen: The Official Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a F*ck” by Thug Kitchen, $14.89 on Amazon

“Thug Kitchen: The Official Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a F*ck” by Thug Kitchen

Amazon

Struggling to guilt-trip yourself into eating better and incorporating more good-for-you vegetables into your diet? No worries, the team behind the popular smack-talking vegetarian cooking site, Thug Kitchen, is happy to step in and take on that role for you. In their debut New York Times best-selling cookbook, you’ll find as much swearing and aggressive (albeit well-intentioned) leave-your-excuses-at-the-door attitude as you will recipes for genuinely tasty, creative, and accessible vegetarian dishes. Do yourself a favor and accept their invitation to cut the crap and start eating better.Buy Now

“Superiority Burger Cookbook: The Vegetarian Hamburger Is Now Delicious” by Brooks Headley, $22.65 on Amazon

“Superiority Burger Cookbook: The Vegetarian Hamburger Is Now Delicious” by Brooks Headley

Amazon

You can thank this fine dining pastry chef turned vegetarian burger pioneer for proving that the meatless patty does not have to be relegated to some kind of bad punchline status. Quite the opposite, in fact. I mean, David Chang is quoted as saying it’s the best veggie burger he’s ever had. So, you know, there’s that. In this book, Brooks Headley shares the recipes behind the dishes popularized at his game-changing vegetarian burger joint in New York City’s East Village. From sandwiches and sides to soups, salads, and sweets, you’ll discover that in the right hands, veggies really can make hamburger shop recipes superior.Buy Now

“The Southern Vegetarian: 100 Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Table” by Justin Fox Burks and Amy Lawrence, $19.49 on Amazon

“The Southern Vegetarian: 100 Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Table” by Justin Fox Burks and Amy Lawrence

Amazon

If you’re going, “Wait a minute, aren’t even the classic vegetable dishes of southern cuisine like collard greens and red beans and rice cooked with meat?” You’re not wrong. But husband-and-wife team Justin Fox Burks and Amy Lawrence prove that veggie-focused reinterpretations like red beans and rice with andouille eggplant can taste just as right. By exploring the thoughtful and seasonal-minded recipes in this friendly book, you’ll discover that plant-based eating can be equally as comforting and soulful.Buy Now

“Vegetarian Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity with Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Legumes, Nuts, Seeds, and More, Based on the Wisdom of Leading American Chefs” by Karen Page, $26.84 on Amazon

“Vegetarian Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity with Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Legumes, Nuts, Seeds, and More, Based on the Wisdom of Leading American Chefs” by Karen Page

Amazon

Consider this a little less cookbook and a lot more all-encompassing reference guide that connects the dots between all the different ingredients and flavors in the spectrum of a vegetarian diet. Using the knowledge of legendary vegetable-based chefs, Page has created an A-Z index of ingredients, under which each has a list of complementary seasonings and cooking techniques.

Instead of telling you exactly what to cook, it provides you with a confident jumping off point to explore and play around in the kitchen. Added bonuses like a timeline history of vegetarian cuisine and personal anecdotes from the chefs that helped provide the content for the book make it all the more worthwhile.

Buy Now

“America’s Test Kitchen: The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook: A Fresh Guide to Eating Well with 700 Foolproof Recipes” by America’s Test Kitchen, $23.85 on Amazon

“America’s Test Kitchen: The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook: A Fresh Guide to Eating Well with 700 Foolproof Recipes” by America’s Test Kitchen

Amazon

This Boston-based test kitchen is on a mission to develop new and creative techniques for recipes that will not only heighten a dish but also remain friendly and accessible to the home chef. Not necessarily the easiest combination to pull off. And yet they do, here with an impressive catalogue of 700 “foolproof” recipes. It’s especially helpful for those studious and process-minded cooks who appreciate step-by-step photos of how to prep certain tricky vegetables, and overviews of which tools you’ll need to stock your kitchen with.Buy Now



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2ByG0h4
via IFTTT

How to Make Healthy Halloween Treats

how to make healthy Halloween treats

Halloween just wouldn’t be the same without certain things, like costumes, or scary movies. And Halloween candy is a must, for sure. But it’s not necessary to consume a frightening amount of sugar. These healthy Halloween treats are all delightful, and can help fill you up before you overdo it on the fun-size Snickers bars.

Scary Good SuppliesKitchen Gadgets to Help You Prep for Your Halloween PartyMost of these snacks will appeal immensely to kids, but be just as welcome at a grown-up gathering; if you can’t have a little fun at a Halloween party, what’s the point? And while there are a few clever tricks employed, none are complicated to pull off.

You’ll rely mostly on nature’s own colors and shapes, and combine them in inventive ways to make something unexpectedly delicious. Some familiar produce aisle items barely require any manipulation at all—tangerines are tiny pumpkins, and avocados the perfect shade of witchy green. A couple simple knife cuts transform carrots and apples into perfect Halloween snacks, and you won’t believe what you can do with some ricotta and olives (but if you’re a fan of “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” you’ll want to find out).

Apple Monster Bites

The classic rendition of this simple snack is two apple slices held together with peanut butter and mini marshmallows, but if you want to put in just a tiny bit more work, it’s totally worth it. Strawberry slices are fantastic tongues, and sunflower seeds gloriously gnarly teeth—and this allergy-friendly version swaps in sunflower seed butter too. You can buy candy googly eyes, but if you need a vegan version, this recipe even includes DIY instructions for edible eyes. In either case, they’re affixed to the apple with a dab of sunbutter. Get the Apple Monster Bites recipe.

Wilton Candy Eyeballs, $2.69 on Amazon

Just like non-edible googly eyes, you'll want to affix these candy versions to everything in sight.
Buy Now

Tangerine Pumpkins

Sometimes all it takes to get your kids to eat their fruits and veggies is a little window dressing—and sometimes even adults like a little whimsy with their healthy snacks, which is super easy to achieve when you peel a tangerine and turn it into a pumpkin via the addition of a simple celery stem. Get the Tangerine Pumpkins recipe.

Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Cups

Tangerine and orange peels make perfect jack-o-lanterns too. All you have to do is carve a face with a sharp knife, then fill them up with fresh fruit or whatever else you fancy, like sorbet or ice cream (which isn’t really all that healthy, but at least the serving size is petite). For a fully edible savory version, try the same thing with orange bell peppers too. Get the Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Cups.

X-ACTO Craft Knife, $5.83 on Amazon

A craft knife can be useful in the kitchen too, for carving faces into peppers and orange peels and cutting fondant for decorating desserts.
Buy Now

Halloween Guacamonsters

If you’re making guacamole for a party anyway, stick it back in the shells and add a few simple edible decorations to turn them into scary-adorable appetizers. (Smashed avocados also make a great, ghoulish green base for easy cucumber slice eyes, with irises of sliced string cheese and pupils of halved black beans, a la this Monster Pita Pizza recipe.) Get the Halloween Guacamonsters recipe.

Carrot Pumpkins

As for what to dip in said guac (or hummus, or whatever else you like), supplement the tortilla chips with plenty of crunchy vegetables for healthier snacking that’s still satisfying—and turn the carrots into mini pumpkins for extra seasonal appeal. Get the Carrot Pumpkins recipe.

Pumpkin Deviled Eggs with Pimento Cheese

Deviled eggs are easily turned into pumpkins too, with a few simple lines pressed into the filling with a toothpick, and snipped chive stems. These contain pimento cheese for a nice change of pace, but you can also make them with actual pumpkin in them to stay totally on theme (and a little healthier too). Get the Pumpkin Deviled Eggs with Pimento Cheese recipe.

Frozen Boo-nana Pops

Punny, cute, dead-simple, and pretty good for you too, these frozen banana pops are dipped in white chocolate with mini semisweet chip eyes. Get the Frozen Boo-nana Pops recipe.

Strawberry Ghosts

You can give strawberries the same treatment. Just dip them in white candy coating, white chocolate, or even in yogurt, then draw on a face with melted chocolate, an edible marker, or simply use mini chocolate chips to make it even easier. Get the Strawberry Ghosts recipe.

Jack Skellington Ricotta Olive Tarts

These gluten-free mini tarts have a layer of olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and thyme in the bottom, and on top, an egg white-enhanced mixture of ricotta cheese and Greek yogurt—the perfect bone-white canvas on which to fashion the Pumpkin King’s face from black olives. Make him as scary, or as sweet, as you want—and use whatever pastry recipe you like best (even store-bought crust). Get the Jack Skellington Ricotta Olive Tarts recipe.

Sugar Skull Fruit Pizza

For better or worse, Day of the Dead sugar skulls have become a common motif for Halloween too, and they are always eye-catching. Artfully arranging a rainbow of fruit on a sweet dessert pizza is an easy way to achieve stunning results. Bonus: the cookie crust and cream cheese frosting have been lightened up so they don’t cancel out all the nutritional benefits of the fruit (aka, nature’s candy). Get the Sugar Skull Fruit Pizza recipe.

Orange Monster Face Cupcakes

Orange Monster Face Cupcakes

Chowhound

If you’re still fiending for something a little more sugary, our monster-face cupcakes will sate your sweet tooth, but are still healthier than your average baked good, thanks to orange juice, low-fat milk, and low-fat Greek yogurt in the batter. There’s really no wrong way to decorate them, either, so go ahead and get freaky. Get our Orange Monster Face Cupcakes recipe.

Related Video: The Most Adorable Halloween Candy Taste Test



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2MZrep4
via IFTTT