Book Review: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook at Her Active Life

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Book Review: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook

Posted November 25, 2007 at 07:00 PM by Katie Drummond

Section: Her Motivation, Books, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Recipes, Vegetarianism, Special Features, HAL Reviews

Veganomicon Whether you’re looking for an ambitious five-course vegan menu or a simple recipe for quick-and-easy veggie burgers, the latest tome from best-selling vegan culinary phenomenons Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero has your dining solution.

Moskowitz and Romero are well-known in the cookbook world for their first two vegan collections, Vegan with a Vengeance and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World (a book whose recipes proved, once and for all, that veganism and nutrition are not always synonymous). With their latest book, Veganomicon, the two have taken vegan dining to new and ambitious heights, with over 250 recipes designed for everyone from the beginner to the seasoned veteran, the health nut to the cookie monster, and the busy business woman to the laid back brunch fan.

The book, like its predecessors, is not designed for dieters, but rather meant to reflect the idea that vegan eating is delicious and can be nutritious but also indulgent - recipes for hearty fare like chickpea-quinoa pilaf are offered alongside a rich mac and cheese recipe that will put any old recipe calling on cheddar and butter to shame. Desserts are another element of the book that range from everyday dining to dangerously sinful (just try to resist a slice of Smlove pie, apparently inspired by the question “What would Paula Dean bake if she were vegan?"). In their forward, Moskowitz and Romero rightly point out that non-fat cooking is no longer seen as a healthy way to eat, and that a little fat goes a long way when it comes to tasty kitchen creations.

Veganomicon is a 300-page, hardcover cookbook, and crammed in with all those recipes is a substantial serving of helpful information, tips, tricks, and tools useful for vegan cooking and nutrition. Icons are helpful indicators of soy-free, gluten-free, low-fat, and quick recipes, which makes it a breeze for readers with particular needs (whether allergies or a long day) to find a suitable sauce, soup, or salad that meets specific criteria. A fifth icon denotes “Supermarket Friendly” recipes, for those who can’t make a special trip to pick up some of the more obscure ingredients (from nutritional yeast to agar flakes) that are sometimes called for. By keeping allergies, health concerns, busy living, and convenience in mind, these icons are a feature that sets this book apart as more than merely recipes.
Vegan Enchiladas
Many vegan cookbooks include guides to baking, beans, and stocking the pantry, and this one is no exception. However, Veganomicon goes beyond the call of duty by also including detailed instructions on the best ways to prepare your veggies (roasted, steamed, grilled, and so on) and cook specific grains. While most of the advice is found in a 40-page guide preceding the recipes, every page of the book offers tricks and suggestions for variations on ingredients, effective preparation methods, or sassy serving styles. What’s the best way to peel yuca? Thanks to Veganomicon, I’ve now added this tidbit to my arsenal of culinary expertise.

If 250 recipes sounds overwhelming, take solace in the fact that the book comes complete with a Menu section, laying out meals by specific category - “Mardi Gras” and “Down Home Gourmet” are two of the meal plans you’ll look forward to trying out on friends and family. If you need more guidance, the book comes with an online community of food connoisseurs, who can offer first-hand impressions, photos, and suggestions on your best options for whatever your goal - whether a healthy lunch (corn and edamame-sesame salad), savory supper (kabocha-udon winter stew), or something to satisfy that vegan sweet tooth (chocolate-lemon bundt cake).

For more information on Isa, Terry, and Veganomicon, visit theppk.com