Easy Vegetarian Recipes That Are 'Simply Satisfying'
Aiming to work more vegetables into your diet but don't have the time to figure out how? That's OK, because Jeanne Lemlin, James Beard Award-winning author of Quick Vegetarian Pleasures, has written another cookbook, Simply Satisfying (The Experiment, $22) that's definitely worth considering. With more than 200 seasonal recipes, it's bound to become an indispensable resource for busy weeknights.
There aren't any strange or obscure ingredients to be found in her recipes; all the recipes are designed to make a trip to the store as quick and painless as possible. That's not to say Lemlin doesn't get creative; dishes like Polenta Puttanesca ("a hearty peasant-style dish of cheesy polenta topped with a robust tomato sauce filled with garlic, peppers, and olives"), Noodle Timbales with Pesto Cream Sauce, and Indonesian Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing keep busy weeknights exciting without going over the top.
The photography seems a bit sparse, with only 35 photographs to help cooks visualize how their recipes will turn out, but this is a minor issue; keeping a cookbook usable in a kitchen usually requires a trade-off between the number of recipes and full-page photographs. And it seems that in this case, Lemlin was aiming to give home cooks as many recipes as possible to choose from — which is exactly what people want from a no-frills cookbook.
Here's an innovative, flavorful brunch dish that's fit to serve on a lazy Sunday morning. (Photo courtesy of Cara Howe)
Mango and Avocado Salad with Raspberries
Sometimes making an everyday dish like salad into something special is as simple as adding a new ingredient, such as mango. (Photo courtesy of Cara Howe)
Noodle Timbales with Pesto Cream Sauce
Timbales — they're French, but don't worry, these aren't complicated. (Photo courtesy of Cara Howe)
Will Budiaman is the Recipe Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @WillBudiaman.