Product Description

The number of people choosing meatless meals is on the increase. And a vegan

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #702236 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

From Amazon.com
Indulgence is hardly the first word that comes to mind when one thinks of a vegan diet, but in Very Vegetarian, chef Jannequin Bennett proves that the two concepts are more closely related than one might think. After all, she explains, vegans "regularly partake of the very best foods--the most nutritious, appealing and tasty--that nature has to offer."

With more than 250 recipes, Bennett proves that you don't need animal products to eat delicious and satisfying foods. Soups, like Chunky Polish Borscht and Harvest Vegetable, are as hearty as any Grandma used to make. Appetizers like Spicy Corn Blini with Red Peppers and Shitakes and Artichoke and Spinach Phyllo Triangles will delight guests, and none will miss the traditional additions of meat and cheese. Entrées--from pastas and risottos to vegetable casseroles and baked, barbecued, and seared tofu dishes--are surprisingly appealing. With dishes like White Bean Ravioli with Caramelized Onion Sauce and Acorn Squash Stuffed with Wild Rice and Winter Fruits, Bennett brings a sophisticated culinary approach to this oft-maligned way of cooking and eating. Some of the desserts suffer from the use of vegan margarine and the lack of eggs, but Bennett hits the right note with those that rely on fresh fruit for flavor and texture, such as Pear Betty and Watermelon Ice.

Useful advice on how to ensure that you get the nutrition you need, how to continue to enjoy dining out, where to shop, and much more make this book a boon to vegans who aren't willing to give up flavorful meals for their health concerns or ethical beliefs. --Robin Donovan

From Publishers Weekly
Very Vegetarian by chef Jannequin Bennett, introduced by Olympic gold medal winner Carl Lewis, covers the basics of veganism and advises how to begin, what to stock in a vegan kitchen and how to guarantee sufficient nutrition. From snacks and sauces to main courses and desserts, delicious and satisfying concoctions such as Caponata, Arugula and Mushrooms with Pine Nuts, Sun-Dried Tomato and Lentil Burgers, Carl Lewis's Savory Black-Eyed Peas and Chocolate Raspberry Torte will assure happy healthy practitioners.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Sybil Pratt, Book Page, December 2001
"Appealing recipes demonstrate that you can dine easily and elegantly, with a full range of flavors, textures, and colors.”

Customer Reviews

I'm going to make every recipe!
I am not vegan, but I got this cookbook 6 weeks ago and have been making nothing but its recipes ever since. So far, in the appetizers section, I've made the spinach and mushroom quesadillas (excellent, flavorful and beany) and the bruschetta with sun-dried tomato pesto and portobello mushrooms (beautiful presentation). The mushroom stock smelled great the whole time cooking. The miso soup was easy and quick, as were the potato and lentil soups. I've been delighted with how much flavor is in each dish. My friends have loved the basic, mustard-sherry and sesame-soy vinaigrettes. The potato salad was simple and tasty, although I did use real mayonnaise. Roasted red pepper coulis - I never would have thought of that on my own. The black bean burgers didn't hold together well, but the portobello mushroom burgers (cook in red wine) were AMAZING. Possibly my favorite so far. The spaghetti lentil sauce is delicious, and the sweet and sour eggplant stew was quickly eaten up in my house. The lemon zucchini risotto is summery and surprisingly light. I recommend soaking sun-dried tomatoes in hot water first, and then the farfalle with sun-dried tomatoes and portobellos is delightful. Macaroni and cheez - you have to enjoy the taste of yeast. I didn't care for it, but my housemates ate it up in one night. The apples in the curried couscous are a perfect pairing. The broccolli rabe dish was the best way I've ever had broccoli rabe before, although I omit the pine nuts because they're expensive. The acorn squash stuffed with wild rice and dried fruits is a perfect cold winter night dish - and it looked so pretty! The glazed tofu was amazingly flavorful considering how easy it is. No sheep's sheperd's pie has a delightful thyme flavor - I fed it to a true vegan who thorougly approved. You'd never believe there was tofu in the tofu banana bread. The pumpkin bread is great for sandwiches - not sweet, but savory. The whole wheat quick bread really is fast and easy - a great way to have fresh bread around without all the trouble. I decided pizza crust is too much of a hassle for me, but fresh pizza sauce is really not hard and wakes up your taste buds. The scrambled tofu and hash browns together make a great meal. Congee, a rice breakfast with pickled vegetables, was a new experience for me and I really liked it! The buckwheat cakes are great with the spiced apple maple sauce. I think of the muffins, I liked the good morning muffins best, but my house loved the blueberry bran and the polka dot muffins are good enough to be desert. Two of my vegan friends ate an entire pan of brownies in one sitting, and I brought the sugar cookies to a party and returned with an empty plate. The chocolate pudding was a bit too soy for me, but the pear betty was syrupy sweetness! That's all I've made so far, but it's inspired me to try so many new things, and the techniques just keep getting easier. It's making each meal time special. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to experiment with their cuisine in healthy, fulfilling ways. I would recommend a set of good knives, a food processor, and a fresh herbs budget to fully appreciate this book.

Excellent Vegetarian Recipies
I've made several recipies and have enjoyed them. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a vegetarian or vegan cookbook.

Not professional at all
Now I know this isn't a cookbook per se, but it would help if the authors knew something about recipe writing. Many recipes contain phrases like "let this boil for awhile. It could take a long time." Since this is a RECIPE, I would like some more specific information!

The book also expects you to spend a lot on frivolous kitchen equipment like a "zester." Sorry, we're not all made of money.

The book is good if you have just become a vegan and have no idea what to eat. It can give you a starting point...just don't expect good results if you follow the recipes verbatim. Take a look at the names of the ingredients and dishes, and search for a REAL cookbook to help you with that!