Most helpful customer reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
made my top 6 list, Jun 1 2006
I became vegetarian (not vegan, yet) 10 years ago, love food and cooking, and own at least 50 cookbooks. This book has become one of the 6 food-related books that I use the most. They are (not in any particular order):
1. Thai Vegetarian Cooking by Vatcharin Bhumichitr
Yummy! Great for vegans, too. Have tried at least a dozen, and not one 'dud'. Anything made with the "Red Curry Paste" p.105 has made it to my favourites list. The "Chickpea Curry" p.102 was a definite hit, as was the "Mixed Vegetable Curry" p. 106 (I used tofu and vegetables I had on hand instead of many in the recipe - it's the flavouring that counts, here!). Ingredients lists are sometimes long, but instructions are short and easy. Definitely recommended. 4.5 out of 5.
2. The All New Purity Cookbook
Not vegetarian, but good old-fashioned Canadian comfort-food which I modify to make vegetarian. I use it mostly for baking, but also for a variety of non-desserts such as the great "Savoury Beef Stew" (I use firm tofu instead). The pineapple "Upside-Down Cake" is one of my favourites.
3. Madhur Jaffrey's "World Vegetarian"
My absolute favourite so far. Though I haven't tried the popular Moosewood or Deborah Madison books, yet, I can hardly imagine anything beating this!
Wonderful, wonderful recipes from all over the world, with lots of bean recipes that I actually can't stop myself from eating to the last bite! I find the Indian/Middle-Eastern recipes the best, here. Very much vegan-friendly. Some of my favourites are Moroccan "Chickpea Stew with 6 Vegetables", Persian "Pilaf with Lime and Green Beans", Chinese-American "Stir-Fried Sweet-and-Sour Potato Shreds"... I've tried over 40 of the recipes, many of which have become all-time favourites, most of which I've enjoyed, a few of which I found to be borderline 'duds', all of which I have learned a lot about cooking from. I'd rate this one 4.8 out of 5.
4. Company's Coming Meatless Cooking
(I have the French version, so names and page numbers may differ.)
I wouldn't recommend it for vegans, but very good for a beginning vegetarian or someone looking for old favourites. Lots of good old comfort foods that I missed, such as "Roti Favori (like meatloaf) p. 82, "Boulettes Fantaisie" (Fancy 'meatballs'?) p. 84, "Simili boulettes de Viande" (pork-style 'meatballs') p.86 and the delicious quiche p. 94. I was less enchanted with some of the recipes, such as "Pate au Presque-Poulet" (nearly-chicken pate) p. 76, which I found rather unflavourful, and the "Saucisses au Tofu" (Tofu sausages) p. 74 which wouldn't hold together, but that's ok. Maybe I should have rated it 3 instead of 4, but the recipes I like, I use all the time! Oh, and the "Dessert au Fromage et a l'Ananas" (cheese and pineapple dessert) p. 32, is marvellous!
5. Becoming Vegetarian by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis
Haven't actually tried the recipes at the back, but have found this to be the best reference book I've seen on nutrition. Lots of details and explanations which I crave and which many other books skip over, while remaining very reader-friendly. I would say a must for any vegetarian, and even for non-vegetarians.
6. Prevention Magazine's Nutrition Advisor by Mark Bricklin
Basically a book filled with nutrition labels for over 1000 foods. I just find it very handy because I like to read up on and compare various foods for nutritive value, but this is probably not everyone's 'cup of tea'. It has it's flaws, such as giving information for items such as 'blueberry pie', without giving details on ingredients. It seems to me recipes must vary considerably, no? But, I haven't found any better, yet.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent., Feb 23 2006
This cookbook is vegetarian - but I've made some of the dishes for some non-vegetarians and they loved it!The book has pictures of the dishes and little stories to go with some of the recipies. The book also describes some of the ingredients so you know what your looking for when you go to the grocery store - i.e. the difference bettwen the types of noodles, rice, etc.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Bother With Other Thai Books, Oct 21 2003
By A Customer
I wish I had found this book a long time ago. It would have saved me much $$. This book has all the classic Thai recipes you would want (and for some reason many Thai cookbooks aren't all inclusive) - Pad Thai, Pad Si Ew, Mee Krob, Laad Nah, Curry Pastes, etc., etc. And, judging from past experience and other books I've read, the recipes look genuine, practical, and delicious. I'm vegetarian; however, you could easily add meat into these dishes if you'd like. If you only looking to get one Thai cookbook this is it.
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