Lighter, Quicker, Better: Cooking for the Way We Eat Today [Paperback]

Richard Sax (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

This award-winning cookbook with 200 innovative recipes that are lighter in fat, quicker to prepare, and better tasting than you ever thought possible is now available in paperback!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Short of time, longing for flavor and striving for culinary virtue, today's harried cooks will welcome this collection of over 200 recipes with its multitude of ingenious suggestions and substitutions. Tendering recipes for dishes that have been trimmed of fat but not robbed of flavor, veteran cookbook writers Sax and Simmons, who also coauthor Bon Appetit's "Cooking for Health" column, make use of such flavor-intensive ingredients as citrus zest, roasted vegetables and fresh herbs (Fish Steaks Glazed with Ginger, Soy and Lime; Roasted Tomato Gazpacho with Basil Puree). Sax and Simmons also create low-fat versions of old favorites: "Unfried" Fried Chicken and Deep, Dark Devil's Food Cake. Soups are thickened with pureed vegetables instead of cream; lowfat milk and whole eggs make a respectable custard sauce. While many recipes are quickly prepared (Spicy Tortilla Chips need just 10 minutes in a hot oven), time-saving tips for individual recipes are also included. Never losing sight of the importance of taste, the authors urge a judicious use of such flavor essentials as Parmesan cheese and olive oil.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Now that Americans are starting to adopt low-fat eating and cooking habits, more upscale and adventurous chefs are creating foodstuffs to satisfy. Following in the footsteps of Jacques Pepin and Marian Burros are Sax and Simmons, who, in their first team effort, present an engaging collection of more than 200 recipes. Flavorings and substitutes are usual (such as hot chili peppers and yogurt cheese), as does the insistence on using only the best and the freshest ingredients. Nutritional information is current. Barbara Jacobs --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Morrow Cookbooks; 1st paperback ed edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688177611
• ISBN-13: 978-0688177614
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Won me over, December 19, 2005

By 

Stepone (TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lighter, Quicker, Better (Hardcover)

I was a little skeptical when I first picked this up, though admittedly for no good reason (maybe I'm a sucker for photos or general "hipness"--this book has neither). Some of the dishes I prepared because I had the ingredients already, but I had a feeling the recipes would be underseasoned or just not exciting. But no, everything was delicious, and my husband loved it as well.

It's also good for trying to wean yourself/family from meat-heavy dinners. We really enjoyed the beef and broccoli stir-fry, for example, which is lightened up simply with a higher proportion of vegetables. So too with the meat loaf.

I refuse to do "diet" cookbooks, so my other reference for lightening up my cooking is Sally Schneider's A New Way to Cook, which I also highly recommend. That book has the style, size (700+ pages), photographs, and glamour over this one, but Lighter,Quicker, Better is far more accessible in terms of ingredients and attitude, and I haven't been disappointed once.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspires you to "Cut the fat, Not the Flavor", October 27, 1999

By 

Carol Bridges ([e-mail]) (Bear, De USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lighter, Quicker, Better (Hardcover)

This book has wonderful, attainable meals with great taste. I have checked it out at the library three times and now must own the book. Try the Deep, Dark chocolate cake, so rich it needs no icing! And the "Unfried" fried chicken is even better as leftovers or on a picnic! A superbe investment!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Cookbook, February 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lighter, Quicker, Better (Hardcover)

I've tried quite a few of the recipes in this cookbook and all of them have been easy and produced extremely satisfying results. This is definitely the best cookbook geared toward healthier eating that I've encountered.