Customer Reviews

Meatless Dishes in Twenty Minutes

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this cookbook. I rarely use cookbooks, because although I love thumbing through them for new ideas, the ingredient lists always have some weird fru-fru ingredients I'd have to hunt high and low just to find at some specialty deli, and take ages to prepare, even when they say they're 'easy' or 'quick.' This book really is easy and quick as it says, and uses normal ingredients that I usually have on hand anyway. It's easy to substitute and recreate as you go, while using her measurements as a guide. Her recipes are tasty, solid, and relatively healthy, and I've made several of the recipes over and over and over again.

I'm not vegetarian, so I find all the strict vegetarians getting their panties in a twist over a recommendation of some chicken stock a bit funny. It's not like you MUST use chicken stock! And the mention of it in a 'meatless' cookbook does not negate the recipes entirely. My darling husband is a vegetarian, and I too have always just used vegetable stock, and it has always been fabulous. She never said she was a vegetarian herself and therefore, her opinion is probably that the meat stocks do taste better. And honestly, sometimes they do. That's not to say that veg stock isn't good as a substitute.

This cookbook does not disappoint. The recipes really do take 20 minutes unlike a lot of the other "quick and easy" cookbooks I have, and the recipes have real flavor, unlike some other vegetarian cookbooks I've tried. The tortilla and curry rice soup are both favorites. I've tried many of the recipes and all were tasty and easy to make. A definite good buy.

Meatless dishes in 20 minutes is one of our favorite "work night" cookbooks. The recipes are filled with flavor and appeal, and can be prepared easily by whomever happens to get home first. Our favorites are the red beans and rice dish and the mediteranean salad.Those are only two of many delicious ideas. dfzirin@aol.com

This is my favorite cookbook for a quick, easy, and meatless dinner meal. Yes, it does call for chicken broth in a few recipes BUT YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE vegetable broth if you choose. For me a huge plus about this book is it uses real ingredients, such as eggs, milk, butter, etc., and no tofu or tempeh. You can always throw in the protein substitutes if you like them. I've made many of the recipes in this book regularly over the several years since I purchased the book. I highly recommend it for anyone cutting back on meat consumption.

OK, maybe the author is a bit on the clueless side to include recipes with chicken/beef broth. I've always ignored her advice and substituted Vegetable broth and have never missed any of the wonderful taste that most of these recipes have to offer. We've been vegetarian for 18 years and I've relaxed enough now to not get offended when an occasional aberation raises its head -- try the Tri-Color fajitas, the bean/vegetable soup, the ravioli antipasto salad. The recipes range from clever (mushroom stroganoff) to ordinary (you could've figured out the antipasto salad yourself), but my well-worn copy proves that it's the most often used cookbook in my busy kitchen!

In my quest to begin eating healthier, I stumbled into the vegetarian section and ultimately onto this book. I have purchased vegetarian cookbooks both before and after this book and this is the best. Every recipe in this book is fast, filling and tastes terrific! The recipes are clearly explained, easy to make and pretty kid-friendly (translation: they'll actually eat it)!! The author also provides suggestions for side dishes and alternative ingredients if something might be unavailable (ie due to seasonality). Most importantly (to me anyway) is that it almost exclusively uses ingredients I already had in my kitchen or ones that readily available in any grocery store - as opposed to most vegetarian books I've found, which require ingredients I've never heard of.

This is the cookbook I reach for when I'm home late from work, hungry and haven't been grocery shopping to plan for a meal. It really does provide some peace of mind knowing that I can always put a great-tasting dinner together at a moment's notice.

I received this book as a gift; otherwise I'd return it. I was stunned to find that the base for the vast majority of the "Soups, Stews, and Chili" is chicken or beef broth. The author adds a note that since the major part of the flavor comes from the beef or chicken broth she doesn't recommend using a veg. broth substitute. Ahem. I guess that the definition of "Meatless"needs to be changed to accomodate an author who can't come up with a tasty vegetable broth.

We've made many recipes out of this cookbook and like them all (my picky daughter even has a number of favorites). Typically we use this cookbook 3 or 4 times a week (or more!). The recipes really do take 20 minutes if you follow them exactly. There are some that depend on things like pre-sliced mushrooms. I slice them myself but it only adds a few extra minutes. Being vegetarian we use vegetable broth instead of chicken/beef broth, it doesn't distract from the recipes at all. Yum!

All the recipes are easy to follow, look good enough to serve for special occasions and are good for you. We especially love the eggplant parmesan. This is a good book to get or give to friends and family. A fan from Deerfield.

I have owned my copy for over 7 years.

During those 7 years most of the meals I have cooked have come right out of this book.

The "tortellini and spinach stew" and the "mostaccioli with garden fresh tomato sauce" alone make it worth the cost of the book.

If you can get your hands on some homegrown or heirloom tomatoes either dish is to die for.