Customer Reviews

Steven Raichlen's Big Flavor Cookbook: 440 Irresistible and Healthy Recipes from Around the World

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Perfect for recovering from the holidays, Raichlen offers favorite 450 healthy recipes, collected over the last 15 years (and previously published in his "High-Flavor, Low-Fat" cookbook series).

Global in scope, from Fig Tapenade and Tuscan Mushroom Liver Pāté, though Genoese Fish Soup, Posole Salad, Apulian Potato Bread, Crab Quesadillas, Wasabi Gnocchi, Spicy Mussel Capellini, Wok Smoked Salmon, Tandoori Chicken. Osso Buco, Oaxacan Grilled Corn, to Chocolate Soufflé and Balinese Banana Split, recipes emphasize grilling and non-stick pan-frying and boost proportions of vegetables and grains to meat.

None of the dishes are difficult, but there's plenty of range in time and effort involved. Gorgeous photographs illustrate mouth-watering presentations. This is common-sense healthy cooking with plenty of spice and variety.

As more information trickles into the media about the pitfalls of the Atkin's diet (coronary heart disease, muscle breakdown, kidney problems), I looked for a cookbook with healthy balanced recipes. I've recently stopped dieting and started following Marilu Henner's "Healthy Lifestyle" approach and this book is a great compliment to the basis of her plan (except for the recipes with dairy and red meat but these can be easily subsituted). You will find that the recipes in Raichlen's cookbook are full of flavor and a great staple to any kitchen, no matter what your tastes. I've tried quite a few recipes since buying this cookbook a couple months ago and every single one of them has been delicious! Under the Marilu plan, this cookbook and Yoga I have dropped 2 sizes in a month -- I'm back down to a size 4!

This cookbook has become a staple in our kitchen. Every recipe I've tried is excellent and I've enjoyed making them for my family and friends. My friends kept asking for the recipes so I purchased extra books to give as gifts. A great resource and is full of many, many great recipes instead of two or three that are in most of my other cookbooks. The most flavorful dishes I've found.

Illustrated with mouth-watering color photography, Steven Raichlen's Big Flavor Cookbook is the brainchild of a renowned restaurant critic and journalist turned expert and innovative cook. Compiling a wealth of recipes for healthy yet tasty delights ranging from Fisherman's Stew; Tuscan Roast Pheasant; and Cider-Glazed Turnips; to Balinese Banana Split; Chicken Poached with Star Anise; and Grilled Snapper with Avocado Sauce, Steven Raichlen's Big Flavor Cookbook is a true and highly recommended volume of culinary delights blending straightforward recipe instructions with sound information concerning calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol in each serving.

I've had this book for about a week and I've already made 3 recipes from it. Everything has been delicious and it has been a great read. Even the recipes I don't want to try "as is", I can see being a source of inspiration. By far the best cookbook I've bought and you certainly can't beat the price.

Big Flavor is exactly what this cookbook is all about. Every recipe we have tried has burst with flavor. They are easy, taste great and look great. Many of them involve a very short list of ingredients. Rarely does one require an odd item, and when it does, he always provides an alternative.

We've dazzled our friends with many meals from Big Flavor. Another review said they've handed it out as gifts to friends. We can't think of a better present.

I came across Steven Raichlen's High Flavor, Low Fat Vegetarian cookbook in a used book store. I liked the recipes so much, I looked up the author to see if he had any other cookbooks out. Much to my surprise, it turns out he is known for BBQ! That's about as far as you can get from low fat vegetarian, so I know this guy can cook just about anything right. I came across High Flavor Low Fat chicken, italian, mexican, etc. but finally I found this cookbook that compiles all his themed high flavor low fat cookbooks into one. I have been using it for some time now, and I've been thrilled with every single recipe. Be prepared for long lists of ingredients, including specialty items only available at ethnic groceries, and lots of fresh ingredient chopping, but when you taste the finished product you will know it was all worthwhile. I highly recommend this for any intermediate cook who truly loves making healthy delicious food, even if it is a little work.

I don't actually believe this was Raichlen, at least not the guy who wrote the Barbecue Bible. If Raichlen did write this, could someone tell me who wrote the BBQ bible?

One hopes we can blame this on the ghost writers, who are competing with Taste of Home for the kind of crude home cooking some people actually struggle through. I don't even think a self-respecting cheeto-chewin Oprah watcher would find any value in this mess of a book.

It had the gross misfortune of coming out just before its high-carb, high-calorie "healthy" food was declared null and void by the Atkins crowd, and it thus falls into a canyon of uselessness. It doesn't have the flavor and profundity of the BBQ Bible yet it isn't worth the sacrifice on any other dimension.

The usual cardinal sins are committed, including extremely heavily styled food...to the point of making you feel inept or squint at the recipe for what it left out between what's on your plate and what's pictured glossily.

A bargain is a bargain and they are trying to burn these for firewood at this point I'm sure.