Previous posts in this Christmas recommendation series include picture books, junior books, and middle-grade books.
We have one 100% vegetarian, one most-of-the-time vegetarian (me) and two whatever’s-on-offer-within-reason eaters in the household. This means our home-cooked meals are mostly vegetarian and have been for some time now. So I’m always on the lookout for new cookbooks because oftentimes I come across a lot of beans-based ideas that can get a little boring. These picks are based on that search – with one exception, as you’ll see when you get to it.
Five Ingredient Vegan: 100 simple, fast, modern recipes by Katy Beskow
(First, please note that the above image is (I think) the UK cover – the Australian cover has a creamy pink and white cover, as you will see when you click on the link.)
Beskow has a point when she says in the introduction that people sometimes have the idea that vegan cooking can be fussy and impractical. This book is her response to that idea, using five ingredients or less, many of which are already to be found in people’s pantries. I like this, as I’ve been mindful of food waste this year and have been able to cut down on a lot simply by not being afraid of looking at what I already have and getting creative. Many – but not all, I will admit – experiments have been successful. But to get back to my point, I particularly like the ‘soup’ and ‘sweet’ chapters of this cookbook. A lot of the substitutions are simple, like vegan butter for regular butter, but in the past that hasn’t necessarily lead to confidence in altering my purchase and making the change. But every little prompt, recipe and suggestion helps.
Forest Feast Mediterranean: Simple Vegetarian Recipes Inspired by My Travels by Erin Gleeson
Gleeson is a New York Times bestselling author of the Forest Feast collection of cookbooks and ‘Mediterranean’ is the latest title in the series. If you take a look at her gorgeous website you’ll get an idea of her aesthetic and cooking/lifestyle philosophy. This cookbook is full of wonderful photographs and illustrations; on a personal note, I loved the story of her travelling with her young family while researching the recipes that went in it. Most of these recipes are rustic and simple – just the kind of comforting food I like to eat!
Veg by Jamie Oliver
Another year, another Jamie Oliver cookbook. Such is the dependability of his brand, you know what you’re going to find inside (in terms of look and presentation). That’s comforting to me – and to his other fans, having made this an instant bestseller. Openly writing this for both vegetarians/vegans AND meat-eaters wanting to up their vegetable intake, he’s broken up the book into clever, appealing chapters including one-pot wonders (always a hit with me), burgers + fritters, pasta and more.
Here, I’ll let him explain it better.
Signature Dishes that Matter, published by Phaidon
This pick is for the unabashedly proud foodie in your life. Perhaps you’re that foodie. Do you want a special present, one that screams class? This could be it. That said, I want to be able to talk more about this book than I actually can because it’s been plastic-wrapped in every bookstore I’ve found it in. It’s Phaidon – you know the production quality will be top-notch. It has its own trailer, as you can see.
More: More Recipes With More Veg for More Joy by Matt Preston
I knew I’d like More before I even opened it. The rounded edges on the page and cover corners are a nice touch (and are appreciated, as on occasion I’ve stabbed myself on some savage pointy corners!) His droll, knowing manner comes through clearly – for example, “There is a strong anarchic streak running through some of the ideas in this cookbook which, I suspect, is in direct response to the big wank perpetrated by some top chefs around the world.” I’m not the world’s biggest salad fan, so I skimmed the early pages, but this really comes into its own with new (for me) ideas on how to cook tofu. There’s also a pleasing variety of sticky coated dishes using potatoes and pumpkin. There is also a meat appendix for those who absolutely cannot do without it.
Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Booktopia, which means I earn a small commission if you click through from this site and make a purchase. Be aware that Booktopia has Christmas cut-off dates for both non-stocked and stocked items so it’s a good idea to check when ordering what these dates are. (At the time of writing they are still being determined.) Did you also know that you can earn Qantas Points on eligible Booktopia orders? If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer you can link your membership to your Booktopia account. More details here.
