BOOK REVIEWS
THE VEGGIE-LOVER'S SRIRACHA COOKBOOK
By Randy Clemens
This cookbook features 50 vegan recipes using Sriracha, a popular hot sauce. Starters include Sriracha-Mango Guacamole and Stuffed Sriracha 'Shrooms. Delicious soups and stews include Fiery Pho Chay and Five-Alarm Black Bean Soup with Cilantro-Coconut Crema.
Some of the fiery main dishes include Curried Kale and Squash Risotto, Spicy California Rolls, and Jackfruit "Pulled Pork" Sammiches with Pickled Red Onion.
You can serve these salads and sides with your main meal: Edamame-Sriracha Succotash, spicy Tabbouleh-Stuffed Dolmas, or Sriracha Broccoli Slaw. Let's not forget breakfast. Try the California Benedict with Sriracha-Chive Hollandaise or Mean Quiche Florentine. And, of course, don't miss the dessert options, including Super Simple Peanut Butter and Sriracha Cookies and Upside-Down Pineapple-Sriracha Cake.
You'll find beautiful color photos throughout this cookbook. Nutritional analyses are not included; however, most recipes are not high in fat.
The Veggie-Lover's Sriracha Cookbook (ISBN: 978-1-61519-042-3) is a 272-page book. It is published by The Experiment and retails for $17.95. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE
By Fran Costigan
The subtitle of this cookbook is "Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts," and believe me, you'll want to try all the recipes in this book! The gorgeous color photos will further nudge you to get cooking.
Chapter 2 features truffles with flavors like Chai-Spiced, Espresso, and Chocolate Orange Sesame. Chapter 3 showcases cakes including Chocolate Pecan Cranberry Coffee Cake and Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes.
Showstoppers in Chapter 4 include White and Dark Chocolate Cheesecake, as well as Eclairs. The next section features cookies and bars such as Blondies, Moon Pies, and Gluten-Free Brownie Bites.
Chapter 6 highlights Pies and Tarts such as Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie and Raspberry Chocolate Silk Tart. These are followed by puddings like Coconut Milk Black Rice Pudding and Magic Chocolate Mousse.
Frozen Desserts are featured in Chapter 8. Try the Chocolate Sorbet or Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. If you're planning a family gathering, you may want to make some of the confections such as Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups or Chocolate Crostini. Finally, you may want to accompany these desserts with some chocolate beverages, including Espresso Hot Chocolate or Chocolate Date Thick Shake.
Nutritional analyses are not included. Remember, this is a dessert book, so don't expect lowfat results.
Vegan Chocolate (ISBN: 978-0-7625-4591-2) is a 304-page hardcover book. It is published by Running Press and retails for $30. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
THE GREAT VEGAN BEAN BOOK
By Kathy Hester
Beans are inexpensive and versatile, and this new cookbook serves up a wide range of creative bean-based dishes. Kathy shows readers that they can serve beans from morning till night and even for dessert.
Here's a list of some recipes you'll find in this vegan cookbook: Baked Crispy Chickpea Seitan Patties, Lemon Coconut Chickpea Muffins, Southern-Style White Bean Gravy, Pepita Black Bean Dip, Indian Split Pea and Mung Bean Soup, Pumpkin White Bean Chowder, Asian Black Soybean Slaw, Lentil Beet Salad, Thai Sweet Potato Bean Stew, Apple Baked Beans, Brown Rice Fava Bean Risotto, and Ginger Red Bean Popsicles.
The Great Vegan Bean Book (ISBN: 978-1-59233-549-7) is a 192-page book. It is published by Fair Winds and retails for $19.99. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
AFRO-VEGAN
By Bryant Terry
This new cookbook from Bryant Terry offers over 100 vegan recipes with African, Afro-Caribbean, and Southern food flavors. Beautiful color photos are also included.
The first section of this book is called Spices, Sauces, and Heat. Sample recipes you can prepare include Creole Spice Blend, Jamaican Curry Powder, Pomegranate-Peach Barbecue Sauce, and Mango-Habenero Hot Sauce.
Section 2 is titled Okra, Black-Eyed Peas, and Watermelon and features these food items. Try Blackened Okra with Red Rice, Berbere-Spiced Black-Eyed Pea Sliders, or Strawberry-Watermelon Salad with Basil-Cayenne Syrup.
The third section features Soups, Stews, and Tagines. Enjoy Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Soup, Black Bean and Seitan Stew, or Tofu Curry with Mustard Greens. You'll find Greens, Squashes, and Roots in the next section. Munch on Mucovado-Roasted Plantains, Citrus Salad with Arugula, or Dandelion Salad with Pecan Dressing.
Section 5 highlights Grits, Grains, and Couscous including Curried Corn, and Coconut Rice and Dirty Millet. Section 6 is titled Street Food, Snacks, and Small Bites. You can prepare Sugared Pecans, Lemongrass Boiled Peanuts, or Creole-Spiced Plantain Chips.
Next, move on to Preserves, Creams, and Spreads and try Dill-Pickled Mustard Greens, Fig Preserves with Thyme, and Mango-Maple Syrup. The Biscuits, Smoothies, and Porridge section offers Maple-Glazed Banana Johnnycakes and Fresh Corn Grits with Swiss Chard and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.
For dessert you can prepare Vanilla Spice Ice Cream or Coconut Rice Pudding with Nectarines. And the book ends with beverages, including Grape-Tarragon Spritzer and Tamarind Sweet Tea.
Afro-Vegan (ISBN 978-1-60774-531-0) is a 224-page hardcover book. It is published by Ten Speed Press and retails for $27.50. You can purchase this book from your local bookstore or online. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.
NO MEAT ATHLETE
By Matt Frazier with Matthew Ruscigno, MPH, RD
Ultramarathoner Matt Frazier and vegan dietitian (and athlete) Matthew Ruscigno have teamed up to produce No Meat Athlete, a comprehensive guide for vegan or near-vegan athletes, at any fitness level. The book begins with information about plant-based nutrition for athletes with a focus on whole foods. Although both authors are vegan and all recipes and meal plans in the book are vegan, the authors generally use the term "plant-based" to mean that "the vast majority of what you eat is plants." They encourage readers to read the book and decide what a "plant-based" diet means to them.
No Meat Athlete is engaging and fun to read. A variety of athletes tell their stories and provide food or training ideas that have worked for them. Sidebars on topics ranging from soy safety to iron needs of athletes to trail running tips add interest.
I can't wait to try the more than 50 recipes, including homemade energy gels and bars and Buffalo Hummus. The last part of the book focuses on running and includes sections on making running a habit, advanced training techniques, and training plans for a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. Although the focus of the last part of the book is on running, there are also sections for bodybuilders and triathletes, and it would be easy to modify many of the recommendations for other sports.
No Meat Athlete is an excellent resource for those wanting to enhance their performance and achieve health while eating a vegan diet.
No Meat Athlete (ISBN: 978-1-59233-578-7) is published by Fair Winds Press. It has 256 pages and retails for $19.99. Look for this book in your local bookstore or purchase it online. Reviewed by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD.
