“I bought this for a good friend who is a terrific cook and has an extensive garden of heritage and unusual vegetables, in addition to the more common ones. Since I wasn’t going to see her for two weeks, I had plenty of time to read the recipes and try a few. This is a treasure trove of unusual combinations and flavors—delicious, exotic, beautiful, healthy, and delicious (I meant to say it twice). Ottolenghi is not a food snob and his style is friendly and encouraging. Gorgeous photos, helpful grouping of vegetables by categories (brassicas, legumes, funny onions, etc) and clear directions make this a comfortable book to cook from. The exotic mix of European, Arab and Asian cuisine calls for some spices and ingredients that may not be available in Central Oregon, but I am an inveterate user of substitutes and had great success with what I’ve tried so far. These are no insipid vegetable dishes. They burst with flavor, color and heat and are visually gorgeous as well.—Barb, Paulina Springs Books, with locations in Redmond and Sisters, OR. Buy Plenty from Paulina Springs Books.
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Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi
July 25, 2011