The 15-Minute Vegetarian Gourmet

Rating:
Summary: Not enough entrees
Review: I am a big fan of Paulette Mitchell's cookbooks, with several recipes from her 15-Minute Gourmet Chicken and Noodles cookbooks at the very top of my favorite-meals-ever list. I couldn't wait to try the third book- The 15 Minute Gourmet Vegetarian.

I was not disappointed by the quality of the recipes, I was instead disappointed by the very thin section on entrees, compared to the bulk of the book that is dedicated to salads, deserts, and other things. In my experience, vegetarians don't need more salads and deserts. Most salads and deserts are vegetarian anyway. Entrees are the sticking point- many meat eaters I know would happily give up the occasional burger if they could find something just as satisfying without the meat. This recipe book gives a few suggestions, but not as many as I would have liked. Many of the recipes call for a simple substitution of tofu where the meat would have been, which I consider a very uninspired approach to vegetarian cuisine.

If you are already a vegetarian and want a few entrees to supplement an already extensive vegetarian repertoire, you might like this book. Just reading the lists of ingredients on some of the salads makes my mouth water, and the desserts are converting me into a dessert-lover. However, if you are a starting vegetarian, this book does not give you enough full meals. I would suggest buying one of the Moosewood Collective cookbooks instead (ignoring the fish section if you are a real vegetarian, of course).

Rating:
Summary: Not enough entrees
Review: I am a big fan of Paulette Mitchell's cookbooks, with several recipes from her 15-Minute Gourmet Chicken and Noodles cookbooks at the very top of my favorite-meals-ever list. I couldn't wait to try the third book- The 15 Minute Gourmet Vegetarian.

I was not disappointed by the quality of the recipes, I was instead disappointed by the very thin section on entrees, compared to the bulk of the book that is dedicated to salads, deserts, and other things. In my experience, vegetarians don't need more salads and deserts. Most salads and deserts are vegetarian anyway. Entrees are the sticking point- many meat eaters I know would happily give up the occasional burger if they could find something just as satisfying without the meat. This recipe book gives a few suggestions, but not as many as I would have liked. Many of the recipes call for a simple substitution of tofu where the meat would have been, which I consider a very uninspired approach to vegetarian cuisine.

If you are already a vegetarian and want a few entrees to supplement an already extensive vegetarian repertoire, you might like this book. Just reading the lists of ingredients on some of the salads makes my mouth water, and the desserts are converting me into a dessert-lover. However, if you are a starting vegetarian, this book does not give you enough full meals. I would suggest buying one of the Moosewood Collective cookbooks instead (ignoring the fish section if you are a real vegetarian, of course).

Rating:
Summary: Delicious, quick, and practical!
Review: Pasta with Szechwan Peanut Dressing, Vegetable Stir-Fry with Ginger Sauce, Vegetable Curry and Mixed Fruit Chutney, all now our delicious and fast favorites from The 15-Minute Vegetarian Gourmet by Paulette Mitchell. These recipes have intriguing little taste treats which lift them above the ordinary. The book stands by itself as the most practical and satisfying when you are looking for something truly good as well as easy and quick to prepare, a busy cook's treasure. Ms. Lee Costello Scott, Chariton, Iowa

Rating:
Summary: The busiest cookbook on my shelf!
Review: Six years after purchasing The 15-Minute Vegetarian Gourmet, I can still say that this is the most often used cookbook in my collection (and the most often shared). Recipes are simple, honestly delicious, quick, healthy, and distinctive without being too strange for mainstream American tastes. I have blessed Ms. Mitchell many nights when it was my turn to cook and I was exhausted. This is also a good source of "company food" for people whose gifts do not lie in the kitchen yet want to entertain with a (manageable) bit of flair.