RE: Easy vegetarian cookbook. . . . need recommendation...
Hi Faiza
I don't own a vegetarian cookbook but I do love to cook and can empathize with you on your search for good veggie recipes. Vegetables can be so boring and finding ways to make them interesting without adding too much fat can be a daunting task. One of my favorite cookbooks is called "How to Cook Without a Book: Recipes and Techniques Every Cook Should Know by Heart", by Pam Anderson. It's not a vegetarian cookbook, but what I love about it is that it explains in simple detail, various techniques for preparing food from all categories. Once you learn the technique, you can literally prepare hundreds of recipes. None of the recipes are complicated and most can be prepared in 30 minutes (vegetable recipes require less time). It's a great book for the working girl who doesn't have a lot of time to cook.
The technique I use most often is the simmer/saute. To a skillet I add a fat (olive or canola oil--you don't need much), an aromatic like garlic or onion, 1/3 cup of water or broth, your vegetable/s, and whatever seasoning you prefer (I like a little sea salt and red pepper flakes). Bring it to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to med-lo and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the lid and saute until all liquid is evaporated. Serve immediately.
I usually mix a couple of different vegetables, like green beans with red bell pepper ribbons, or broccoli and carrots. You can make endless combinations depending on the aromatic, liquid, and veg you choose.
Well, I hope this made sense. Happy cooking!!
Michele
