How to Cook Everything Vegetarian

August 7, 2017
Bittman (How to Bake Everything) updates his vegetarian opus of 10 years ago in signature chatty yet authoritative style. Additions include recipes for nut butters, milks, smoothies, and other drinks, and color photography. There is something for everyone, from the strictest vegan to those who continue to eat meat but are trying to incorporate more plant foods into their diets (which, Bittman points out, includes an increasing number of Americans). Equally as useful as the recipes are Bittman’s enlightening instructions and informal lists of suggestions. He covers basic skills such as crafting a salad and offers 12 additions to perk up veggie burgers, such as a spoonful of tomato paste or grated citrus zest. DIY types can make their own tofu and those in more of a hurry can transform packaged tempeh into one of five options, including a hash with cilantro, ginger, and garlic. A chapter on breads provides straightforward information about gluten and flour substitutions followed by recipes for crackers, flatbreads, and tortillas. Bittman’s evenhanded tone and his ability to cover a gamut of recipes, from crudités to fluffy vegan frosting made with coconut milk, render this book as relevant today as it was when it first appeared, and confirm its status as an indispensable resource.

Starred review from June 18, 2007
Marking how mainstream vegetarian cooking has become, the next must-have for the vegetarian cook’s shelf comes from New York Times
“Minimalist” chef Bittman, an avowed meat eater. And that ensures one of this massive compendium’s many attractions: a wealth of recipes that don’t scream “vegetarian” and plentiful guidelines to make cooking vegetarian as intuitive as cooking with meat. Like his now classic How to Cook Everything
, this book opens with terrifically useful, straightforward discussions of essential ingredients, appliances and techniques, which Bittman builds on throughout in to-the-point sidebars and illustrated boxes. The recipes flow thick and fast in his theme-and-variations style: Green Tea with Udon Noodles is followed by concise instructions for making it 17 different ways, while Coconut Rice gets five additional takes and Kidney Beans with Apples and Sherry four; other lists (six Great Spreads for Bruschetta or Crostini, 10 Garnishes for Pozole with Mole) abound and inspire. New vegetarians and vegetarians cooking for omnivores will appreciate Bittman’s avoidance of faux meat products in favor of flavorful high-protein dishes like Braised Tofu in Caramel Sauce and Bechamel Burgers with Nuts. Even owners of the original book will find much new to savor while benefiting from Bittman’s remarkable ability to teach foundational skills and encourage innovation with them, which will help even longtime vegetarians freshen their repertory.

Starred review from October 15, 2017

If your copy of Bittman's acclaimed vegetarian classic How To Cook Everything Vegetarian is starting to look dog-eared or worn, it may be time to replace it with this revised tenth anniversary edition. Dated recipes and chapters have been overhauled or swapped for new ones, with full-color photographs appearing throughout. There are hundreds of versatile dishes (e.g., dumplings, everyday buttermilk waffles, curried stir-fried potatoes, BBQ jackfruit sandwiches) and indispensable tips--enough to keep readers engrossed for years. VERDICT Essential for meat-free cooking collections.

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