Review of Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook

I am new to the world of vegetarians and vegans. A few years ago I started making minor changes to my diet based on things I had seen and read. My first was a move to milk that did not contain rbST. I went with organic milk for a while, but continued to be bothered by what I might be consuming in milk and dairy products. Then the concern moved to the actual meat I was eating. Next thing you know I was having almond milk with my cereal and eating tofu a few times a week. About a year ago I switched to a vegetarian diet and avoided almost all dairy products. For the past 6 or so months I have been right on the edge of veganism, though I stumble every once in a long while. So while the most strict vegans might kick me out of their club, I think I could make it into most vegan social groups!

I really like to cook and was not having too much trouble finding a wide variety of vegan dishes to cook. So I did not really plan on getting a vegan cookbook. However for Christmas my brother surprised me with Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. I immediately flipped it open and started scanning the book and found it to be filled with humor and sarcasm (I am a BIG fan of well done sarcasm). So I was pleased right off of the bat.

Once I got settled in after the holidays, I sat down and ready through much of Veganomicon and browsed through the recipes. I was immediately impressed with the depth and breadth of the cookbook. There were hundreds of recipes and I wanted to immediately get up and cook dozens of them immediately! I actually had to take out a pad of paper and write out a huge list of supplies I would need from the grocery store to prepare for this vegan undertaking. I am fairly well stocked in my kitchen, but the ingredients included in the recipes blew away what I had in the cupboard. There were even a number of things I had never heard of and had to look up online to see what they were talking about. Seitan? Apparently I ate it quite often, but never knew it had a name! Tempeh? What the heck was THAT?!

Now that I have tried about a dozen of the recipes, I must say that I have been very pleased with the vegan dishes that I have turned out of my kitchen. I actually made seitan in my kitchen and it turned out awesome! I had quinoa for the first time in a wonderful dish with cashews and pineapple. I also used it in a simple yet tasty chickpea-quinoa pilaf. I had a cheezy sauce based on nutritional yeast that surprised me (in a good way). I made enchiladas using a tofu based sour cream that were excellent. And I have not even begun to scratch at the surface of what is in this book. So while I do not have much to compare it to, I can say that I am impressed and would highly recommend it. Want more proof? Here is what Publishers Weekly had to say about Veganomicon:

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. While most vegan cookbooks are anemic, underfed volumes-some no-brainer pasta recipes, a few things to do with tofu, maybe some oddball desserts-this slam-bang effort from vegan chefs Moskowitz and Romero (Vegan with a Vengeance) is thorough and robust, making admirable use of every fruit and vegetable under the sun, without once asking readers to make do with fake meat products and egg replacements. Instead, the eccentric authors offer dozens of novel, delicious ways to get excited about eating meat-, dairy- and egg-free. Take Southwestern Corn Pudding, a winning casserole rich with coconut milk and an unexpected dash of maple syrup-a likely MVP at your next Thanksgiving (whether it's centered around turkey or tofu). Almost as addictive are Rustic White Beans and Mushrooms, which get their bite from fresh herbs, and Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions and Spiced Pita Crisps, a transcendent Middle Eastern comfort food. Vegan breakfasts get overdue attention: sitting in front of a hot stack of velvety Blueberry Corn Pancakes and hearty Blue Flannel Hash, who's going to miss the bacon? Best of all is the wide selection of terrific desserts: everything from Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies to decadent Caramel-Apple-Spice Cupcakes boldly fill the space where most eggless, milkless and butterless cookbooks fear to tread.

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See, it looks like they agree with me. Check out Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook for yourself and see what you think.

-BeeHawk-