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The Vegetable Butcher ~ a Review

As you may know I have reviewed quite a few cookbooks over the years and they have all been interesting, entertaining, nicely presented, good recipes, fun, etc. but this one is different!

cookbook review
I have just received a review copy of “The Vegetable Butcher” by Cara Mangini and can honestly say it is one of the best new cookbooks I have seen in years.

Unlike so many cookbooks this one actually teaches, advises and encourages the reader to be creative (as do my own).

The book starts with information on knife skills and other useful kitchen info.  This is followed by  sections each dealing with a over 100 vegetables with pretty well all the information you’ll ever need – varieties, season, what to look for, storage, what to pair it with, how to prepare it, different cooking methods, ways to vary dishes, recipes for accompaniments, what to do with leftovers and over 150 rather delicious sounding recipes, such as ...


Caramelized Broccoli with Chile Oil and Parmesan


I decided to try this as I had a splendid head of broccoli in the fridge but once I started I had a brief moment of uncertainty. I wasn’t quite sure about the combination of Parmesan, chilli, garlic and lemon and not only that the kitchen was beginning to smell a bit odd with the roasting broccoli, but ... it was gorgeous! As I had no idea what to have for dinner I ate it with some penne pasta (and a glass of red) and enjoyed every mouthful.
broccoli pasta

... and ...


Sweet Potato Latkes


These are really quick and easy and they are also just my sort of thing; delicious.  I ate them pretty much as suggested in the recipe with sour cream and chilli jam; Cara Mangini does give a recipe for Cranberry Chipotle Jam which sounds gorgeous but I already had chilli jam in the fridge and used that.
sweet potato fritters

I shall definitely be making both these recipes again and no doubt lots more from The Vegetable Butcher.

The book is somewhat American – eggplant (aubergine), zucchini (courgette), fava (broad) beans, arugula (rocket)  and rutabaga (swede) and the occasional cup measurement but nothing you can’t cope with.  There are also a few ingredients one would be lucky to find in the UK – crosnes, fiddlehead ferns (I’d love to try them!) and jicama, for instance – but also lots of more normal veggies; asparagus, avocados, cauliflower, onions, potatoes, celery, spinach, radishes and, a bit of a surprise, rhubarb although it is indeed a vegetable.

Beautifully illustrated with very detailed visual instructions, this book is exceptional. I have a friend who runs the vegetarian Café Cinnamon in Falmouth and she’d love this book but tough!! She can borrow it but I’m afraid it’s a keeper!


2 comments:

Sue said...

Are 'fiddlehead ferns' really edible!!

The term 'fiddlehead' is what is used to describe any fern as it is just coming out of the ground and it is still curled in on itself before it unfurls .... well that's how I have always known them.

The book sounds good :-)

Sudden Lunch ~ Suzy Bowler said...

American friends of mine have told me of eating them and how good they are. I think I should look into matters because if they are edible I ought to give some a try. In the book she says the "Ostrich ferns" are the most common in the US but I no nothing about here.

If ever I do try them I'll post about it but don't hold your breath!