The Roasted Vegetable
By Andrea Chesman
Read How You Want, (2010) EasyRead Large Print, in 16 Point Verdana Font
(Originally Published in Standard Print by The Harvard Common Press)
ISBN: 978-1458766311 Genre: Cookbooks
Reviewed by Auggie Moore—August 6, 2010
Roasted vegetables seem on the surface to be a rather narrow focus for an entire cookbook. However, a few seconds of browsing through Andrea Chesman's phenomenal cookbook The Roasted Vegetable will change your mind. Roasting is a versatile cooking method and one that I had never really associated with vegetables - until now. Chesman, is the author of the best-selling cookbook, The Vegetarian Grill and in this new cookbook she succinctly explains the benefits of roasting—both in terms of flavor and health—and the ins and outs of roasting vegetables. She also explains how roasting helps to bring out the hidden and rich flavors of vegetables. Most important, in this cookbook she has included a host of mouth-watering recipes that will delight your entire family.
Perfect for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, this is a cookbook for anyone who likes vegetables - either as a main course or as a side dish. The recipes in this cookbook run the gamut from salads, sandwiches, and side dishes to pizzas, pasta dish, and main dishes. You'll also find a nice assortment of dips, salsas and other condiments that can be made from roasted vegetables such as a hearty tomato sauce.
Each recipe includes information on how many people it will serve, the ingredients needed, and step-by-step and easy to follow instructions on how to prepare each dish. As well, when appropriate, additional information is provided that will help you to recreate the dish to perfection. For example, Chesman has included numerous tips throughout on such topics as how to decide what type of eggplant to buy and what to look for when purchasing eggplants, the benefits of balsamic vinegar, pasta salad tips, and tips on altering the recipes to suit your tastes and your larder. She has also included a general roasting chart that provides cooking times and temperatures that will help you to plan your menus.
The recipes in this cookbook are organized into thematic sections covering:
- Side Dishes
- Snacks, Starters, and Soups
- Salads
- Main Dishes
- Sandwiches and Wraps
- Pasta
- Tarts, Pastries, and Pizzas
- Tofu and Tempeh
- Grains, Nuts, and Seeds
To wet your appetite and to help show the versatility of roasting vegetables, here is a list of some of my favorite recipes from this must-have cookbook. Bon appetite!
- Roasted Vegetable Muffuletta
- Black Beans and Rice with Roasted Vegetables
- White Pizza with Roasted Winter Vegetables
- Pecan-Lemon Rice Pilaf with Roasted Asparagus
- Greek Salad Pita Pocked with Roasted Eggplant Slices
- Maple-Glazed Rutabagas (sounds odd, but it really very good!)
- Goat Cheese and Artichokes on Focaccia
- Baked Orzo with Roasted Fennel and Red Peppers
- Barbecued Tempeh Sandwiches with Creamy Slaw
- Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas
- Onion Tart Nicoise
The Roasted Vegetable is available from ReadHowYouWant, an on-demand publisher that makes books available in a variety of formats including braille, DAISY, and five different large print formats. This range of formats makes this, and other books, available not only to visually impaired individuals, but also anyone with a reading or physical disability that makes reading standard print books difficult.