Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook

by Isa Chandra Moskowitz (Goodreads author), Terry Hope Romero

book data

789 ratings, 4.48 average rating, 184 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		59%
4		30%
3		7%
2		1%
1		0%

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published

October 31st 2007 by Marlowe & Company

binding

Hardcover, 256 pages

isbn

156924264X (isbn13: 9781569242643)

description

The essential guide to mastering the art of vegan cooking: It's easy to live vegan 24/7 with this collection: 250 recipes, menus, and color photos for...more

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11/12/07

Lisa Vegan rated it:

bookshelves: cookbooks, gr-authors, non-fiction, reviewed, vegan, vegetarian

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: all cookbook collectors, all vegans & vegetarians and those who enjoy delicious food

Well, for some reason I thought that this was going to be more like a thorough vegan Joy of Cooking type book but it isn’t quite so comprehensive. However; it is great, and I didn’t end up being disappointed.

Only cons:
1. all the photos are in the middle of the book vs. on the recipe pages
2. for my taste too long vegetable steaming times given (although possibly they & I are thinking of different sized pieces of veggies)
3. and most importantly: the authors don�...more Well, for some reason I thought that this was going to be more like a thorough vegan Joy of Cooking type book but it isn’t quite so comprehensive. However; it is great, and I didn’t end up being disappointed.

Only cons:
1. all the photos are in the middle of the book vs. on the recipe pages
2. for my taste too long vegetable steaming times given (although possibly they & I are thinking of different sized pieces of veggies)
3. and most importantly: the authors don’t have a restaurant serving these recipes where I live in San Francisco ☺

Pros:
1. all of the recipes (except for those that contain foods I don’t like: seiten, tempeh, capers, vinegar, mustard, a few other ingredients) look delicious
2. such easy instructions for all the recipes and in general
3. while at first the book didn’t appear attractive to me, as I read it, I changed my mind: it has a great layout and it was easy to read and I decided I did like its appearance
4. very helpful icons for applicable recipes: soy free, gluten free, low fat/reduced fat, under 45 minutes, supermarket friendly
5. creative and practical recipe organization and table of contents (I was going to list the table of contents outline in my review because I like it so much, but instead I encourage others to buy, borrow, look at the book for themselves)
6. very informative with just the right amount of humor: I like humorous cookbooks; this wasn’t one of the funniest but it’s not meant to be silly,
and it also contains a smattering of Yiddish words (there was at least one, I think more) and a few vegan versions of what I think of as Jewish comfort food – loved it!

Just some of the recipes I’d like to eat (and all look possible for even me to cook given the terrific instructions): Spinach-Noodle Kugel, Baked Potato and Greens Soup with Potato-Wedge Croutons, Cauliflower and Mushroom Pot Pie with Black Olive Crust, Grilled Yuka Tortillas, Potato and Kale Enchiladas with Roasted Chile Sauce, Broccoli Millet Croquettes, Black Bean Burgers, Spaghetti and Beanballs, Beanball Sub, Mexican Millet, Red Lentil-Cauliflower Curry, Acorn Squash Pear and Adzuki Soup with Sautéed Shiitakes, Almond Quinoa Muffins, Mushroom Gravy, Marinara Sauce with combined mushroom and garlic variations, Creamy Kalamata Spread, Holiday Cranberry Sauce, Jalapeno Corn Gravy, Smlove Pie, Jelly Donut Cupcakes, Lower Fat Banana Bread, Maple and Brown Sugar Pinwheels, Wheat Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chewy Chocolate Raspberry Cookies, Pistachio-Rose Water Cookies, Lower-Fat Deep Chocolate Bundt Cake, and there are many others as well.

Gosh, writing this has made me way too hungry. I’m usually more of a cookbook reader than a cook, but I am very tempted to make at least some of the above recipes.(less)

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09/18/07

melissa rated it:

Read in November, 2007

Veganomicon is the grown-up version of Vegan with a Vengeance. Not its momma but the grown-up post punk herself. Still the same intelligent, clever and witty writing and the same mind-blowingly creative recipes but this time there is some very helpful information on kitchen necessities, both cookware and pantry staples, basic information on how to prepare different types of produce, some very grown-up and organized menus and the layout is beautifully refined. Much like I am trying to be in this ...more

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12/25/07

Ellen rated it:

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: anyone who ever cooks anything

First, the recipes are very well written and explained. The authors don't leave out any details, and include things like "when you bake this cake, it's really really important to not open the oven for at least 45 minutes no matter how tempting it is". They include lots of variations for most recipes. Most importantly, the recipes are very weeknight: A lot of them are pretty quick to prepare, very tasty, and don't necessarily involve a billion different steps and sub-recipes.

...more

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01/24/08

Devery rated it:

Read in November, 2007

This is a phenomenal cookbook for anyone who likes to cook and eat delicious food, vegan or vegetarian or BBQ-snarfer. The whole section on how to cook vegetables is worth the price alone (I had no idea how amazing roasted green beans were, for example) and the Simple Seitan recipe is a streamlined (and yummier) version of the one in Vegan With A Vengeance.

So far I have made the Leek and Bean Cassoulet with Biscuits, the Chestnut Lentil Pate, the Kalamata Dip, the Seitan Piccata, t...more

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02/20/09

Christopher rated it:

Read in January, 2009

This is a great cookbook for both dyed-in-the-wool vegans and those omnivores who want to mix it up a little. Myself, I'm a longtime vegetarian who considers himself a vegan-wanna-be (I love vegan food to death but I still can't give up ice cream, cheese or cream cheese) and this book makes me really think I could make the leap and keep my taste buds happy. After I finish this pint of Rum Raisin, that is...(ahem).

ANYway.

The book is written with a breezy sense of humor th...more

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05/14/09

Jen rated it:

Read in May, 2009

Oh Isa and Terry! Where have you been! I am new to this dynamic duo of vegan cooks, but I am now a superfan.

My introduction came through a friend that pulled a cupcake recipe from their web site and made it for a BBQ. Between the 2 families, we have serious food restrictions (allergies for some, special diets for others) and so making a dessert that everyone could enjoy was a serious challenge. After devouring one of the best cupcakes I have ever had (not simply best 'vegan' but...more

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08/22/08

Von rated it:

bookshelves: cookbook

This is a really great vegan cookbook. Everything I've made from here has been delicious, except for the potato enchiladas, which were tasty but more work than they were worth (although I didn't have toasted pumpkin seeds handy, which MAY have added whatever made it worth the more than 2 hours it took to make ...)
All in all, great cookbook. Really well written recipes, and very well organized.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

12/02/08

Trena rated it:

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: Vegetarians, Vegans, and those who love and cook for them

Many of my friends have loved this cookbook so I figured I should check it out. I think the praise is well-deserved. It contains a lot of imaginative recipes way beyond the usual (I stopped buying cookbooks several years ago because there was never anything really new in them). Most of the recipes can be made with items found in a regular grocery store, though there is a little reliance on specialty items that I'm sure are easy to locate in NYC but not so much for the rest of the US. I reall...more

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01/07/09

Sarah rated it:

bookshelves: cookbooks

Read in January, 2009

recommends it for: Laura

Quite possibly my all-time favorite cookbook. Not only did practically every recipe sound appealing, the accompanying descriptions made me LAUGH. The two Brooklyn-based authors of blog world Post Punk Kitchen fame have a witty free style and aren't afraid to poke fun at themselves or veganism in general. Even die-hard carnivores are sure to enjoy the majority of their vast array of soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, deserts, and more. This is by no means a low-fat, sprouts only tome, the authors...more

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05/12/09

Jessica is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading

Broiled tofu: Simple and yummy. There seemed to be a little too much marinade, but maybe I shouldn't have used it all.

Black bean burgers: These are the first homemade burgers I've ever made that stay together when they're fried on a skillet. The secret is vital wheat gluten! I thought they were very easy and tasty, but maybe a little heavy on the wheat. Next time, I'll try the recipe without the bread crumbs.

Baby bok choi: I loved the fried onions on top. The recipe ...more

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11/18/08

jess rated it:

Read in November, 2008

My wife & I have been working through this cookbook for a year now. Finally, I am going to write my review of it. Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a vegan foodie sensation. If you make vegan food regularly, you know there are basic techniques and styles we all rely on, and every once in a while, some sort of revolution sweeps through the vegan cooking world, and suddenly everyone is looking at their tofu a little differently. Veganomicon is that moment.

We are busy people who love to cook de...more My wife & I have been working through this cookbook for a year now. Finally, I am going to write my review of it. Isa Chandra Moskowitz is a vegan foodie sensation. If you make vegan food regularly, you know there are basic techniques and styles we all rely on, and every once in a while, some sort of revolution sweeps through the vegan cooking world, and suddenly everyone is looking at their tofu a little differently. Veganomicon is that moment.

We are busy people who love to cook delicious vegan food, and we often try to tackle five new recipes a week, so we read a lot of cookbooks. We cook for a twelve-year old, too, so kid-friendliness is a high priority. Maybe, though, our kid-friendliness is different, since our kid is a life-long vegetarian with a lot of adventurous eating under his belt.

The book is well organized and easy to use. Ingredients are listed in the order you use them - it's the little things, you know? Ingredients are exotic enough that you should have access to a few specialty groceries or a coop, but not so insane that you can't make these recipes in a small town. I live in a small city and can find pretty much everything we need.

There are some classics in here, recipes we make over and over again. A lot of the recipes are easily adapted to keep things interesting. The muffins and soups are strong points - recipes worth repeating. And the vodka sauce? It's delicious. It makes a pasta dinner special! Our kid asks for it by name.

I only made one thing from this cookbook that I wasn't crazy about - the chickpea cutlets - and nearly everyone I've talked to about them LOVED the recipe, so I can only think that I did something wrong?

Any time I talk to anyone about vegan cooking (which is OFTEN!) I always end up talking about this book. it's just one of the best, most dependable, most rewarding cookbooks available today. vegans and non-vegans can both indulge and delight in these recipes. even my vegan-hating co-workers were converted to vegan-appreciation by a few of the cookie recipes.(less)

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08/31/08

Errrin rated it:

Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: people who eat

A good vegan cookbook is harder to find than a flesh-bound book of the dead. So, this is aptly, aptly named (and far less un-deadly). Not only is this book filled with, as far as I have tested, delicious recopies, it is better organized and extensive than most other cookbooks I've come across, vegan or not. It has icons under recipes to indicate which are soy-free, gluten-free and low/reduced fat, and, more useful and impressive to me, which ones can be made in under 45 minutes and which only ha...more

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08/11/08

Jennifer rated it:

Read in August, 2008

This one I have actually used a few times now. I really like this cookbook because it has sections on how to simply prepare certain vegetables and grains.... which I never really knew how to prepare, or what to (simply) complement them with. Let's face it, fancy cooking is for weekends (at least in my house) and requires planning and energy so it doesn't happen all that often for me. But I found some simple items in here I could actually use - and remember - and plan to continue to use.

...more

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03/08/08

Stephanie rated it:

bookshelves: cookbooks

Read in March, 2008

I think this is going to be a keeper rather than just a borrow from the library cookbook. I read the introduction and found it amusing just as I did in Vegan Cupcakes take over the World. And just tide me over until I could get to the grocery store I read the icons section, stocking the pantry and kitchen tools. I always find it interesting, what each cook feels is necessary to have an equipped kitchen and pantry.

So, on to the good stuff. I made my first recipe last night, the Ch...more

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02/24/08

katrina rated it:

bookshelves: cookbooks

Read in January, 2008

Even though I'm a pretty liberal vegetarian who loves dairy and sometimes doesn't mind if a recipe contains chicken stock, I'm totally interested in vegan recipes. I think that because I'm still an omnivore of sorts it gives me a different set of standards by which to judge vegan recipes. I have to say, the recipes in this book blew me away! I regularly make the tomato-roasted garlic- navy bean- rice soup, as well as the "snobby joe" sandwiches. The steps are always really clear, so if...more

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02/09/08

Carolyn rated it:

Read in April, 2008

Not a vegan, but certainly have cut down on all forms of saturated fat and upped the vegetable, fruit, and whole grain intake. As vegetarian Alice Waters said, it's what you eat, not what you don't eat. Steph is a wonderful resource for all things vegan and she was the inspiration for me looking into a solid vegan cookbook. I want to be able to create something hearty and real - not relying on the scurry to Whole Foods for the lonely Field Roast....

This one practically leapt of the s...more

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01/03/08

Adornable rated it:

bookshelves: cookbooks

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: wanna-be vegans;

With baited breath, I awaited the delivery of this book. It came and I was...a little disappointed. After her previous two cookbooks, I was expecting something ... more? Look - this book has everything you expect from the PPK (see their website:http://www.theppk.com/): the listing of basic ingredients needed for one's pantry; basic instructions for how to cook grains, beans, vegetables; well-written recipes and some beautiful pictures.

Why am I disappointed? Too few pictures. We...more

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01/29/08

Generic rated it:

bookshelves: cookbooks, nonfiction

Read in February, 2008

I haven't had the chance to make nearly as many recipes as I'd like to from this book yet, but I'm giving it a tentative five stars and will amend that if necessary.

I tried to test a variety of recipes from different sections of the book so I could get a good overall feel for it. If there's a dud in this book, I ain't found it yet!
I especially enjoy the additions of unique ingredients and textures that give the recipes more complex flavors.

I also appreciate that th...more

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01/25/08

n* is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading

Read in December, 2007

This is also a vegan cookbook that I only just received. I am working on testing the recipes in it, seeing which ones I like, marking the ones I don't with devil horns, etc. This process takes me forever, especially since my boy wonder does most of the cooking around the house. However, the first recipe I tried from the Veganomicon was a sad disaster. It was for a Spinach-Noodle Kugel. I should have known; I've never been a fan of Jewish cuisine because it has always seemed to be a mixture of bl...more

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03/02/09

Katie Bethell rated it:

I'm not even a vegetarian but I love this book. What's a dedicated omnivore doing with such a cookbook, you might ask? Well, i got it because I wanted more creative an interesting things to do with veggies and I wanted to find interesting dinner-party options for all my dear veggie and vegan friends. This book delivered -- everything I've made has been delicious, and I find myself now going meat and dair-free pretty frequently, just because these recipes are scrumptious.

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