Sun-Kissed Cooking: Vegetables Front and Center – A Top Chef Winner's Cookbook with Fresh Recipes for Everyone

by Brooke Williamson

In her much-anticipated first cookbook, the culinary superstar and Top Chef winner reimagines the role produce plays in everyday meals, moving it from side to center in enticing recipes that add fun and complex flavor to healthy eating—the kind of food we want to enjoy today.

A prodigy who started cooking as a teenager, master chef Brooke Williamson has already carved out a résumé full of leading roles and professional achievements in her young career. She won Bravo’s Top Chef Season 14, and on Food Network, was crowned the first winner of Tournament of Champions, and debuted as one of the three titans on the new cut-throat hit competition, Bobby’s Triple Threat.

Sun-Kissed Cooking is her much-anticipated first cookbook—a remarkably fresh look at produce-forward cooking that combines a deep love of ingredients, a respect for seasonality—which also incorporates preserved and canned vegetables—and an unexpected flair that makes cooking with produce inventive, fun, and incredibly delicious. Williamson inspires home cooks to follow their imagination and build dishes from whatever vegetables or fruits capture their fancy in the moment. With over 100 fresh and unexpected recipes, arranged by the ingredient at the center, from mushrooms and tomatoes to peas and pods to starch and greens—accompanied by sixty enticing photos—she shows how to get the most out of items from the farmer’s market or the produce aisle.

Though vegetarians will find plenty of recipes to love, Sun-Kissed Cooking is for everyone who wants to eat better without compromising flavor or skimping on ingredients they love—many dishes feature meat, poultry, and seafood. Williamson’s cooking style is wonderfully original without being fussy or complicated, and following her helpful guidance home cooks of every level can adopt her joyful attitude in the kitchen at the dinner table.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

Reviews

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile]

I actually enjoyed the first couple of memoir-like chapters more than the actual recipes that came later. As an avid Top Chef and Food Network fan, I’ve always loved watching her compete and thought her so talented. The actual recipes, while I did save a few, seemed mostly pretty elaborate for the home cook. I do greatly appreciate her push for fruits and veggies.

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ]

A lovely collection of vegetable forward, home-cook doable chef-y recipes. Vegetables and fruits do take center stage but this is not a vegetarian book, meats do make an occasional appearance but as second fiddle. The intro was one of the better ones I have seen and can't help but wonder how much of a role the ghostwriter, JJ Goode, played in that.

Recipes are well written and most are easy to follow. The book design and photos of every dish are stellar. The recipes are fresh and inventive, and use ingredients that one can find easily. There was a little more fried food than I would have liked but the trade off for the tasty end result is worth it.

[Jessica]

Brooke Williamson has already had a long career in professional cooking starting from a young age in professional kitchens. This is her first cookbook and the focus is on vegetables. Growing up in Los Angeles there are fresh vegetables almost year round and as a professional chef she would build her menu around what's in season. I really liked that the recipes are organized by vegetable. I didn't find many recipes I wanted to try. I enjoyed reading her introduction about how she got into cooking and her career so far. Overall, if you're looking to add more vegetable recipes to your personal kitchen this one is worth checking out.

[KathleenB]

Veggie forward but definitely not vegetarian friendly.

[Jenna]

A beautiful cookbook but certainly for an audience with time on their hands and access to fresh produce and ingredients that aren’t accessible to most.

[Denise Prewett]

Besides the need for a good steak every now and then I could happily be a vegetarian. This book highlights all my favorite vegetables (which is ALL of them). My mouth was watering the whole time I read the book. Some recipes contain ingredients not normally in my house, but I think I can substitute or due without. Great pictures and info about dishes.

[Md Al]

★★★★★

Sun-Kissed Cooking is a vibrant and inspiring cookbook that puts vegetables exactly where they belong: at the center of the plate. I loved the way the recipes celebrate fresh produce without making vegetable-focused cooking feel boring, complicated, or overly restrictive.

The recipes are creative while still feeling approachable enough for everyday meals. There is a wonderful emphasis on bright flavors, seasonal ingredients, and thoughtful combinations that allow vegetables to shine. Even familiar ingredients feel fresh and exciting when prepared in these inventive ways.

What stood out to me most is the book’s ability to make vegetable-forward cooking appealing to everyone. You do not have to be strictly vegetarian to enjoy these recipes. The dishes are satisfying enough to serve as complete meals while also providing plenty of inspiration for side dishes and gatherings.

The cookbook also has a cheerful, summery spirit that makes browsing through the recipes enjoyable. It encourages experimentation and a greater appreciation for fresh ingredients and simple, flavorful cooking.

Overall, Sun-Kissed Cooking is a fantastic addition to any home cook’s collection. It offers fresh ideas, beautiful flavor combinations, and plenty of motivation to make vegetables a bigger part of everyday meals. A joyful cookbook that makes wholesome, vegetable-centered cooking feel genuinely exciting.

[Quyen]

Vegetables are front and center in almost all the recipes which have fresh takes on how to cook them. Brooke Williamson has a lot of innovative ways to cook vegetables and I’m excited to try out so many of the recipes.

There are ingredients that you definitely have to shop for as they won’t all be pantry items but nothing so exotic that you can’t get at a supermarket like Whole Foods, Fresh Market or Wegman’s. The recipes are not difficult but are not really for a beginner cook.

Some of the unique but approachable recipes include:

- Panzanella with Marinated Tomatoes, Charred Onion and Pomegranate
- Black Mission Figs woth Pistachio Relish and Warm Chorizo Honey
- Fresh Corn Grits with Truffle Cheese and Romesco
- Corn Salad with Avocado, Watercress and Celery Salt Popcorn
- Spaghetti with Zucchini, Prosciutto and Lemon-Butter Breadcrumbs
- Little Gems with Persimmon, Sesame Cashews and Tahini Green Goddess
- Shiitake Chestnut Holiday Rice
- Roasted Baby Beets with Burrata, Crispy Prosciutto and Tangerine Dressing
- Vanilla Chamomile Flan with Fruit
- Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with Blackberries and Caramel Corn

If you’re tired of the same old basic vegetable recipes and are looking for fresh, innovative ways to cook them, I highly recommend this book!

[Sohan Ali]

★★★★★

*Sun-Kissed Cooking: Vegetables Front and Center* is a vibrant and inspiring cookbook that makes vegetables the true stars of the meal. The recipes feel fresh, creative, and approachable, offering plenty of ideas for anyone who wants to enjoy more flavorful vegetable-forward dishes.

I especially appreciate the emphasis on fresh ingredients and the thoughtful combinations of flavors and textures. The recipes are inviting without feeling overly complicated, making them suitable for both everyday meals and occasions when you want to try something a little more special. There is a wonderful sense of creativity throughout the collection that keeps the recipes exciting.

This is a fantastic cookbook for home cooks looking to bring more variety, color, and freshness to their kitchen. The combination of practical recipes and imaginative cooking ideas makes it a book I would happily return to again and again.

A beautiful, refreshing, and inspiring celebration of vegetables. Definitely deserving of five stars!

[Danielle Booey]

Vegetable forward with lots of great recipes for each season. The artichoke recipes really made me want artichokes and there are some good looking acorn squash recipes as well. I do wonder how readily available some of these vegetables are outside of somewhere with a really great farmer's market. I would love to have access to maitake mushrooms and baby corn that hasn't been canned!

I don't normally read too much about the chef when I read cookbooks because that isn't what I got the book for, but I did read this one since I've seen her on Tournament of Champions and always wondered what her background was.

[Abdullah Al]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Sun-Kissed Cooking” is a beautiful and inspiring cookbook that puts fresh vegetables at the heart of every meal. The recipes feel creative, vibrant, and approachable, making it easy to see vegetables in a whole new way. I love the emphasis on fresh flavors and simple ingredients without sacrificing excitement or variety. A wonderful choice for both longtime vegetable lovers and anyone looking for delicious new ways to eat more produce!

[Elora]

Beautiful pictures and delicious sounding recipes. Unfortunately most of the recipes involve ingredients I normally don’t have on hand, but Brooke encourages creativity within her recipes so maybe I could omit those ingredients to make recipes more fitting for my lifestyle. Or maybe not! It does make me want to try to make vegetables and fruits more of a focus in my meals.

[Leona]

This cookbook has complex recipes for elevated food. I remember Brooke from Top Chef and these recipes are written in her enthusiastic voice. There is a photo with each recipe. I viewed this in an ebook format on loan from the library. I didn’t find any recipes that I would want to attempt, but a more skilled home chef might.

[Cindee Ketches]

Interesting read; lovely pictures; but not many recipes that I will actually try.
Many contain ingredients that I’ve never heard of or know I will have difficulty obtaining. And most are not quick and easy recipes. I think I’ll save those for eating out😁
That said, I will try a few recipes and may change my rating afterwards

[Cherie]

I have been wanting to try new sides since I am tired of using the same recipes over and over that I have used in the past. This book not only has some really delicious recipes I want to try, such as artichoke and crab dip toasts, but also some helpful tips. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the book is sturdy and of high quality.

[Margaret]

Brooke Williamson’s new cookbook Sun-Kissed Cooking is a vegetable lovers dream. Brooke’s book follows the season and local vegetable availability. The recipes are easy to follow, although the average kitchen chef may need to pick up some spices. I enjoyed the memoir type intro where she discussed her journey.

[Rosie Gadus]

I really enjoyed Sun-Kissed Cooking. The recipes were fresh, flavorful, and approachable, with plenty of inspiration for cooking more vegetables at home. My only wish is that there had been a little more beyond the recipes—more personal stories, tips, or insight from Brooke. Overall, a great cookbook that I’ll definitely cook from again.

[Ann Mungmode]

My new favorite cookbook!

A fantastic book for the home cook. Chef Brooke's voice resonates in descriptions and instructions that I know will improve my culinary skills.

Bold, tasty flavors and fun recipes showcasing delicious produce.

[Stephanie]

Like most chefs who write cookbooks, Brooke has lost sight of who is actually her audience - unless she really only wanted chefs to purchase & use her book. A lot of ingredients are not going to be widely available in most markets. There are photos of all recipes.

[Audrey]

I won this books on Goodreads. I like how she explains how she builds a recipe and what each ingredient brings to the dish. I marked off 10 recipes I will try. Think I’ll start with her moms signature salad, sounds perfect for summer.

[Gloria]

Vegetables are the stars in this cookbook, with easy instructions and helpful tips. So many recipes I want to try. Everything looks so yummy.

This cookbook would make a great holiday gift.

[Marianna]

Definitely for the “foodie” vs the average home cook.

[Dawn]

Nothing against the book or the recipes, but there just wasn't anything in here I wanted to cook or eat.

[Jacob Deitrick]

Amazing cookbook. I have way too many cookbooks and this one is easily one of my favorites.

[Victoria Vetterl]

4.75 stars

[Janet]

I love Brooke but this cookbook felt pretty inaccessible to me.

[Jen]

This cookbook is awesome! Vegetables. Poached eggs. Pistachio gremolata. And bonus cocktails!

[Carolyn]

Very well made cookbook with beautiful images. The recipes are unique and delicious. It’s great to have a book that makes veggies and fruits the centerpiece over meat.