Grains As Mains

by Laura Agar Wilson

Modern recipes, ancient grains Grains as Mains satisfies your appetite for tasty, versatile and healthy grains, with over 150 fresh and exciting recipes, many of which are gluten-free. Ancient grains such as teff, quinoa and buckwheat, first cooked thousands of years ago, are now very much back on the menu. These grains are great for us, nutritious, protein-rich and have excellent textures. This comprehensive cookbook is overflowing with step-by-step preparation techniques showing you how to prepare and cook key ancient grains, from familiar favourites, like quinoa and polenta, to unexpected delights, such as teff and freekeh. With over 150 easy healthy recipes where grains are the star ingredient, from soaked buckwheat pancakes and cherry almond sauce, to Italian tomato and vegetable barley risotto, there is plenty of experimenting to do.

Genres: Cooking, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Food

Paperback

First published March 2, 2015

Reviews

[Rachel B]

This book had some very good-looking recipes (and I'm quite picky!), and the photos are gorgeous. I appreciate that in the front of the book, they list the ancient grains that are gluten-free, and then separately list the gluten-containing grains. This is so helpful for those with GF lifestyles. They also list next to various recipes (though not all of them) "grain exchanges" showing which other grains would do well in the same recipe.

What frustrated me:

1.) Considering they went to the extent to show which grains are gluten-free and which aren't, it would have made sense for them to include at least one gluten-free option in the recipes they offer "grain exchanges" for, but this isn't the case.
2.) Many of the recipes don't have photos, but there are photos of ingredients - these are even labeled! (For example, a photo of a banana, and a label: banana - pretty sure we all know what a banana is!)

I haven't actually tried any of the recipes yet, but I do plan to as soon as I get my hands on amaranth, buckwheat, and millet! :)

[Šimon Demočko]

Some of the most delicious recipes I have ever cooked!

As I'm writing this review, I'm stuffing myself with Thai chicken kari with pumpkin and millet (p207 in Czech edition). Tears of joy running down my cheeks. Or maybe it's cause I am impatiently burning my mouth — the flavors! Must! Savour!

Recipes are quick, easy to follow. Never flip the pages hungry. You will drool over photos.

The book inspired me to scout for grains I never heard of — boy was that a challenge sometimes. In Czechia, in specialized shops they did not even know what I was asking for, so I ended up buying some grains from eshops.

When I cook for others they have no idea what they eat, even if I tell them. But they ask for another portion anyway.

I do not even look for recipes online anymore. I just stick some bookmarks on curious pages, write out missing ingredients, purchase them and cook with Laura.

If you've always been lazy to cook, don't go against the grain — give grain some chance. You'll fall in love with it.

Bon appetit!