Cook Color: A Rainbow of 100 Recipes

by Maria Zizka

Eat the rainbow. Cook Color  celebrates the beauty of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, in a collection of 100 all-natural, monochrome recipes that reveal a tantalizing world of taste, texture, and seasonal eating like you've never seen before.
 
What is the flavor of sunshine? The taste of forest green? Does the red of a pepper evoke the warmth of its spice? Cook Color reveals a whole new way of thinking about food. Author Maria Zizka introduces readers to ideas from color theory and cooking sciences, explaining how to master food styling and cooking techniques to enhance and preserve color, without any artificial additives. But cooking by color isn’t just about looks; it is an approach that draws connections between aesthetics, seasonality, and flavor. Arranged in a gradient, the recipes begin with creamy shades of white—from a coconut cod and rice bowl to a garlicky bean and cauliflower salad. Yellows evoke the bright flavors in Margarita Bars, reds bring forward fiery tastes in dishes like Mapo Ragù with Rice Cakes, and greens highlight fresh and herbal flavors with dishes like Matcha and Mint Ice Cream Sundae or Zhoug-Marinated Feta and Fava Toasts. Blues, purples, and blacks present a butterfly pea flower boa stuffed with blue oyster mushroom, a classic Italian grape focaccia turned on its head with the addition of purple ube, and elegant black tahini cookies. To tie it all together, Zizka presents a special section of Color Menus, where she teaches readers how to use food to create palettes that evoke a sense of season, theme, or even a a Valentine’s menu decorated with red and pink indulgences, a spring menu featuring all fresh flavors and pastel tones, a seafood-focused menu of blue and coral hues to conjure a tropical ocean vibe. Cook Color is a celebration of eating beautifully and creatively, at any moment and for any occasion.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking

244 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[Amber Wessies Owrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title and concept of this particular cookbook drew me in right away. Zizka includes creative recipes and information about the different colors we find in foods. She explains how colors interact and how plating affects the colors. The idea of making a dish that is one color is something I have not seen in other cookbooks. The ingredients needed to make many of these recipes will influence people to try new ingredients. At the end of the book, Zizka provides ideas for menus using color and her recipes. The recipes seem simple to follow and Zizka reminds readers that cooking is also fun and partially experimentation. The reader's dish may not look like the pictures, but that is part of the fun of cooking based on color. I would recommend this anyone especially those looking for a new kitchen inspiration.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the most beautiful cookbook ever . I relished every turn of the page. It's stunningly gorgeous.

Plus, the author opens with a brief chapter discussing the provenance of the colors and how heat/acid/salt can change colors. Fascinating!

The recipes are all so beautiful! And the book moves from one color to the next seamlessly. It is impressive . I want to eat every single thing. But, however, I didn't feel that my cooking prowess was quite up to attempting any of them.

I highly recommend looking at this cookbook even if you don't intend to cook. It's amazing!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of eating is visual and although colorful these recipes do not appeal to me. This is more a chef’s cookbook than a cookbook for average or above average cooks. Additionally, many recipes call for untraditional ingredients such as noir baking cocoa, dried hibiscus and njuda that aren’t readily available to most home cooks.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating book! I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but I love the concept of making a dish that is essentially one color in many different shades brought by the various foods. I’ve sent off for some of the coloring agents used in a few recipes and I can’t wait to try a few recipes. I’m returning the library copy and purchasing my own.

[Erin O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might be a bit complex and advanced, but I’m excited to try and attempt some of the recipes! The storytelling, explanation, imagery, and photography made this cook book lovely to read and enjoy.

[Rita (RitaReadsTrash) · Rating 3 out of 5]

They're gorgeous but not everyday home cook recipes

[Libraryassistant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh. I had nearly completed a fairly in depth review of this beautiful and intriguing book, when Goodreads crashed again.
Just try this book, it’s gorgeous.