Moosewood’s Multicultural, Accessible Vegetarian Recipes Satisfy

The Moosewood Collective has promoted local, organic food since before it was popular. It’s no surprise to find they’re still a step ahead of the veggie curve, making a case for whole, plant-based foods. Their latest collection of more than 200 recipes showcases trendy, healthful ingredients like stevia, umeboshi, celeriac and more, with loads of vegan options and even raw foods. Moosewood Restaurant: Cooking for Health by the Moosewood Collective continues the tradition of accessible vegetarian cuisine for household cooks. Insightful ingredient descriptions preface ten different sections, highlighting, for example, the various kinds of beans and peas, how to cook them and cook times.

Even if you’re no stranger to healthy cooking, Moosewood’s often-adventurous ingredient lists may send you to the store before dinner. Mouth-watering recipes like Avocado-Citrus Dressing (which I’m drizzling over just about everything these days), Greek Tomato-Yogurt Soup (delicious hot and cold!), and Mediterranean Eggplant Casserole (a satisfying fall recipe) have already earned spots on my dinner rotation.

While I wish the folks at Moosewood understood the value of cookbook photographs — their books are notoriously artwork-free — I depend on their detailed serving information and accurate prep and cook time predictions. And since the collective blatantly encourages my recipe tinkering, I’m wholly sold.

As the temperatures cool, I look forward to sampling Maple Banana Oatmeal, Creamy Curried Pea Soup, Polenta Casserole with Winter Squash and Greens, and Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan-Oat Crust, just to name a few. Fall even sounds delicious at the Moosewood Restaurant, and I hope to echo a few of those smells in my kitchen.

Moosewood Restaurant: Cooking for Health by the Moosewood Collective ($35) Publisher: Simon & Schuster Publication Date: November 2009

Review based on a free copy of this book, courtesy of the publisher.