Greens and Grains on the Deep Blue Sea: Fabulous Vegetarian Cuisine from the Holistic Holiday at Sea Cruises
Even if they don't have their sea legs, fans of vegetarian cooking will want to give this volume a look. Innovative takes on familiar themes dominate this compilation of more than 100 popular dishes served on Costa Cruise Lines' Taste of Health cruises, like the Seitan Paella and the playful Sushi Salad, in which shiitake mushrooms and tofu get tossed with seasoned brown rice and nori. Natural foods expert Pukel and chef Hanna offer clear instructions for preparation, but offer little background on their choice of ingredients; instead, it's assumed that the reader is familiar with arame, shoyu, kombu and lotus root. To their credit, the authors state in an appendix that the bulk of the ingredients can be found in health food stores, and point to online vendors for sourcing those that can't. Most of the dishes manage to keep healthy without sacrificing taste, though Simmered Collard Greens, in which the notoriously tough and bitter plant is simmered only with sea salt, doesn't inspire much confidence. Diners accustomed to processed flours, saturated fats and refined sugars will find the book tough going (especially in the desserts), but those with a commitment to a healthier diet are sure to find some new favorites.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.