I say yes to all kinds of cookbooks, and often forget that I have requested them. Sometimes they just show up on my doorstep. I’m sure I saw the title of this last year, when I was eating beans for protein at nearly every meal, and thought it sounded fantastic. Now that my diet has changed, I rarely cook or make beans. But that doesn’t mean that you might not still be eating tons of beans, my wonderful Renovators. So here is my review of Vegan Beans from Around the World: 100 Adventurous Recipes for the Most Delicious, Nutritious, and Flavorful Bean Dishes Ever
Layout and design:
This is a small paperback book, black and white text, no design to it at all. If I didn’t know the publisher, I would have said it was self-published. It is as bare-bones as beans themselves.
The short introduction covers why beans are important to the vegan diet, dried vs. canned, prepping beans for soaking and cooking, pros and cons of dried vs. canned, why you should soak beans (which does not include important information on phytic acid and lectins), cooking times, and substitutions. Chapters include soups and salads, sides and snacks, main dishes, drinks and desserts. It includes conversion tables in the back.
Photography:
There is only the cover photograph.
Recipes:
Recipes include: African peanut soup, Valencian minted fava salad, green bean fries, Irish mushy peas, Jamaican peanut porridge, and Japanese red bean soup.
What I liked about the book:
The recipes seem simple and accessible to novice cooks.
I wasn’t so keen on:
Recipes don’t indicate which are gluten-free; nutritional analysis is not provided, which would be helpful for low-sodium eaters.
Recommended for:
vegans & vegetarians, budget-conscious cooks
Not recommended for:
Migraine, paleo, or low-sodium diets
A note about my cookbook reviews: In the past, I tested at least three recipes from each book, took photos, and described my experience. Due to my dietary limitations (extremely-low-sodium for my Meniere’s Disease and trigger-free foods for migraine relief), it is no longer possible for me to test the recipes and do them justice.
Required FTC disclosure: I received one copy of this book from the publisher for the giveaway on October 31st.
Here’s the book if you want to peek inside:
I was doing so well making beans at least every week and then it was so hot that I got out of the habit of cooking on the stove. I need to get inspired again with some great bean recipes.
Although I am a meat eater, I like to cook meat free meals at least 4 days a week. Now that the seater is starting to cool down a bit beans and soups are the perfect mid-week meal. I will be checking out this book.
Oh, this is just what I need right now! I am always looking for great meat-free recipes to try, and love beans.
I wish cookbooks would find their way to my doorstep. lol
Nice post. thanks