Brassicas: Cooking the World's Healthiest Vegetables: Kale, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and More [A Cookbook]

Description

A cookbook showcasing 80 recipes for the most popular of the world's healthiest vegetables--kale, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, leafy greens, and more--tailored to accommodate special diets such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan. For a long time, brassicas had a mixed reputation. While a small group of people staunchly adored them, most Americans were not as fond of the vegetables formerly known as "cruciferous" (who doesn't remember a plate of stinky boiled cabbage or President Bush's condemnation of broccoli?). But in recent years, a transformation has occurred. Kale has taken the world by storm and there's hardly a restaurant left that doesn't have brussels sprouts on the menu. The rising popularity of brassicas is not only due to their extraordinary health benefits and "superfood" status, but also the realization that they can taste delicious when properly prepared. Brassicas shows home cooks how to bring out the flavors of these vegetables without death-by-boiling or burial under a blanket of cheese. When roasted, brassicas reveal an inherent sweetness. In a fresh salad or saute, they add a delightful peppery punch. Celebrating natural flavors rather than masking them, Brassicas both inspires cooks as well as arms them with appetizing new ways to increase their vegetable consumption.

LAURA B. RUSSELL is the author of The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen as well as the blog, Notes from a Gluten-Free Kitchen. Her newspaper column, "Gluten Freedom", appears monthly in the FoodDay section of the Oregonian. Laura frequently contributes articles to many local and national magazines, including Prevention, Living Without, Easy Eats, NW Palate, and Portland's MIX magazine. She is a culinary advisor to The Heart's Kitchen (theheartskitchen.com), an organization collaborating with Oregon Health and Sciences University to improve nutrition of moms-to-be and consequently benefitting the long-term health of their children.

"This is the book that will show you why brassicas are among your best friends in the kitchen. And when you see how gorgeous their portraits are, you'll never look at cabbage or kale the same way again." -Deborah Madison, author of Vegetable Literacy "Cabbage family vegetables are nutritional powerhouses that are inexpensive and readily available. They are rich in phytonutrients that protect against cancer and other serious diseases. This book gives quick and simple recipes for turning brassicas into culinary delights. I recommend it highly." -Andrew Weil, MD, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and the author of True Food "Laura Russell's inspired book dispels this often-maligned family of vegetables. Forget grandma's simply boiled cabbage or overcooked cauliflower. I want to start with Charred Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Fig Glaze, and savor the Spanish Tortilla with Mustard Greens. What a gem of a book." -Diane Morgan, author of Roots "Finally, a book that gives my favorite vegetables their due! Laura Russell shows that kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts deserve a starring role at the center of the plate. Laura's pitch-perfect recipes-Roasted Broccolini with Winey Mushrooms, anyone?-stand to make a believer out of any cook who picks up this book." -Joe Yonan, author of Eat Your Vegetables