Description
Overview
Discover an exquisite culinary journey with the "Complete Mediterranean Cookbook" from America’s Test Kitchen. This captivating edition is not just a cookbook; it’s a gateway to a healthier lifestyle through the rich and diverse flavors of the Mediterranean. Published on December 27, 2016, this 1st edition masterpiece combines over 440 pages of meticulously tested recipes, ensuring that every dish you prepare is a success. With its user-friendly approach, this book is perfect for both novice cooks and seasoned chefs looking to explore Mediterranean cuisine. Ranked #1 in Mediterranean Cooking, Food & Wine, and Heart Healthy Cooking, this cookbook promises not only delicious meals but also a path to better health.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Collection: Over 440 pages filled with a wide variety of recipes from across the Mediterranean region.
- Expertly Tested Recipes: Each recipe is meticulously tested by America’s Test Kitchen to guarantee success in your home kitchen.
- Health-Focused: Emphasizes heart-healthy cooking, making it easy to enjoy delicious meals while maintaining a health-conscious diet.
- Diverse Cuisine: Features a range of recipes, from appetizers to desserts, ensuring you can create complete meals with authentic Mediterranean flavors.
- Detailed Instructions: Step-by-step guidance ensures even novice cooks can achieve professional results.
- Quality Publication: Published by America’s Test Kitchen, known for their rigorous testing and high-quality publications.
- User-Friendly Design: Easy-to-read layout with clear measurements and instructions, perfect for quick reference during cooking.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Extensive Range of Recipes: Offers a comprehensive selection of Mediterranean dishes suitable for all taste preferences.
- Health Benefits: Focuses on heart-healthy ingredients, promoting a nutritious diet.
- High-Quality Testing: America’s Test Kitchen’s rigorous testing ensures reliable and delicious results every time.
- Informative Content: Provides not only recipes but also insights into Mediterranean cooking techniques and traditions.
- Positive Customer Feedback: With a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from over 21,678 reviews, it’s highly recommended by readers.
Cons:
- Weight and Size: The book weighs 2.93 pounds and measures 8.56 x 0.94 x 10.06 inches, which might be cumbersome for some users.
- Limited to Mediterranean Cuisine: Focuses exclusively on Mediterranean dishes, which may not appeal to those seeking a broader range of cooking styles.
- Potential Complexity: Some recipes may require ingredients not commonly found in all grocery stores, posing a challenge for some home cooks.
Why You’ll Love It
Embrace the vibrant and healthy lifestyle of the Mediterranean by diving into the rich culinary offerings of the "Complete Mediterranean Cookbook." Whether you’re a health enthusiast or a culinary adventurer, this book offers something for everyone. Each recipe is a testament to the delightful and heart-healthy flavors of the Mediterranean, allowing you to indulge without guilt. Backed by the expertise of America’s Test Kitchen, every page is filled with delicious possibilities that are both reliable and inspiring. With rave reviews from thousands of satisfied customers, this cookbook is your key to unlocking a world of flavor and health. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your cooking repertoire and improve your well-being. Explore the "Complete Mediterranean Cookbook" today and start your journey towards delicious and healthy eating.
bandbgirl –
Not just another recipe book!
Iâm a fair cook, but since buying this book, Iâve learned more about how to choose, mix and prepare ingredients than I could have imagined. There are fantastic, delicious recipes – yummy zucchini and feta fritters, scallops with orange/lime dressing, orzo with lemon shrimp, to name just of few of the dishes Iâve already made!! The authors explain why they do certain things (e.g. braising vs. baking), provide really helpful tips (e.g. how to devein shrimp and zest a lemon), give overviews on basic ingredients like olive oil, beans and fresh herbs, and offer variations for many of the dishes. Nutritional information for each recipe is even provided!Recipes are easy to follow and presented in a logical order that makes preparation efficient, even to the point of indicating when mixing bowls and pans can be re-used. To be fair, most of the recipes take more than 40 minutes to prepare, and while most of the ingredients can be found at any grocery store, they arenât items I already had in my pantry. After making about 10 of the dishes, however, I now have most of the staples for Mediterranean cooking readily available and use them regularly. Buying sherry vinegar and ground coriander may seem like one-off investments, but trust me, youâll be using these items again in no time! And to my surprise, this book has done such a great job educating me, Iâm can now modify some of the recipes based on personal preferences! If youâre looking to change your diet, or for just a few great dishes, this book is a must have!UPDATE: I’ve been using this cookbook for a year now, and have made more than 125 of the recipes, many on multiple occasions. All but 1 of the dishes have ranged from good to great! I’ve even tried some of the recipes that didn’t sound appealing on paper and am so glad I did…who knew Spicy Turnips and Chickpeas could be such a delicious combo?? I can’t overstate how great this cookbook is! My absolute only issue is the binding is weak. Pages started falling out almost immediately, so I suggest going with the spiral bound version if it’s available. Happy cooking!
Kathy Lenehan –
So much more than a cookbook – a go-to guide for healthy eating
I’m by no means a chef. I was a decent cook when my family was young but I’m now retired, cook only for myself, and have found myself with several serious medical conditions that have made me explore what I can do to live a healthier lifestyle. I’ve followed a Flexitarian diet for several years but was only 1/2-committed to it. Now, at 67 I’ve realized I have to get serious about making my lifestyle healthier so I discussed my diet with my doctor who referred me to his nutritionist. His practice recommends the DASH diet as a starter but also recommended marrying it to the Mediterranean diet.I won’t say learning a new life style has been easy, but I’ve found it’s also a lot easier than I thought for 2 reasons: first, a Mediterranean diet is a lot of common sense , and 2nd, The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook has everything I need to know in one book. At 400+ pages it at first seemed kind of daunting but the authors from America’s Test Kitchen are a resource well-known to me from their tv programs. I know their recipes have been worked and reworked until the results are delicious and work well each time so I’ve bought several of their cook books, but this one has taught me how to follow a healthier lifestyle.EVERYTHING is here. The first several pages explain the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid and basic principles to get started. There are examples of meal planning, information about necessary core pantry ingredients, and why certain ingredients are essential for the diet. I want to add that I don’t like spiciness; several medications I take result in a very dry mouth and spicy foods make my tongue feel like it’s been burned. I’ve learned some spices can be omitted and there are others such as sumac and za’tar that improve the flavor profile without making a dish spicy. I’ve also learned how to prepare different rices and grains to vary flavor and texture profiles, and this book explains in detail how to prepare them. As an aside I also invested in an Instant Pot that also makes preparing rice and grains fool-proof and make meals much easier to prepare when possible. I particularly like the Test Kitchen Tips and Notes as well as Why This Recipe Works throughout the book as well as suggested substitutions if I don’t like a particular ingredient or one isn’t available. Some spices such as cumin and turmeric are now kept as staples as I’m learning I can adjust the amount to get a hint of taste without spiciness, I don’t do a lot of grocery shopping because I tire easily but many spices, seasonings. cooking tools, etc. can be found on Amazon, nuts.com. and spices web sites. It’s so much easier than going from store to store shopping for things. There are also beautiful color pictures of finished dishes as well as those showing preparation tips. I also like that recipes in the index are color-coded to indicate those that are fast (less than 45 minutes from start to finish) and vegetarian. I’m retired but because I tire easily I’ve discovered I can do much of the prep work earlier in the day then make the meal when it’s time for dinner. I have no interest in some of the meals but with over 500 recipes there are also many that I’ve tried and are delicious and many others I’ve flagged to try. You can’t go wrong with this book!
mermaidgirl –
Nice variety of recipes
I like the variety of recipes that simple, healthy an flavorful. One star off for cooking food in aluminum foil, which is linked to Alzheimers.
Amazon Customer –
A cookbook filled with so many new ideas for a Mediterranean menu.
Leighsa Balland –
Fantastic cookbook loaded with awesome recipes.
Dainius –
Really loved the book. So many good recipes, really recommend!
Javajolie –
Wanting to eat healthier, I checked ATK books and bought this and the Salads one too. For this book, there are so many beautiful recipes that I will make and eat. I tried the baked rice dish last night and it was delicious. I have a lot of ATK books and they never disappoint. There are a lot of nice clean recipes that I have bookmarked already. For those who love pictures in their cookbooks, this has a lot. There are humus variations as well as beans, fish, veg and so much more.
Wayne Wilmot –
Lost two stars directly for Ratatouille recipe: “Remove pot from oven and using a potato masher or heavy wooden spoon smash and stir eggplant mixture until broken down to a sauce like consistency.â Eggplant is a delicate and wonderful vegetable and this recipe wants you to mash it like potatoes. Apparently the US based team doesn’t understand the finesse in European cooking.