Mediterranean Every Day by Sheela Prakash
Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel Good Food

Gorgeous, easy to read, simple recipes with ingredients I can find easily where I live made this a delight to peruse today. I found my mouth watering and my fingers itching to get into the kitchen and create. The fact that I live in a small village in Lebanon and often cannot find the ingredients in recipes made this book one that I would gladly pick up and add to my cookbook shelf. 

What I liked: 
* The backstory to the creation of the book
* The simple to understand and follow recipes
* The availability of ingredients where I live
* That there are vegan and vegetarian recipes included 
* That I wanted to immediately start cooking
* The section with three or fewer ingredient recipes for snacks and cocktails
* The idea that any of these recipes would work well for family or as food for entertaining guests
* The variations on recipes that allows the cook to  play and create themselves 
* And, more

What I did not like: That it is too hot to go into the kitchen right now and bake one or two of the items lingering in my mind. 

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Harvard Common Press for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

5 Stars

Inspiring Mediterranean Cookbook

Having grown up in California, I've always had an interest in Italian and other Mediterranean foods. This is a fantastic cookbook with all sorts of Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Even though the author is a registered dietitian, this is not a “Mediterranean diet” book. As the author states, she doesn't believe in diets, per se. As the title suggests, most recipes are simple enough to make any night of the week, though a few more complex ones would take more time. While not specifically vegetarian, this cookbook has many vegetarian recipes—as most Mediterranean cookbooks do—or ones that could be easily adapted to vegetarian by leaving off or substituting the small amount of meat in some recipes. Every recipe has a photo, though not every photo is of the finished dish. Sometimes, the picture is the recipe ingredients. The pictures are well lit, lush, and beautiful—and certainly get you thinking about going into the kitchen and whipping up some of the dishes. Before getting to the recipes, the author talks briefly about her take on Mediterranean-style eating and pantry staples, which are actually fewer than you might imagine. She gives some basic recipes, like for roasted garlic or any-herb pesto, before diving into recipe chapters: three-ingredient snacks and drinks, soups and salads, greens and beans, pastas, gathering dishes (main dishes, sometimes for a crowd), and desserts. I was certainly struck with the simplicity of many of the recipes, which I appreciate. The older I've gotten, the less I like to prepare and clean up! Some flavor combinations sound amazing but are so simple to put together. The cookbook is not only for the peak-of-summer and fall vegetables (though she provides some recipes for those happy garden times). The author also uses canned vegetables and beans for some recipes, putting them in reach almost any time of the year. If you enjoy Mediterranean eating and cooking as I do, you will most likely enjoy this beautiful and tasty-looking collection of recipes.

I love mediterranean cuisine, and so I had to try the book. I already do the every herb pesto and the chili oil, but I'm going to add the vinaigrette and the herb infused honey (that sounds yum). Of the main recipes, the ones I'm most interested in are the shawarma spiced halloumi, and the rose soaked peaches. 

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a good cookbook once I could get into it. I had a lot of issues viewing it on my computer but it finally worked on my phone. Lots of good recipes and seasoning tricks that I look forward to trying out in the future.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this cookbook! The recipes are healthy, simple yet delicious. There is a great variety of recipes and many of them would be perfect for everyday meals however are also elegant enough for special occasions. I especially look forward to preparing the Herby Ricotta, Fig in a Pig, Nicoise Salad, Hot Smoked Salmon Greek Salad, Spicy Broccoli Rabe and Chickpea Skillet, and Tahini Truffles. 

Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!

I really enjoyed this cookbook. I use the herb infused honey and everyday vinaigrette on EVERYTHING. Worth it for those two recipes alone.  The no cook summer tomato pasta was a great way to use up all the tomatoes from our garden.  The caramelized mushroom pasta with crispy prosciutto was so tasty. The dessert chapter is full of easy recipes. 

I received this as an ARC in return for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This is a glorious cookbook with fantastic accompanying photos which really make you want to try every recipe in the book. There is a wide range of recipes, including some exciting vegetarian options, and you will be sure to find something suitable for all occasions. I liked that the recipes were straightforward to follow and gave a range of measurements, so whether you prefer cups and spoons or weighing your ingredients, you will not find this book difficult to use.
There are some really unusual recipes that i can't wait to try: 'Eggs in Purgatory' and 'Tahini Truffles,' particularly! I also like the little anecdotes/culinary lessons along the way; for example, the story about the ingredient farro, which I had never heard of before reading this book.
This is a great addition to anyone's kitchen shelf!

Mediterranean Every Day is a clear, well written and easy to follow cook book. The recipes are for the main part classics that the author has put her own twist on. The inclusion of measurements in both cups and g is welcome as it makes the recipes easy to follow and the introduction to each recipe gives you a good idea of what to expect from the recipe plus useful hints to help make the dish better.

If you already have an extensive Italian / Mediterranean cook book collection this book may not have any surprises for you, but if you are just starting to explore this cuisine then it is a good place to start.

I was given a copy of Mediterranean Every Day by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

I loved reading this book - a very American perspective on Mediterranean cooking which I enjoyed - and I'm looking forward to cooking more from the book. The Raspberry Ricotta Gratin was wonderful. 

I'll be featuring Mediterranean Every Day as my cookbook of the month in next months newsletter ( http://eepurl.com/pa7gv) with a possible feature also on my main site (rachelphipps.com) depending on how the rest of the recipes go!

Sophia Loren — “Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” 

I skimmed through the 75+ scrumptious recipes and gazed at the beautiful color photos and thought, “This is the cookbook of my dreams!”

I adore the essence of Mediterranean meals: Bread, pasta, olive oil, fruits, veggies, salads, soups, nuts, and legumes. Top that off with Honeyed Prosecco and a dessert of Roasted Figs with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt (two of the recipes) and you have heaven! Plus this way of eating is supposed to produce riotous good health. 

You’ll also learn the basics of Mediterranean cooking, how to stock your pantry, and how to plan a menu for one or an entire party. Can’t wait to start cooking! Now where’s that Prosecco?

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 01 Sep 2020

Mille grazie to the author, Quarto Publishing Group - Harvard Common Press, and NetGalley for the early copy. Opinions are mine. 

#MediterraneanEveryDay #NetGalley

A gorgeous enticing recipe book.The pictures are so mouthwatering so wish they would jump off the page. There is a wide variety of recipes for all tastes and abilities. I can't wait to work my way through this and tantalise my tastebuds.

This is a lovely cookbook with beautiful pictures and simple recipes that any cook can attempt. The first chapters include a short introduction to the Mediterranean diet (which, I do wish was longer and more in-depth) and covers recommended pantry items. Prakash keeps the recipes simple and easy to follow with brand recommendations where necessary. There are recipes to suit every taste, including several "bread-y" items like flatbread and cake that are naturally gluten-free. No nutritional information on the recipes was given, which is a miss, if I'm honest.

Mediterranean Every Day has simple and delicious recipes with fantastic colorful photos. I found several recipes I just love and I highly recommend the Mixed Melon and Prosciutto Caprese. I would never have thought to combine the fruit with Prosciutto and this recipe will be a delight for many years to come it is refreshing and delicious. I love the cookbook and I highly recommend it!

I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group- Harvard Common Press for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGallery for the digital review copy!

Mediterranean Every Day is a beautiful cookbook featuring recipes that follow the guidelines of the Mediterranean diet, which is supposed to be the healthiest in the world. Some recipes actually from the Mediterranean region and some are new takes on favorite dishes. In that respect, I would say this book is more about learning to cook within the Mediterranean diet than cooking traditional foods from Mediterranean countries. The author, Sheela Prakash, is a dietician and editor at Kitchn, who has traveled extensively abroad: this added something special to her recipes and descriptions - they are the perfect mix of insider knowledge about the health benefits of certain foods and local secrets.

As for the recipes, Prakash keeps her ingredient list and directions fairly simple. The recipes are not meant to be overly time-consuming or intimidating. At the beginning of the cookbook, she offers some suggestions for kitchen staples, but also acknowledges that it's possible to be flexible with the ingredients you end up using. For example, all-purpose flour, almond flour, and chickpea flour are listed as baking staples, but it is possible to substitute one for another in a recipe if you don't have it on hand. Being able to experiment is a fun part of cooking and this is also a tenant of Mediterranean cultures: being relaxed and flexible while cooking and sharing your meals with others. Also, I had a lot of the basic ingredients on hand, so even though there are some unique items on her ingredient lists, there are still many recipes I could make based on what I had in my cupboards.

I am most looking forward to trying the Chickpea Flatbread with Whipped Feta and Marinated Tomatoes, all four seasonal risottos (my favorite dish!), Eggs in Purgatory (the Italian version of shakshuka), and the Almond Apricot Clafoutis.

I am not sure this would become my "go-to" cookbook, but there is a variety of unique recipes that I haven't found anywhere else, so that is what makes this cookbook different than others I would choose. Also, most of these recipes are, or can be adapted, to be gluten free. One thing that was missing, especially considering the background of the author and the type of diet, is the nutrition information, as I think that many readers who pick up this book are interested in its nutritional aspect.

This is a really great Mediterranean cookbook with delicious and healthy looking recipes. The layout and photographs are attractive and there’s plenty variety with easy to find ingredients .

Thank you Netgalley/Quarto/Harvard Common Press for my ARC.

An absolute delight! This is an essential Mediterranean cookbook. The author obviously loves Italy and Italian food and it shows in this lovely book. I read it on an ipad but even on that, the design is beautiful and the photographs are mouth-wateringly good! 
Sheela gives us some brief background on her Italian love affair, outlines the Mediterranean diet and takes us through what should be in a good Mediterranean pantry, including in your fridge and freezer. Happily I have most of her recommendations! 

Sheela gives some basic useful recipes such as roasted garlic, a basic vinaigrette, any herb pesto and so on. There are chapters on Salads and Soups, Beans and Grains, Pasta, Gathering dishes and Desserts and Cakes. The instructions are very clear and again, beautifully illustrated. 
Of course, being a reviewer, it’s my duty to try some of these recipes! I decided firstly to make the Any Herb Pesto and also used the Roasted Garlic. I have made pesto before, but this was undoubtedly the best I’ve ever done. The roasted garlic (I roasted 2 heads of garlic as it keeps for about a week) gives a much more mellow, less raw taste and the whole thing took less time to make than the pasta took to cook. I used walnuts rather than pine nuts but kept the rest of it traditional with parmesan and basil. I also added some freshly picked green beans to the pasta for the last 2 minutes of cooking. It went down a storm and has already been requested again for next week! Next time I might try using mint and add some courgettes to the pasta. 
I also made the Braised Harissa Eggplant (Aubergines) and Greens. I didn’t have any kale so left that out - spinach would work just as well. This is a warming flavourful easy vegetarian dish, again, well-written and easy to follow. I will be buying this one. 
 
Note: the author is American and measurements are in cups, but measurements are also given in grams.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
This is a beautiful book, lovely photos, really appetizing recipes, and some I am excited to try.  I only wish there were more of it!  Nicely done.

Mediterranean Every Day is a well curated cookbook full of Mediterranean comfort food by Sheela Prakash. Due out 1st Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 208 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats

The book follows a logical and accessible format. The first chapters covers the background of Mediterranean cuisine and explains the different styles of cooking, and how to streamline meal planning and prep (including a pantry staples lists of pestos, breadcrumbs, salsa, vinaigrette, honeys, oil, and other dish-enhancers) as well as a very general beginner-accessible discussion of the time-saving and streamlining techniques to be adapted to simplified, casual food prep and dining. The recipe chapters are arranged thematically: 3-ingredient snacks & cocktails, salads & soups, beans grains & a few bready things, colorful pastas, special occasion dishes, and desserts. Nutritional information is not included.

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric/SI units in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The book also includes a short author bio, bibliography/resource list, and a cross-referenced index.

The included recipe and prep/serving photos are clear and attractive, but they represent a minority of recipes in the book. These are appealing "everyday" recipes which are tasty and family-friendly (no kale smoothies). I especially loved the traditional and modern twists on pestos, dressings, and pasta enhancers. We tried them and found them well developed and delicious (and easy to prepare and use).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Sheela Prakash’s Mediterranean Every Day is a well done cookbook with intriguing recipes, pretty pictures, and a reasonable pantry list. I don’t know if it’s a classic yet, but I would recommend it for the moderately adept home cook. I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am predisposed to like this cookbook, because I am comfortable with Mediterranean cuisine. I was able to cook three dishes without going to the store because I had the ingredients on hand already. I appreciate that in a cookbook, but I also recognize that my pantry is not universal.

The Mediterranean basin is large and encompasses many cultures and styles of cooking. Prakash includes recipes from all over, but doesn’t delve deeply into any region or culture. She keeps the focus on the flexibility and casualness of the cuisine. I particularly appreciated that she encourages readers to think of pesto as an equation rather than a recipe and then she provides the equation with some suggested variations. She also offers some foods that are “blank canvases” with season variations. She really encourages readers to experiment and adapt.

I made the smokey white bean hummus, the bucatini aglio e olio with wilted arugula, and the chocolate olive oil cake. There are more exciting recipes in the book, but these are the recipes I could make with what I had on hand. Also, it’s hovering around the 100 degree mark every day and I’m not up to standing over a hot stove for a long period or turning the oven up to a high heat. This is not a vegetarian cookbook, though there are many vegetarian recipes. At this point in the summer I am less inclined to eat meat.

The white bean hummus worked just fine (halved) in my mini processor. I had a tasty dip in my refrigerator which was great on toast and on cucumber slices. I would make it again.

Bucatini is my favorite long pasta – thick, chewy, and bouncy. This recipe calls for 6 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced. It really helped that I have a mandolin and I’m not afraid to use it. The resulting dish was great for a summer night and made an excellent next day cold breakfast. I like arugula, but if you need a milder green, spinach will work as well.

The chocolate olive oil cake was a hit. I was surprised at how quickly it came together. I started making it at 6:30 and it was out of the oven by 7:30. The cake was light and chocolaty with bright notes from the fruity olive oil.

When the weather gets cooler and roasting is more appealing, I want to try the lemony chicken thighs with blistered olives and the shredded brussels sprout and faro bake.

Wonderful book I really taste of the Mediterranean. Well written recipes with a great classical feel. Great info on how to source ingredients