Product Description

150 deliciously diverse, culturally based recipes and the history and lore behind them.

"When enjoying a steamy serving of greens laces with peppers or a bowl of spicy gumbo, many people are unaware of the African origins of their meal...The Ethnic Vegetarian was created to preserve and showcase the vegetarian culture of my ancestors." So writes Angela Shelf Medearis in her introduction to this fabulous new cookbook.

The Ethnic Vegetarian opens with three chapters explaining how to adopt an ethnic vegetarian lifestyle, ideas for creating an ethnic vegetarian-friendly kitchen, and basic techniques for cooking in this manner. Next come the wonderfully inventive recipes - from "Moroccan Zucchinin Pancakes" and "Senegalese Tofu" to an eggplant-based "Congo Moambe" - all organized by ethnic cuisine: African, Afro-Caribbean, Native American, Creole, Slavery and Southern, and Modern

More than just recipes, the book also weaves traditions and lore surrounding African-American cookery with the author's own personal memories, experiences, and family history. Her warm and inviting style beckons readers of any ethnic background to explore the homespun authenticity of her recipes and tales to conclude, with her, that "African-inspired vegetarian dishes are as much a part of the American culinary table as apple pie."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #328365 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-22
• Released on: 2004-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
Angela Shelf Medearis, author of The African American Kitchen, is the founder of Diva Productions, Inc., the organization that produces her multicultural children's books, cookbooks, videos, and audiocassettes.

Customer Reviews

Unique and Delicious
Finally - a vegetarian cookbook that is not full of the same darn stuff. Most of the veggie cookbooks I find seem to be the same, different variations of the same old stuff, definitely lacking in variety....they're full of tasty food, but they're all the same nonetheless.

If you want some different foods on your plate - THIS book is AMAZING....awesome food, great variety of tastes and ingredients, some recipes are more complicated, some not so much. Its one of the best veggie cookbooks I've run across in a long time (and I'm always looking).

One drawback though - the author IS way off on the volumes/relative proportions of ingredients in some of the recipes. So, use your best judgement, and alter it to work for your family/taste. I usually use recipes as a base anyway, and don't follow them to the T, so that issue doesn't bother me too much.

Overall, a great cookbook.

Relief
This is my third time that I've tried to be a vegetarian, and I've lasted six months while the last two times I only lasted about two weeks. The reason was because, being from a black family rich with soul food/grease/meat, it's incredibly hard for me to change my eating habits. The good thing about it is that I'm not that fond of red meat, but I'm starting to gain weight by eating so much seafood and bread to replace it. When i saw this book, it was such a relief. Finally, a cookbook that can explain to me what I need to eat, what I need to buy, and give me appetizing recipes that I would actually WANT to cook instead of feeling like I NEED to cook. This book is organized, conversational, easy to follow, and educational. I really want to thank you, Angela Shelf Medearis, from the bottom of my heart for making this one!

Lots of Vegan recipes
While a few recipes do use eggs or cheese, most do not. Lots of tasty vegan options here.