At 12 years old I declared my intention to become a vegetarian much to the horror of my mother who hailed from solid sheep farming stock. It was the early 1990s and vegetarianism wasn’t in vogue in South Canterbury. Alison Holst’s Meals without Meat was the only thing that stood between me and sever nutrient deficiencies. To me, the recipes in it were exotic and exciting. Fast forward 26 odd years and Alison and Simon Holst have compiled the best vegetarian recipes from Meals without Meat and their subsequent vegetarian publications into one mega book: The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection.
I’m liking
The original philosophy of Meals without Meat remains, the recipes in The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection are relatively straightforward, reasonably priced and generally make use of ingredients readily available at supermarkets. A good range of proteins are covered and the book includes useful tips on matters liable to trip up the rookie vegetarian, like how to soak and cook beans. A strong hard back, this book will survive a few knocks.
Things that made me go hmmmm
It’s been a good while since Meals without Meat was first published. Vegetarianism is much more mainstream and sophisticated these days. Into this new context, the compiled recipes have more of a traditional comfort food vibe than a contemporary or exciting feel. Aside from the covers, the book appears to use the original photography from the earlier books which exacerbates the old fashioned vibe.
A fair proportion of the recipes don’t have accompanying photographs at all. Presumably the book is economical on photography to ensure it remains a manageable size but it won’t suit cooks who are primarily inspired by a visual representation of the finished product.
While the book is undoubtedly comprehensive, it is questionable whether the sections on bread making, baking or desserts were really necessary. These sections could have been dropped to allow more room for photographs of the remaining recipes.
The conclusion
The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection could be useful for a family with a “rogue” vegetarian member or a family that wants to expand its vegetarian repertoire without being derailed by hard to find ingredients.
The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection By Alison Holst & Simon Holst is published by New Holland Publishers, RRP $50.00.
This book was kindly provided for review purposes by New Holland Publishers.
