Bazaar Vibrant vegetarian recipes

Chef and culinary instructor Ghayour (Persiana) offers a dazzling and appetizing array of largely Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian dishes in this superb collection. She builds flavor using as few ingredients as possible, and offers up an arresting lineup of starters, soups, breads, salads, and mains. Recipes that are sure to entice include a lusciously creamy fava bean and ricotta dip as well as potato skins stuffed with feta and scallions. There are surprising combinations such as a corn, potato, and cheddar chowder, and a chickpea paneer, spinach, and preserved lemon stew. Equally enticing recipes include zucchini stuffed with bulgur, feta, and preserved lemons; caramelized onion, feta, and olive tarts; and stir-fried kale with chestnuts, mushrooms, and chickpeas. Ghayour also offers a worthy dessert chapter that will convince home cooks to make a zucchini, orange, and almond cake; a raspberry and mascarpone no-bake cheesecake; and a coffee mousse with spiced chocolate and black pepper. Gorgeous full-color photos accompany each recipe. For those looking to incorporate more vegetarian meals into their diet, this collection is guaranteed to provide tasty options suitable for every palate. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Like the bazaar of the title, the taste influences of this book by food writer Ghayour (Persiana) are many. While anchored firmly in Iran with Persian ingredients (rose harissa, pomegranate, pistachio) and the more generally Middle Eastern spices (sumac, pul biber chili and za'atar), there is a pan-Eastern palette as well. Japanese miso provides umami in a dressing and paneer stands in for the sturdy haloumi. Meat is at the heart of many Iranian meals, but vegetables and vegetarian recipes are not absent from Persian cookbooks. Najmieh Batmanglij's Joon: Persian Cooking Made Simple lists several, but this work features vegetarian dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Ingenious techniques turn standards into standouts--"Pom-Bombe," a gorgeous pomegranate-and-pistachio encrusted version of the cheese ball could be a holiday table centerpiece. Macaroni with feta, oregano, and red chili is a sumptuous comfort food. The spices and herbaceous sauces are key to the unique tastes. While some ingredients are not readily found in all supermarkets, all are available online. VERDICT An ancient cuisine expanded with a world of distinct flavors; readers will find dishes to savor again and again.--Jeanette McVeigh, formerly Univ. of the Sciences, Philadelphia