Mastering the Art of Southern Vegetables

Book excerpt: The authors of the James Beard Award-winning Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking serve up side dishes with vegetables taking center stage. Building on their reputation as James Beard Award winners, Dupree and Graubart have excerpted their best vegetable recipes (plus added some new ones) in this timely collection. Organized alphabetically by vegetable, each section begins with instructions on how to prepare and cook the vegetable and is followed by favorite new and classic recipes. Also included are a selection of vinaigrettes and sauces, plus a roasting chart for an array of vegetables. “Those like me who aren’t full-time vegetarians but definitely eat more greens than meat will love the 120 recipes in this book, each of which takes advantage of vegetables native to the South . . . All in all, I was quite impressed with Mastering the Art of Southern Vegetables. It caters to a good variety of cooking expertises, offering simple recipes that are perfect for an everyday dinner as well as more complex ones for the experienced cook looking to change up their veggie repertoire. Many recipes are perfect for families where not everyone eats meat, as they are savory enough to stand in for a meat main and flavorful and interesting enough to convert veggie skeptics.” —Organic Authority “An excellent cookbook for the less experienced cook looking for useful information on vegetables and on how to cook them . . . presented with a bit of southern flair.” —Portland Book Review