Nonna's Italian Kitchen: Delicious Home-Style Vegetarian Cuisine

A passionate home cook that has been honing her cooking skills for the last 25 years, concentrating on Italian cooking for the last 10 years, writes this review. My favorite cookbooks are "The Professional Chef" by the Culinary Institute and "Culinary Artistry". With more than 500 cookbooks in my collection I am usually disappointed in my recent cookbook acquisitions. I am also very tough on Italian cookbooks in particular. My husband and decided to try a vegan lifestyle about 3 months ago to reduce cholesterol. However, having to give up many of our favorite Italian foods was extremely difficult. Thankfully, as I was beginning to consider adding dairy back to our menu I found this book. It is a much better Italian cookbook than I expected it to be. The book is outlined as follows: 1. Italian Cuisine 2. Ingredients and Equipment for Italian Cooking 3. Basic Recipes and Techniques 4. Sauces 5. Appetizers, Vegetable Side Dishes 6. Making Fresh Pasta First Courses (Primi Piatti) 7. Pasta in Sauce 8. Stuffed Pasta: Dumplings, Crepes, and Baked, Layered and Molded Pasta Dishes 9. Pasta in Broth and Soups 10. Cornmeal and Rice Dishes Second Courses (Secondi Piatti) 11. Baked Dishes: Omelets, Savory Cakes, Tarts, Gratins, and other Vegetable Casseroles 12. Vegetable and Bean Entrees and Stews 13. Meat Free Entrees 14. Bread, Rolls, Pizza, Hearth Breads and Stuffed Breads 15. Sweets Some of the basic recipes that the author includes are: Tofu Ricotta, Tofu Mascarpone, Tofu Ricotta Salata, Almond Ricotta, Soy Free Almond Ricotta Salata, Cashew Mascarpone, Tofu version of Heavy Cream, Vegetarian Burger, Vegetarian Hot Italian Sausage, Vegetarian Sweet Fennel Sausage, Seitan (Beef, Veal, Chicken, Pork, Burger, Hot Italian Sausage versions). She also includes a number of different variations for Polpetti (meatballs). Many of the recipes included in this book are time consuming. However, this is no different than standard Italian homemade items. I don't recommend this book to people that have limited time or limited experience with Italian cooking. Bottom line, this is a much better cookbook than I expected it to be. Can I tell it isn't meat and/or dairy? Absolutely I can tell the difference. The author's variations are satisfactory substitutes if the alternative is the unpleasant health effects that come with the regular consumption of high fat animal products. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone that loves Italian food and wants to cut back on his or her consumption of saturated fat.

I must admit that I haven't tried out all the recipes in this book so far. But the vegan tiramisu is so outstanding, that even if it was the only tasty recipe, this book would be worth it!!! My non vegan friends can't believe it is made without dairy and request me to make it for birthdays and other celebrations. When I became vegan I thought I would never be able to eat tiramisu again, but thanks to Bryanna I can enjoy my favourite dessert again! I can`t wait to try the nondairy cheese fillings!

I've been vegan for about 4 years now, and I've been cooking all of my meals for 2 or 3. I've spent over $100 on a shelf full of vegan cookbooks. This one is the best I own. It's the only cookbook I have that has recipes that make food that's outright better than anything I ate before I went vegan! Ever since I started making my own vegan pizzas, I absolutely stopped missing the greasy things that I'd been getting delivered, and the pasta recipes here are the best I've ever had. The only problem with this book is that the recipes can take a while to prepare. If you're not a big fan of cooking, this probably isn't the book for you. But if you're glad to spend an hour in the kitchen making a meal and want to have some great vegan food, this book is a must!

This was a great addition to my collection of vegetarian recipe books. Not only does it list authentic vegan Italian recipes of all kinds, it explains every ingredient and gives background on Italian food and veganism in general, without dwelling on things we already know as informed vegetarians! It would make a good gift for anyone who loves to cook, vegetarian or not.

What a wonder this cookbook is! I don't hesitate to say this is by far the most wonderful vegan cookbook I have ever bought; it is simply packed with recipes (and variations), and don't be scared off by the lack of photos, every recipe is simply so mouthwatering! Bryanna Clark Grogan provides delicious alternatives to dairy-, egg- and meatproducts, and there is simply everything you'd need in this book: bread recipes, antipasti, soups, pasta dishes, vegetable dishes, meat-style dishes, desserts (great ice-creams!), you name it. I find myself reading the book again and again, thinking how will I ever have time enough to try out them all ... it is an essential to any vegan kitchen!