Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons

Ok.. I am not a Vegan ( I am a "Pescetarian" -- shoot me!) But these are really nice recipes, that really taste great, are low in fat, and are very easy to make! Jim

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or an omnivore, you can't miss with this fabulous collection of seasonal soup recipes. From the heat of summer to the cold grey days of winter, Nava Atlas has created a soup to match the weather and sooth your soul. Nutritionists are touting the benefits of eating fresh, locally grown produce and there's no better way to enjoy nature's bounty than with a delicious bowl of soup. And, for the weight conscious, a bowl of vegan soup is a great way to fill up with maximum nutritional benefits and minimum calories. As I write this, it's early Fall and I look forward to many days of my kitchen filling with the aroma of one of Atlas' hearty soups or stews. Some of my special favorites are her "Curried Red Lentil Soup," Autumn Harvest Stew," and "Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup." I've prepared these for friends who raved about my cooking. And, believe me, I'm not a chef! You can't go wrong with "Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons." Get yourself a copy and pick up several for friends. The holidays are coming and this book will be a treasured gift, I promise!

As a person who has over 30 vegan cookbooks (My husband can't believe there are that many vegan cookbooks in print!) I definitely will add this one to those at the top of my list. One of the best things about this book is that it is divided into seasons, so it's easy to find the produce at a reasonable price in the grocery store and it's more likely that it will be locally grown. Another thing I like is that the ingredients are mostly easy to find. I love weird ingredients as much as anyone, but when you are trying to figure out what to make for dinner you don't want to have to run all over town trying to find something that's obscure. My favorite recipe so far is a fall one, Sweet and Sour Sauerkraut Soup which includes carrots, celery, potatoes, diced tomatoes and of course, sauerkraut among other things. If you don't like sauerkraut or sour foods, skip this one, but I think it's even better the next day. Another favorite is the Okra-Rice Gumbo or the Thai-Flavored Coconut Vegetable Soup. These all go together pretty quickly and if you double the recipe you'll have enough for a couple days and the flavors have a way of melding together that makes them all the better. Soup is always great with a big salad and some crusty bread and this cookbook has a lot of imaginative recipes, not just the same old standbys. It's one of those books that's fun to just go through and read because I always seem to find one recipe that is appealing for that particular day, no matter what sort of mood I'm in. Two thumbs up for this book! I'll be looking forward to more vegan cookbooks by Nava Atlas.

Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons is the fourth edition of Nava's book previously titled Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons. It is essentially the same book as the third edition, but with the color photos added along with the new cover. It is substantially different from the first two editions. I am a total soup nut so I was very excited to try this one. I hadn't seen any of the previous editions but I'm a big fan of Nava's other cookbooks. This certainly lived up to my expectations. Like all of Nava's cookbooks, the recipes in this book were easy to make, used simple ingredients that I typically have in my pantry, and, most importantly, my family loved them. The recipes are arranged by seasons, which is a really nice feature since we try to eat local, seasonal foods. It being January when I got the book, I turned straight to the winter soups and found several just perfect for a rainy winter suppers. The first soup I tried was the Three Bean Soup with Brown Rice. Well, actually it was only two bean soup (kidney and cannellini) because I didn't have any frozen green beans. I did have kale though so we still got the green in there. My daughters had bowl after bowl of this hearty tomato-based soup and I ended up with no leftovers for lunch the next day. The second soup we tried was the Hearty Winter Roots Soup. This was a wonderful mash of potatoes, carrots, rutabagas, and parsnips in a creamy, cheesy soup. Another hit with the family. The third dish we tried was the Vegetarian Goulash--a great "meat" (seitan) and potatoes stew that reminded me of the Sunday dinners my mom made when I was growing up--except without the meat of course. I can't wait to cook my way through the rest of the seasons. This spring, I'm looking forward to Asparagus and Spinach Soup, Leek and Mushroom Bisque, and Puree of Spring Greens. In the heat of the summer, I can try one of the many cold soups offered like Cream of Lettuce Soup, Classic Gazpacho, or Minted Peach Soup. Next fall (if I can wait that long), I'm dying to try the Baked Onion Soup, New England Clam-less Chowder, and Pumpkin-Apple Soup. In addition to soups, there's a lovely selection of breads, muffins, biscuits and scones. My daughters and I had a blast making Chapatis. If you love soup or are looking for each meals for your family, this is definitely a good cookbook for you. Review as seen on VegFamily Magazine www.vegfamily.com by Cathe Olson

Great book with lots of healthy seasonal recipes front to back! This is a great go to book for a wide range of tastes! My family loves it!