125 Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes
by Judith Finlayson
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Book Reviews of 125 Best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes
Book Review: Slow Cooker Title Misleading for Me
Summary: 3 Stars
When I think of slow cooker recipes, I think of recipes that are based on putting everything into the slow cooker at once and letting it simmer away. That's not the case with the recipes in this book -- many require sauteeing ingredients in a separate pan first, cooking noodles first, and/or toasting spices and grinding with a mortar & pestle (!!).
To date I've made 3 of the recipes from this book and thought they were all tasty, but let me also add that I only used my slow cooker to complete one of them (explained below why).
1) Spinach-Artichoke Dip
This was my favorite recipe so far and it met my criterion that everything just goes into the slow cooker to simmer together at once. Tasty and easy, will definitely be making it again.
2) Cashew Lentil Loaf
This recipe was one that required a separate stoneware container that was then supposed to be placed within the slow cooker (the slow cooker to be used as a water bath). I didn't have a container small enough to fit into my slow cooker, so I ended up using a regular loaf pan with a water bath in my oven. Overall this tasted like a vegetarian meatloaf and was pretty good. It required a ton of chopping and prep work though.
3) Red Lentil, Carrot and Coconut Soup
Again, I didn't end up using my slow cooker to finish this recipe. Once I had the onions, carrots and other ingredients sauteed and then simmering on my stovetop (as the recipe called for), I didn't see the point of transferring it over to the slow cooker. Unexpected ingredient combination but it also tasted good.
Book Review: Not So Good
Summary: 1 Stars
I got this book as a present for my daughter on the strength of the top review and I am extremely disappointed with it. It is not a book for the serious vegetarian, nor does it have any really interesting combinations of flavors, herbs or spices. It relies greatly for flavor from cheese and tomato - okay occasionally, but very middle-of-the-road, no-risk cooking. It even uses mayonnaise in one sauce! Reminds me of a middle-western 1950s menu or something from Betty Crocker (cranberry-apricot upside down cake, cheesy rice & mushroom casserole); perhaps good for someone who has not much experience with vegetarianism or adventurous cooking, but not much interest for someone who's looking for a little style. Also, the cookbook doesn't have a particular focus - attempting to present dishes that are Mexican, Indian, Tuscan, Middle Eastern, Asian, etc., but each lacking the integrity of that particular cuisine. Also, some bean recipes require cooking beans for 10 hours, then another 10 hours with additional ingredients. This seems over the top to me - I cook beans for a few hours, then add other ingredients for an hour or so & they're ready to eat & delicious.
Really I'm sorry I bought it but it's too late to return, so I will give it & return it for something else after Christmas.
Book Review: Pretty Disappointed...
Summary: 3 Stars
When I bought this book I thought it would be more of the throw everything thing in, turn it on and go about my day... but it's not. There's WAY too much prep work between all the chopping and pre cooking. I've only made a handful of recipes and I think only one of them have turned out good. The first one I made was the Tamale Pie and the bottom and sides burned really bad by half way through the cooking time. I also made the Pumpkin Soup with Lime, I actually used butternut squash instead of Pumpkin and it turned out really well. The last thing I made was the oatmeal using steel cut oats and cooked it on low overnight (I ended up waking up early and checking on it after 5 or 6 hours) and there were oats cooked onto the sides and bottom so bad, I had to soak it for days and the rest that didn't get cooked onto my stoneware was just a big glob of slime.
I'm planning on keeping this cookbook, but mostly for inspiration more than recipe following. Other than having majority of the recipes I've tried so far fail, I really like the pictures in the cookbook, but can't seem to find a title for any of them and have been having trouble figuring out what some of the dishes are so I can try them because the pictures make it look good.
Book Review: Good, but...
Summary: 4 Stars
This book has a number of good recipes, which even non-vegetarians like myself can enjoy. I do think Finlayson's habit of having you pre-saute all the ingredients before putting them in the crockpot defeats one of the best features of a slow cooker (the fact that you throw stuff in and a few hours later, you eat). How convenient is it if you have to pre-cook everything and then wash that skillet later? I just have been skipping that step, without any noticeable problems. Also, she never states what size crockpot to use. I have to cook "Three-bean chili with bulgur" in two crockpots, because the recipe is too big for just one. Maybe if you have the largest size crockpot, this wouldn't be a problem, but for those of you with smaller crockpots, watch out. I recommend "Three-bean chili with bulgur"-- it makes a great sidedish. I also noticed the typo another reviewer mentioned-- try using 1 tbsp of chili power, skip the jalapeno pepper and use only 1/2tbsp of ground cumin instead of cumin seeds. Not spicy at all.Book Review: Phenomenal Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best cook books I've every had! I use it probably several times a week. The recipes are delicious, interesting, healthy. She really knows her way around a slow cooker. I have tried several other slow cooker books and the recipes come out truly disgusting. In this book, though, the food is so flavorful and tasty. I can hardly believe it. For a busy working professional, it is just the best. You can eat dinner and then at night when there is less stress, you can prepare the meal to put in the slow cooker overnight. It will be ready by morning and you can even bring some for lunch. I have been trying to limit the fat I consume and so I do the sauteing in vegetable broth instead of the small amount of fat she recommends. It is really exciting to be able to eat such tasty, wholesome, healthy food. I have served these dishes to guests who loved them. Also, I am not a very good cook but even a beginning cook can make really delicious meals with this book. It is practially fool-proof.