I really feel like I’ve looked through The Oh She Glows Cookbook before, but I can’t find it in my review history. I know I have one of the follow-up books, which might be why this one feels so familiar, but I’m just not sure. It’s from 2014 so the other alternative is that most of the contents has been done similarly by someone later that I have seen. It bugs me a little not knowing.
This is a perfectly serviceable vegan cookbook that’s got plenty of tasty sounding options that most anyone would probably be ok with. It’s also (by now perspective at least) kind of ordinary seeming; nothing super special or intriguing, just basic, decent, consistent results. The opening is the expected “how I got vegan and then healthy” story, followed by the equally expected review of vegan staples, both ingredient and equipment. The only thing that really is necessary to know in this section is the ingredient review of raw buckwheat products does explain the difference between buckwheat-wheat, and kasha vs buckwheat groats. The kasha is toasted not raw groats (do not interchange!) is the final that I feel like I’ve seen this book before.
The recipes are organized by general meal category (breakfast, drinks, appetizers, salads, soups, mains, desserts, and a few more). Chia baked donuts, avocado toast, overnight oats, and bircher muesli are the kinds of things you see for breakfast. All of these have since had their trendy moment, although part of me wonders why there’s no information about what the label ‘bircher’ means here. I know from elsewhere it’s basically a form of overnight oats, but nowhere is that pointed out, although maybe you could guess that from the general instructions.
The expected kale, chickpeas, Ceasar, and beets are among the salad offerings; soups features a couple of lentil options, a “green detox”, and African peanut options; bites, a couple of roasted chickpea options, and granola bars are among the snacks; and (again as generally expected) mains cover a veggie burger, burrito and enchilada, a couple of bowls (both noodle and grain), a lentil loaf, a curry, and a portabello can act like steak (in fajitas).Nothing looks unappetizing, but also not much exciting.
Even though there isn’t really anything new here, this still might be one of those generally reliable but not exciting collections that you can mostly not miss with.
