2003 James Beard Award Winner: Vegetarian/Healthy Focus

Introducing a new voice in vegetarian cooking. Packed with 1,000 recipes that are seductive, sexy, and utterly delicious, Passionate Vegetariancovers all the bases of meatless cooking, from east (Stir Fry of Asparagus with Black Bean-Ginger Sauce), west (Talk of the Town Barbecued Tofu), from the Mediterranean (Swiss Chard with Raisins, Onions and Olives) to the American South (Black-Eyed Pea Ragovt). You'll find lush lasagnas; plump pierogies; bountiful burgers, beans, and breads; pleasing pasta and pies. You'll spoon up soups and stews, and delight in desserts from simple to swoonworthy.

Written by longtime vegetarian Crescent Dragonwagon, author of Dairy Hollow House Soup and Bread Cookbook, Passionate Vegetarianemploys innovative methods (try "Ri-sort-ofs," in which risotto technique is used to create splendid, richly flavored grain dishes built around not just rice but also barley, buckwheat, spelt, and even toasted oats with an array of seasonings) and introduces lesser-known ingredients (get to know and love not just tofu and tempeh but a whole new generation of soyfoods, as well as "Quick Fixes" like instant bean flakes). Opinionated, passionate, and deeply personal, Ms. Dragonwagon's tantalizing headnotes will have readers rushing to the kitchen to start cooking. (Can her over-the-top Garlic Spaghetti really be that good? It is.)

Whether you're a committed vegetarian, a dedicated vegan (most recipes offer low-fat and vegan options), or a food-loving omnivore in search of something new and wonderful, this is not just vegetarian cooking--but cooking, period--at its most creative, inspiring, and exuberant.

"Don't limit this cookbook just to vegetarians on your list; it deserves a place in every kitchen." Christian Science Monitor

"A complete and all-purpose vegetarian cookbook for any time of year." Cincinnati Inquirer

"If there is one book that will encourage you to stay home and cook...it is Passionate Vegetarian." Newsday

Introducing a new voice in vegetarian cooking: Crescent Dragonwagon, the author of "The Dairy Hollow House Soup & Bread Cookbook." Packed with 1,000 recipes for fabulous fare that is seductive, sexy, and utterly delicious, this new cookbook covers all the bases of meatless cooking, from East to West, from the Mediterranean to the American South.

Chapter 1 Invitation

Chapter 2 Welcoming Hors d'Oeuvres

Chapter 3 Salads and My Salad Days

Chapter 4 Soups for Spirit and Sustenance

Chapter 5 Satisfying Stews

Chapter 6 Deep Dish, Savory Cobblers, Gratins and More

Chapter 7 Wrapped, Stuffed and Stacked

Chapter 8 Great Grains

Chapter 9 A Bountiful Bowl of Beans

Chapter 10 Celebrating Soyfoods

Chapter 11 Vegetable World

Chapter 12 Savory Cakes, Burgers and Patties

Chapter 13 Quick Fix

Chapter 14 Sauces, Salsas and Seasonings

Chapter 15 Just Desserts

Thoughtful Vegetarian's Bookshelf Afterword Index