Flexitarian Table

Now in paperback for the first time, stylish, seasonal menus to satisfy vegetarians and nonvegetarians simultaneously, by a winner of the James Beard Award and the IACP Award.

Today, more people than ever before are choosing to eat sustainably,and#160;electing to haveand#160;vegetarian mealsand#160;much of the time butand#160;sometimes small amounts of fish, chicken, and, more rarely, red meat. Theyand#8217;re known as and#8220;flexitarians,and#8221; a combination of the words and#8220;flexibleand#8221; and and#8220;vegetarian.and#8221;and#160;

The Flexitarian Table is full of exciting menus guaranteed toand#160;pleaseand#160;themand#8212;and everyone else at the tableand#8212;without stressing out the cook. Drawing fromand#160;decades of experienceand#160;as a personal chef and caterer, Peter Berley provides lots of and#8220;convertibleand#8221; mealsand#160;featuring vegetable and meat versions of the same dishand#160;that can be prepared simultaneously without extra trouble, like Crispy Pressed Tofu or Chicken with Garlic and Mint.and#160;Others are hearty vegetarian dishes that ensure no one will miss meat, such as Saffron Lasagna with Vegetables and Gruyand#232;re. Meals centering around fish or chickenand#160;come withand#160;vegetable sidesand#160;that double as mains. An extra bonus of this inclusive book: All of the 150 dishes can be mixed and matched.

Peter Berley's inspired menus in The Flexitarian Table teach you how to accommodate different tastes and dietary choices.

Today a single family can include staunch vegetarians as well as passionate meat lovers. When company shows up, the situation gets even more complicated. How can you satisfy them all without making two (or three) completely different meals?

In The Flexitarian Table, the award-winning author Peter Berley presents menus that are flexible, exciting, relaxing to prepare -- and that make everyone feel welcome. With The Flexitarian Table, you'll no longer treat vegetarians as afterthoughts by offering them a couple of scanty side dishes, and you'll be able to indulge meat eaters at the same time with abundant, satisfying dishes.

You'll learn how to prepare vegetarian and meat versions simultaneously without going to any extra trouble. Roast a succulent, crisp chicken with lemon and thyme -- and make a tofu version in just minutes. Put some meaty portobello mushroom caps on the grill and, for the carnivore contingent, throw on a steak, then pair them both with a zesty bread crumb salsa. Simmer white beans with carrot and celery and sautand#233; some shrimp, drizzling each with the same rich brown butter sauce with fresh herbs.

You'll find many sumptuous vegetarian dishes as well, including cannelloni with ricotta, Parmesan, and mint or a hearty lasagna with roasted fall vegetables in a sage-scented cheese sauce. Or serve up a selection of easy little dishes and let your guests choose.

You'll get plenty of ideas for get-dinner-quick meals such as winter tomato soup with goat cheese crostini and Spanish-style fried eggs, and for luxurious weekend fare try cumin-spiced lamb croquettes and falafel, served with two traditional Middle Eastern sauces and whole wheat pita bread.

The Flexitarian Table also shows you how to cook with the seasons so you get the most flavor from your ingredients while you enjoy varied, sustainable meals year-round.

Peter Berley's inspired menus in The Flexitarian Table teach you how to accommodate different tastes and dietary choices.

and#160;

If you're a home cook faced with the challenge of feeding both staunch vegetarians and passionate meat lovers in a single meal, you're well on your way to becoming a flexitarian. The simple, flavorful recipes in The Flexitarian Table show how to prepare vegetarian and meat versions of one dish at the same time without going to any extra trouble. Roast a succulent, crisp chicken with lemon and thymeand#8212;and make a tofu version in just minutes. Put some meaty portobello mushroom caps on the grill and, for the carnivore contingent, throw on a steak, then pair them both with a zesty bread crumb salsa. Simmer white beans with carrot and celery and sautand#233; some shrimp, drizzling each with the same rich brown butter sauce with fresh herbs. You'll find many sumptuous meatless dishes as well, including cannelloni with ricotta, Parmesan, and mint or a hearty lasagna with roasted fall vegetables in a sage-scented cheese sauce. In your capable and creative hands, vegetarians will never feel like afterthoughts again, and you'll be able to indulge meat eaters as well, with abundant, satisfying dishes.

Peter Berley is the author of The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen, which won a James Beard and an IACP Award. Known for his healthful vegetarian food, heandnbsp;has written for Food and Wine, Bon Appand#233;tit, Natural Health, Fine Cooking, and Cooking Light.

Introduction: Whatand#8217;s a Flexitarian? 1 About the Ingredients 5 Cooking with the Seasons 13

SPRING 16 SUMMER 96 FALL 168 WINTER 250

Index 331