One-Pot Cookbook

Posted by Margalit

The second book I got this weekend is the One-Pot Cookbook by Jesse Ziff Cool. And if that isn't an excellent name, I don't know what is! In our household everyone loves to eat but nobody likes to do the dishes. One pot cooking has always appealed to me. I like the way food melds together in one pot cooking. I also like to have only one pot on the table that contains an entire meal. Easy to serve, easy to clean up. What could be better?

The One-Pot Cookbook has the usual introduction and a section on tips and techniques. From there, there's a chapter each on Beef, Pork, Lamb, Poultry, Shellfish and Fish, and Vegetarian recipes. The book does contain photographs throughout, although not for each individual recipe.
What it does do extremely well is present nicely written recipes for real live one pot meals. So many recipes promise one pot, but in actuality you end up using lot of bowls, dishes, and pots.

Well, One-Pot Cookbook is the real thing: 65 fabulous recipes that truly need just one pot and only one pot (or skillet, saute pan, or Dutch oven), start to finish. Included are dishes for family suppers like Moroccan Chicken with Couscous, or larger gathering with company Braised Chipotle-Orange Pork with Yams. Cookbook author, chef, and one-pot enthusiast Jesse Ziff Cool braised, stir-fried, steamed, stewed, and simmered to perfection such delectable dishes as Short Ribs with Steamed Vegetables (the vegetables are ingeniously steamed on top of the ribs during the last few minutes of cooking), and Any Season Stir-Fry with Orange, Ginger, and Lemongrass. Recipes also offer suggestions for variations to either lighten up a dish or, when everyone is really hungry, make it more substantial. Plus there are plenty of tips for choosing the perfect pot, techniques on proper timing, and do-ahead strategies to make the prep as easy as the clean up.

Author Jessie Ziff Cool is the owner of three restaurants, including the venerable Flea Street Café in Menlo Park, where I have been fortunate enough to eat. He's a wonderful cook and this book contains many useful recipes that I can see us cooking all year round. I think we'll start with the Barbeque Carne Adada with Avocado-Jicama Relish. Doesn't that sound great?

TAGS: Book, Cookbook, Onepot Meals
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