| Joe Stepaniak's "Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook" was | | | | well-documented background of how the dairy industry |
| among the first cookbooks I bought after deciding to | | | | has influenced the evolution of the American diet |
| adopt a vegan diet 3 years ago. For those not familiar | | | | (echoing T. Scott Campbell's "The China Study"), and |
| with the term "uncheese", Stepaniak uses it to describe | | | | provides detailed nutritional data on the benefits of |
| rich-tasting spreads, dips, sauces and blocks produced | | | | non-dairy sources of calcium, protein, fat, and |
| with dairy-free whole foods (primarily beans, nuts, or | | | | carbohydrates vs. dairy products. |
| grains). | | | | Moving on to the recipes, I found many of the |
| Cheese lovers be forewarned: you may be in for | | | | "Uncheese Dishes" to be superb. Among my favorites |
| some disappointment if you're expecting tofu to taste | | | | are: |
| like Feta cheese or chickpeas like Havarti. The book's | | | | - Chocolate Almond Cheeze Cake (p170*) with |
| introduction even acknowledges that "uncheeses are | | | | Granola Nut Crust--Everyone who's tasted it are |
| not going to be like dairy cheeses, so please adjust | | | | astounded it tastes more delicious than real |
| your expectations accordingly. " | | | | cheesecake, without using eggs or dairy products |
| Unfortunately I skipped Stepaniak's well-intentioned | | | | (maple syrup is the secret). |
| introduction and plowed in to the recipes, attempting | | | | - "Besto Pesto" (which imperceptibly substitutes |
| Tofu Ricotta, Chick Cheez, Swizz Cheez, Buffalo | | | | cheese with miso)--How can a vegan diet be |
| Mostarella, Brie, Betta Feta, White Bean Boursin, | | | | considered sacrifice when you can still enjoy a dish of |
| Monterey Jack and Port Wine uncheeses. And while | | | | linguine with Genevose pesto sauce? |
| all were tasty (my favorite is the sharp Chick Cheez | | | | - Chickpea Flour Pizza (p128), eaten alongside |
| spread--made from Garbanzo Beans) they left me | | | | vegetable curries--It takes all of about 5 minutes to |
| somewhat disillusioned and wondering whether I could | | | | prepare, so it's very convenient, too! |
| actually live without real cheese. | | | | - Beannaise (p150)--Used as mayonnaise substitute |
| As a result of not immediately finding perfect non-dairy | | | | within other recipes, and also by itself, as a dip for |
| replacements for my most beloved cheeses, "The | | | | vegetables or salad dressing. |
| Uncheese Cookbook" sat dormant on my shelf for | | | | *Note: page numbers refer to the 10th edition of the |
| some time. Little did I realize that I would come back to | | | | book. |
| Stepaniak's book later (many times), finding it had | | | | Other recipes I would recommend include: Parmezano |
| improved with age. Its most valuable lesson is that it | | | | Sprinkles (p50), Eggplant Parmagiano Stew (p80), |
| introduces unfamiliar ingredients, and uses them as well | | | | Spinach-Tofu Manicotti (p117), Zucchini Chedda Soup |
| as more commonplace items--including raw nuts--in | | | | (p77). |
| groundbreaking fashion. | | | | Upon re-perusing "The Uncheese Cookbook", there |
| For example, I had never heard of nutritional yeast, an | | | | are still many dishes I plan to sample, including: Classic |
| ingredient employed in many of the book's recipes. | | | | Quiche (p102), Lemon Teasecake (p169)-the "Key |
| Nutritional yeast is a rich source of vitamins and | | | | Lime" variation, Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce (p63), |
| minerals that has a pungent cheesy taste, too. I later | | | | Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip (p49), and Curried |
| learned that Stepaniak is somewhat of an aficionado | | | | Cauliflower Cheez Soup (p76). |
| on the subject of nutritional yeast, having authored | | | | Other features of the book you will appreciate are the |
| "The Nutritional Yeast Cookbook." | | | | charts of nutritional values for each of the recipes, and |
| Among other new ingredients (and somewhat | | | | the listings of food allergens (gluten, soy, nuts, corn). On |
| challenging to obtain) were agar and kuzu (both | | | | the other hand, the book contains only 4 pages of |
| plant-based thickening agents used in place of gelatin), | | | | photographs, and certainly could benefit from more. |
| and umeboshi plum paste, used for adding saltiness. | | | | If you already own "The Uncheese Cookbook" but |
| Chickpea flour (a.k.a. Chana Besan) while common in | | | | haven't picked it up for a while, I suggest it's worth |
| Indian cuisine, is also employed in many uncheese | | | | another look. If you don't, please get a hold of a copy |
| dishes. | | | | and try its innovative and healthy recipes based on |
| The introduction to Uncheese Cookbook provides a | | | | plant-based ingredients. Just remember to put aside |
| detailed and useful reference to all the aforementioned | | | | your expectations of dairy-cheese taste, and you |
| ingredients as well as others. It also contains a | | | | won't be disappointed! |