jennie_cole's review against another edition

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2.0

Usually when you think slow cooker you think meat based meals so it is nice to see not just a vegetarian set of recipes but plant based recipes. There are several that I want to try but there are also some disadvantages to these recipes.
First, since they are plant based even the recipes that run on low are only for 4-6 hours in length, meaning that unless you have a timer set cooker you cannot put in the pot in the morning and have dinner when you get home.
Second, several of the recipes have meat replacement items and while the cookbook includes those recipes as well it means another item you have to make before you can even start the initial recipe. Now I know that eating large amounts of the processed meat replacement is not good but some recipes that included those would be helpful so that they seemed more user friendly.
Finally, multiple recipes have stove top steps or multiple timed steps to the recipe making them once again not set it and forget it recipes. Instead these feel more like the regular recipe and it just takes longer.
All that being said I like the concept and will try some of these next time I need a slow cooker recipe.

annieb123's review against another edition

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4.0

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Plant-Based Slow Cooker is a cookbook and recipe collection for plant-based food in the slow cooker with recipes developed by Robin Robertson. Released 10th Nov 2020 by Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 352 pages and available in paperback format.

I love my slow cooker and use it all the time to prepare soups and stews. I've never been very adventurous but I liked the idea of incorporating more plant-based food into our diets and this book has a lot of nice recipes from which to choose. There are some less-than-ideal aspects of this book, but all in all, there are a bunch of tasty recipes representing a wide variety of world cuisines.

The author provides an excellent introductory tutorial about slow cookers, methods, uses, and considerations. The information is mostly general and will be applicable to almost all slow-cookers. Important info is highlighted in concisely written, colored text sidebars. The recipes themselves are grouped by category: snacks & appetizers, soups, stews & chili, beans & grains, pasta, hearty main dishes, stuffed dishes, vegetables, condiments, dessert, breakfast & breads, and hot drinks. There are a number of partial ingredient recipes included also. Many of these extra recipes seemed more or less superfluous and labor intentsive to me (I will never use them, but they will likely appeal to cooks who are well organized and into slow-food clean cooking).

Recipe ingredients are listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric equivalents in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Icons in the headers highlight gluten-free, soy-free, oil-free, etc.

Most (but not all) of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Nutritional information is not included. Tips and optional variations for each recipe are included in a text box at the end.

The book also includes a cross referenced index. The formatting, typesetting, and margin illustrations are attractive, but the biggest drawback for me personally was the utter lack of photos. There are no serving suggestions or process photos. I find that I'm a very visual cook, and the lack of photos was a surprisingly big deal for me.

Three and a half stars. This would make a good selection for busy cooks wanting an accessible way to incorporate more plant based food in their diets and who can get along without photos. I'm not insensitive to the fact that incorporating photos in this huge cookbook would have rendered it prohibitively expensive (and massive).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

leahsbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I am providing my honest opinion voluntarily.

I was so impressed with this book! I already noted quite a few recipes that I cannot wait to make.

There is an incredible amount of variety in the recipes, but what really stuck with me the most was the fact that the vast majority of the recipes can be made with items that I generally have handy, rather than having to go shopping specifically for obscure or unusual ingredients.

I was so surprised at what you can do with a slow cooker, that I have never thought of. I have used mine to make stew and soups, but I've never realized that you could make PIZZA in a slow cooker, and that is absolutely going to be the first recipe I try from this book. And like I said, it's all made from ingredients that I already have in my house, so I don't even have to visit the supermarket for anything. This cookbook has everything from breakfasts to breads to desserts, and even condiments that you can make without using the slow cooker.

I find myself using a slow cooker more often in the colder months, and I'm really looking forward to making so many of the recipes in this book. As a picky eater, I don't find myself getting this excited often, and generally pick and choose, but the vast majority of the recipes are incredibly appealing. If you're vegan, or even if you aren't and want to incorporate more vegetables, eat healthier, or add a few more plant-based recipes into your diet, this book absolutely fits the bill.

gothicvamperstein's review against another edition

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3.0

I really liked this cookbook. Usually slow-cooker recipes often include either meat or various cans of whatever, and this one didn't. It also had sections such as soup and pasta and there were recipes I'd love to try, such as the Cuban black bean soup.

rainbowbookworm's review against another edition

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4.0

My wife and I are gravitating toward a vegetarian diet and this book has so many scrumptious sounding recipes that I can’t wait to try them.

The Chai-Spiced Breakfast Bread is calling my name. As is the North African Chickpea Soup, the Mom-Style Vegan Meatloaf, Spiced-Rubbed Whole Cauliflower, Chickpea and Mushroom Tagine...

My only criticism is that there are no pictures to accompany the recipes.

readingwithbuddy's review against another edition

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3.0

I learnt a lot from this book as I changing my diet as a result of long covid.

I have been cooking a lot of the recipes over the last few weeks and found them interesting - who knew re pizza.

But there were terms that I had to look up as not familiar but not a deal breaker.

What I struggled with was the lack of pictures, that is the only reason not giving a full review. I just needed to know if I was on the right track or would have liked the recipes. No, I don't know if this is because I was given an advance copy - if that is the case then once published I will gladly buy it to keep as it was relatively easy to use.

I was given an advance copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

amiefiremoon's review against another edition

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3.0

The Plant-Based Slow Cooker is a book of easy recipes that are perfect for those days when an easy crockpot meal is the best option. There are at least a hundred vegetarian recipes ranging from dips for entertaining, a variety of stuffed vegetables, basic beans and grains, soups and stews, and desserts. There is probably something for everyone in this book, as there is a lot of global inspiration for the spices and flavors. My critique is with the design of the book. It has a very basic 2-color format and no pictures. For some, this may not matter, but I am always enticed to cook something new when I can see photos of the finished products - there is nothing visually interesting about this book. If you are looking for a basic cookbook, this is a good option.

Advanced e-copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

leahsbooks's review

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5.0

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I am providing my honest opinion voluntarily.

I was so impressed with this book! I already noted quite a few recipes that I cannot wait to make.

There is an incredible amount of variety in the recipes, but what really stuck with me the most was the fact that the vast majority of the recipes can be made with items that I generally have handy, rather than having to go shopping specifically for obscure or unusual ingredients.

I was so surprised at what you can do with a slow cooker, that I have never thought of. I have used mine to make stew and soups, but I've never realized that you could make PIZZA in a slow cooker, and that is absolutely going to be the first recipe I try from this book. And like I said, it's all made from ingredients that I already have in my house, so I don't even have to visit the supermarket for anything. This cookbook has everything from breakfasts to breads to desserts, and even condiments that you can make without using the slow cooker.

I find myself using a slow cooker more often in the colder months, and I'm really looking forward to making so many of the recipes in this book. As a picky eater, I don't find myself getting this excited often, and generally pick and choose, but the vast majority of the recipes are incredibly appealing. If you're vegan, or even if you aren't and want to incorporate more vegetables, eat healthier, or add a few more plant-based recipes into your diet, this book absolutely fits the bill.
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