There’s Plenty More Love When Yotam Ottolenghi’s in the Kitchen

Chunky green olives in olive oil, a heady marinade of soy sauce and chile; crushed chickpeas with green peas; smoky paprika in a potent dip; quinoa, bulgur, and buckwheat wedded in a citrus dressing; tahini and halvah ice cream, savory puddings, fennel braised in verjuice; Vietnamese salads and Lebanese dips; thick yogurt over smoky eggplant pulp…

                       These are few of Yotam Ottolenghi’s favourite things.

The author of the bestseller Ottolenghi and Plenty, has just released a brand new cookbook of vegetarian recipes, Plenty More. And, just like Plenty, Plenty More is filled with gorgeous photographs that make your mouth water, by none other than renowned photographer Jonathan Lovekin.


While several online sources and blogs cited flaws in the recipes from Plenty, it is necessary to perhaps take the book with a grain of salt and use it for inspiration, rather than follow it to a tee. In Plenty, Yotam Ottolenghi’s divided the book into chapters that were quite unsystematic. He explained that it’s the way he thinks and works when writing a recipe.

In Plenty More he does things differently. Love the sections he chose to highlight the recipes.


TOSSED   J  STEAMED  J BLANCHED  J  SIMMERED  J  BRAISED  J  GRILLED  J  ROASTED  J  FRIED  J  MASHED  J  CRACKED  J  BAKED   J SWEETENED 

Yotam Ottolenghi aims to capture some of the techniques involved in constructing a dish, in putting together components and arranging them in layers of flavour, texture, and colour.

“If Plenty, through its structure and recipe selection, tried to shed light on groups of ingredients – my favorite ingredients – this book takes these favorites, adds a few new members to the happy family (kashk, dakos, and black garlic, to name just a few), and then focuses on cooking techniques, methods that best utilize their potential. Roasting lemon, for example, or braising lettuce was novel to me a few years ago. Now I am eager to share these ideas.”

A Healthier Planet...
wouldn't that be nice.

When I pick up a cookbook, my natural urge is to gravitate towards meat dishes. Finally, a cookbook that gets me excited about vegetarian creations. And, there aren’t a lot of vegetarian cookbook options out there. Kudos to Yotam Ottolenghi for putting together a cookbook that’s healthy for our body, our planet and our soul.

This cookbook combo would make a wonderful holiday gift that every vegetarian aficionado will gladly be happy to showcase in their kitchen collection. 

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Review by @ShilpaRaikar for @SukasaStyle