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Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals: A Cookbook Hardcover – September 6, 2022
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ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: Food & Wine
Melissa Clark brings her home cook’s expertise and no-fuss approach to the world of one-pot/pan cooking. With nearly all of the recipes being made in under one hour, the streamlined steps ensure you are in and out of the kitchen without dirtying a multitude of pans or spending more time than you need to on dinner.
Expect to find a bevy of sheet-pan suppers (Miso-Glazed Salmon with Roasted Sugar Snap Peas), skillet dinners (Cheesy Meatball Parm with Spinach), Instant Pot® pinch hitters (Cheaters Chicken and Dumplings), comforting casseroles (Herby Artichoke and Gruyere Bread Pudding) that you can assemble right in the baking dish, crowd-pleasing one-pot pasta meals (Gingery Coconut Noodles with Shrimp and Greens), vegetable-forward mains, and dozens of tips for turning a vegetarian or meat-based recipe vegan. And since no dinner is complete without dessert, you'll find a chapter of one-bowl cakes, too—from an Easy Chocolate Fudge Torte to a Ricotta-Olive Oil Pound Cake.
These are simple, delicious recipes for weekdays, busy evenings, and any time you need to get a delicious, inspiring meal on the table quickly—with as little clean-up as possible.
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherClarkson Potter
- Publication dateSeptember 6, 2022
- Dimensions7.63 x 0.97 x 9.43 inches
- ISBN-100593233255
- ISBN-13978-0593233252
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From the Publisher

Green Shakshuka with Avocado, Chile, and Feta
Roasted Chicken “Tagine” with Dates, Olives, and Lemon
Cheesy Baked Pasta with Tomato, Sausage, and Ricotta
Seared Miso-Sesame Shrimp and Asparagus
Spiced Brussels Sprouts with Paneer and Tangy Lime Dressing
Easy Chocolate Fudge Torte

Editorial Reviews
Review
“New York Times food columnist Clark calls upon her decades of ’recipe streamlining’ in this excellent guide to weeknight cooking. . . . Busy home cooks shouldn’t miss this smart collection.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
There’s nothing that makes me appreciate the streamlined ease of a one-pan meal more than watching a professional chef at work.
The first time I stepped into a restaurant kitchen to observe the cooks, it was at a popular, cavernous restaurant called An American Place in New York City, where I had a college job as a coat checker. Sometimes, on a warmish night when coats were sparse but the dining room was crowded, I’d slip into the kitchen to take in the drama.
There was all of the exciting bustle and energy you’d imagine, but what riveted me most was the elaborate choreography the cooking entailed, completely different from anything I’d seen done at home.
To make one menu item, a chef might use three separate pans, two bowls, and an array of plastic squeeze bottles. There’d be a skillet for sautéing the salmon fillet, an oval sizzle platter to crisp the skin, another skillet to brown the accompanying sugar snap peas. In one bowl, pea shoots would be tossed with a couple of squirts from various squeeze bottles; in another, a sauce was reheated over a bain-marie.
Scurrying in the background were the dishwashers who cleaned up every greasy pan, dirty spatula, and sticky bottle. Without them easing the flow, the chefs would have sweat even more profusely than they already did.
The whole thing made me understand why many recipes in chefs’ cookbooks were such a pain to make in my home kitchen. Chefs don’t care about using every pot and pan in the house, because they don’t have to think about having them pile up in the sink; they have dozens of pots and pans . . . and people to clean them.
I took this lesson with me when I became a food writer and started coauthoring cookbooks with celebrity chefs. Could I translate what they did in a professional kitchen using half a dozen pots, pans, and bowls into a recipe that would work just as well at home using one or two?
That was where my obsession with recipe streamlining began. And it continues to this day, now that I’m a food reporter and recipe columnist for The New York Times. My job is to create recipes home cooks want to add to their repertoire. And for every single recipe I develop, whether for a cookbook or for my Good Appetite column at the paper, I deconstruct the process. Is there a way I could make this recipe easier, faster, and tastier? And what’s the minimum number of pots, pans, and dishes I need to dirty to get here? It’s a discipline that has slowly solidified into a less-is-more philosophy—less work, less mess, more flavor.
This book of one-pan recipes is the culmination of it all.
The recipes are simple but not simplistic, with complex, layered flavors that you can achieve with minimal stress.
Along with reducing the number of pots and pans all the way down to one, I’ve also limited the number of utensils and bowls. It’s not just for the sake of cleanup, it’s also for convenience and flow while cooking. It’s just easier to use the same bowl in which you mixed your vegetables to whip up the salad dressing, without having to stop and wash it in between.
I’ve applied this same spirit of paring down to techniques as well. Case in point: where I can get away with not browning every side of every piece of chicken for a stew or a braise, I don’t. In the Cheater’s Chicken and Dumplings on page 233, I brown only as many chicken pieces as can fit in one layer in the Instant Pot at once. This browning builds up enough fond (those umami-rich bits on the bottom of the pan) to flavor the sauce, without you having to stand over the splattering pan to sear each piece.
Shortcuts like this mean that the majority of the recipes in this book are weeknight friendly—the kinds of meals you can start thinking about at 6:00 p.m. and have on the table by 7:00 p.m. But they’re also weekend delicious, out-of-theordinary dishes you’d be proud to serve to guests.
Even though I’m a thoroughly committed omnivore, almost half of the recipes in this book are meatless. And many of the ones that do contain meat use a lot less of it than others of their kind. Plus, for every dish in which it will work without diminishing the flavors, I’ve included a vegan variation. I’ve been eating less meat in this ecologically fragile moment, and these recipes reflect that shift.
Finally, a note on the number of servings in these recipes. For this book, the yield is necessarily dictated by the size of the pot or pan: the larger the vessel, the more people you can feed from it. Big, deep pots like Dutch ovens and soup pots can hold more servings than shallow sheet pans and skillets (depending on the recipe). Therefore, it follows that sheet pan recipes tend to feed only 2 to 4 people, whereas something cooked in a soup pot may feed 6 to 8.
Of course, if you’re hankering for one of the sheet pan recipes—maybe the Roasted Chicken “Tagine” with Dates, Olives, and Lemon on page 24—but looking to feed more than 3 or 4, you can always break the one-pan rule, double the ingredient amounts, and cook it all on two sheet pans. (Isn’t every rule made to be broken?) Just keep in mind that having two pans in the oven rather than one might delay browning, so you may have to add a few extra minutes to the cook time. Or you can try bumping up the heat by 25 degrees to encourage caramelization. Running the pans under the broiler at the end can brown things up, too. Just keep an eye on everything and make adjustments as you go.
The recipes here are guides, meant to be followed but only up to a point. After all, you know your tastes and preferences, and your kitchen and kitchen equipment, better than I do. Trust your senses, trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Even if you do occasionally get something wrong, most of the time you’ll get it deliciously right.
And in either case, you won’t have a pile of dishes in the sink when you’re done.
Product details
- Publisher : Clarkson Potter (September 6, 2022)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0593233255
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593233252
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.63 x 0.97 x 9.43 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #5,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Dutch Oven Recipes
- #17 in Cooking for One or Two
- #59 in Quick & Easy Cooking (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

Food writer and cookbook author Melissa Clark is staff reporter for the New York Times Food section, where she writes the popular column “A Good Appetite” and appears in a weekly cooking video series.
Melissa has written 42 cookbooks, including her latest, Dinner: Changing the Game, published by Clarkson Potter. Other books include collaborations with some of New York City’s most celebrated chefs, including Daniel Boulud (Braise), David Bouley (East of Paris), Andrew Feinberg (Franny’s), Claudia Fleming (The Last Course), Bruce and Eric Bromberg (Blue Ribbon Cookbook), and former White House pastry chef Bill Yosses (The Perfect Finish).
Her work has been honored with awards by the James Beard Foundation and IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals), and has been selected for the Best Food Writing series. Melissa is a regular guest on the Today show and Rachael Ray. She has also been a judge on Iron Chef America. She’s been a frequent guest host on the NPR radio show The Splendid Table and is a regular guest on The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Melissa lives there with her husband and daughter. She loves anchovies, radishes, chicken feet, and lox but not in that order.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this cookbook's recipes delicious and easy to follow, particularly appreciating the vegetarian options with multiple ingredient alternatives. Moreover, the book features beautiful pictures, and one customer notes its versatility with suggested swaps and additions. Additionally, customers find the meals quick to prepare, with fewer pots to clean, and one mentions the side notes add to its appeal.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the flavorful recipes in this cookbook, particularly appreciating the one-pot meals and vegetarian options.
"I can't say the recipes are good but it is a nice cookbook great photos recipes looked easy to follow...." Read more
"Great cookbook. Excellent price. Have on my counter for display" Read more
"...The meats and veggies are well flavored and there is often a sauce that goes with meal to add even more flavor...." Read more
"...Another plus, my 1.5 year old loved the pasta dishes. Recommend this book if you need something quick and mess free." Read more
Customers find the cookbook uncomplicated and easy to follow, with one customer noting the well-printed instructions.
"...are good but it is a nice cookbook great photos recipes looked easy to follow...." Read more
"...So fun and such easy recipe to follow. The family has been enjoying all the meals!" Read more
"...the jalapeños I bought were on the mild side, but the dish came together very quickly and was tasty...." Read more
"...In fact we’ve raved about each one. Amazing that they are so simple as well. Love it!" Read more
Customers appreciate the beautiful pictures in the cookbook and find it visually appealing.
"I can't say the recipes are good but it is a nice cookbook great photos recipes looked easy to follow...." Read more
"...Having the crispy skin was an improvement, and it plated much more attractively, but there was quite a lot of fat, even though I cut some out to..." Read more
"...I viewed the recipes and everything looks delicious and healthy." Read more
"I was excited to receive this cookbook. The photographs are beautiful!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the vegetarian options in the cookbook, with multiple reviews noting the availability of different ingredient alternatives.
"...I also love that she give easy substitutes for veggies in case they are out at the store, you're cooking with what you have on hand or adding more..." Read more
"...What I particularly love are the side notes. Swap it out, Veg it up, Vegetarian upgrades...." Read more
"...Delicious, and with an added nutritional bonus. I have cleared some premium kitchen shelf space to make this one of my go-to cookbooks...." Read more
"...This cookbook is fun to read, the ingredients list is reasonable, and most importantly the recipes taste like I was at a top NYC restaurant...." Read more
Customers appreciate the cookbook's variety, with one mentioning it includes numerous suggestions for ingredient swaps and additions.
"...I especially love her suggested swaps and additions, which help the home cook use what's on-hand as well as up the ante on the use of vegetables in..." Read more
"...are easy to follow but what I love the most is the numerous suggestions for swap out ingredients or to make the dish vegan...." Read more
"...Like the format and I love the "veg it up" options on many of the recipes...." Read more
"...NOT THIS ONE! This cookbook has many prep options (stove, oven, slow-cooker) and the recipes don't have "weird" or trendy ingredients...." Read more
Customers appreciate that the recipes require fewer pots to clean.
"...is going to help our family mix it up in the kitchen, only with fewer pots to clean. :-)" Read more
"...great taste each meal can be prepared in only one dish making cleanup much easier." Read more
"...The single pan, skillet, or pot makes clean up simple...." Read more
"...& Egg Spaghetti on page 111, & I am sure it’ll be delicious and an easy cleanup." Read more
Customers find the recipes easy to follow and quick to prepare.
"Delicious healthy recipes. Not quite “one pan”, but easy to follow and quick. Recipes offer a fresh new take on standard ingredients...." Read more
"...I had high hopes and it’s exceeded expectations. The recipes are easy, quick, and blissfully dish-light, but not pedestrian...." Read more
"...It has sheet meals, one pot meals, instant pot meals and more!" Read more
"...I WAS HOPING FOR MORE SIMPLE RECEIPES. QUICK DINNER RECEIPES, NOT EXTRAVAGANT. GOOD IF THAT IS WHAT YOU LIKE." Read more
Customers find the cookbook's pacing interesting and fun, with one customer particularly appreciating the side notes.
"Have been going through these recipes and loving them! So fun and such easy recipe to follow. The family has been enjoying all the meals!" Read more
"...What I particularly love are the side notes. Swap it out, Veg it up, Vegetarian upgrades...." Read more
"...Good photos as well. Easy and tried recipes. Very inviting. Recommended." Read more
"Two things: I love autumn and I love interesting, tasty and easy recipes...." Read more
Reviews with images

So far, somewhat of a disappointment (updated to add tried recipes)
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2025I can't say the recipes are good but it is a nice cookbook great photos recipes looked easy to follow. I gave as gifts so I am not sure if they tried any of the recipes or not if I hear I will update my review.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2025Have been going through these recipes and loving them! So fun and such easy recipe to follow. The family has been enjoying all the meals!
- Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2022I've been waiting for this book to come out ever since it was announced. I have all of Melissa Clark's previous books and really love her recipes. So far, however, I am not loving this one nearly as much, and I feel terrible saying that. Clark has already raised the home cooking bar so high that it makes me feel bad to say that this one is not quite there, but at least I'm not finding that it is.
I have to further preface this review by stating that many of the recipes I adore and very often make from Clark's insanely great cookbook, "Dinner: Changing the Game," are already one pot - the most amazing shakshuka I have ever made, or even had, is in that book, and the Chicken with Anchovies, Lemon, and Capers, and the Brussels Sprouts with Halloumi are one-pot constants in my house. There are so many outstanding recipes in that book - one of my personal all-time favorite cookbooks ever - that I think it would be a really hard act to follow. But, I thought, if anyone can do it, Clark can.
So perhaps I was expecting too much, but I'm just not loving what this book has so far delivered, with only a few exceptions. Here's what I have made so far:
-- Garlicky Pork Chops with Cauliflower and Pomegranate.
It was the first recipe I made from the book. I was a little leery about cooking pork chops on a sheet pan in the dry heat of an oven, but I figured if anyone could make it work, Clark would. The result was not great, but it wasn't really because of the pork, which amazingly came out fairly well (I live in the South and the pork here is usually pretty great). It was because the dish, as a whole, really did not come together. The flavors were just ok. I would not make it again.
-- Skillet Shrimp Scampi with Orzo and Tomatoes.
This turned out better than the pork dish for sure, and I had fantastic shrimp that was caught earlier in the day by the fisherman down the road, so I was hoping for spectacular. It was ok/good, but I would not really make it again.
-- [Updated] Crispy Chicken Thighs with Puttanesca Green Beans.
This was the best of the three, but still just ok/good. I made this with the skinless, boneless thighs called for and the chicken was not crispy nor did it look nice when plating, so I tried it again with skin-on thighs. Having the crispy skin was an improvement, and it plated much more attractively, but there was quite a lot of fat, even though I cut some out to make up for having the skin. This was one recipe that I thought was worth another try - but it still wasn't as good as I'd hoped.
-- [Updated] Roasted Mushrooms with Polenta
This has been the winner so far. It was delicious and ridiculously easy for how good it tasted. I used maitake, shiitake and cremini mushrooms (threw in a bit more than the recipes called for) and an organic polenta. The pre-made polenta was better in this dish than I thought it be - creamy on the inside and crispy on the edges. We loved this dish so much that there was not a speck left in the pan. This one is a keeper for sure. It was enough to keep my going through the book.
-- [Updated] Green Shashuka with Avocado, Chile and Feta
This was not good. The chile in the recipe title made no appearance in the list of ingredients nor in the instructions, so I was left to wonder about the editing of this book. The recipes have been so unlike Clark's previous books that I have to think that faulty editing might be the reason. IDK if chiles would have made a difference or not but this was a unanimous not good in my house. We ate it, but only because I will not throw away food unless it is entirely inedible.
-- [Updated] Spicy Stir-fried Pork with Green Beans and Tomatoes
This was good enough to make again. I had to adjust some of the seasoning amounts because the jalapeños I bought were on the mild side, but the dish came together very quickly and was tasty. It was successful enough to make me want to try a few more recipes.
-- [Updated] Roasted Chicken "Tagine" with Dates, Olives and Lemon
This, along with the mushroom dish, has been the best thing I've made from this book so far. The flavors were had the kind of the complexity and intensity that I love about Melissa Clark's recipes. I didn't serve it on couscous, although I agree with the recipe that the pan juices are worth having something to sop them up with. This was so good. My husband thought this was the best thing from this book.
-- [Updated] Spicy Pearl Couscous with Jammy Eggplant and Tomatoes
We love all of the ingredients, so I thought I'd give this a try. I should have stopped when I read the intro paragraph. It mentions the changes that were made to the recipe that inspired Clark to make this one, one of which was the inclusion of cherry tomatoes. The recipe itself, however, lists only canned diced tomatoes and no cherry tomatoes. I made it according to the canned tomatoes in the recipe, but the results weren't what I was hoping for. It's possible that it was due to the editing confusion between cherry and canned tomatoes. Perhaps I'll try this again using the cherry tomatoes but... not for a while.
At this point, I am suspecting that there were more errors in editing this book than the obvious one in the last recipe above. And maybe the errors just happened to be in the recipes I chose to make because I'm surprised that, aside from the Roasted Mushrooms and the Chicken "Tagine", we really haven't liked them that much. If this was not Melissa Clark, I would have quit after three strikes, but having had more strikes, it will be a while before I venture beyond those two again.
I am used to making Melissa Clark recipes that knock everyone socks off, but so far, my socks are still on. I wish I was giving this book a rave review because it would mean that we have been having some amazing dinners in my house this week. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. A lot of cookbook authors do ok/good, but Melissa Clark usually goes way beyond that. I was expecting her usual, amazingly great recipes and I have not yet consistently gotten that from this book.
4.0 out of 5 starsI've been waiting for this book to come out ever since it was announced. I have all of Melissa Clark's previous books and really love her recipes. So far, however, I am not loving this one nearly as much, and I feel terrible saying that. Clark has already raised the home cooking bar so high that it makes me feel bad to say that this one is not quite there, but at least I'm not finding that it is.So far, somewhat of a disappointment (updated to add tried recipes)
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2022
I have to further preface this review by stating that many of the recipes I adore and very often make from Clark's insanely great cookbook, "Dinner: Changing the Game," are already one pot - the most amazing shakshuka I have ever made, or even had, is in that book, and the Chicken with Anchovies, Lemon, and Capers, and the Brussels Sprouts with Halloumi are one-pot constants in my house. There are so many outstanding recipes in that book - one of my personal all-time favorite cookbooks ever - that I think it would be a really hard act to follow. But, I thought, if anyone can do it, Clark can.
So perhaps I was expecting too much, but I'm just not loving what this book has so far delivered, with only a few exceptions. Here's what I have made so far:
-- Garlicky Pork Chops with Cauliflower and Pomegranate.
It was the first recipe I made from the book. I was a little leery about cooking pork chops on a sheet pan in the dry heat of an oven, but I figured if anyone could make it work, Clark would. The result was not great, but it wasn't really because of the pork, which amazingly came out fairly well (I live in the South and the pork here is usually pretty great). It was because the dish, as a whole, really did not come together. The flavors were just ok. I would not make it again.
-- Skillet Shrimp Scampi with Orzo and Tomatoes.
This turned out better than the pork dish for sure, and I had fantastic shrimp that was caught earlier in the day by the fisherman down the road, so I was hoping for spectacular. It was ok/good, but I would not really make it again.
-- [Updated] Crispy Chicken Thighs with Puttanesca Green Beans.
This was the best of the three, but still just ok/good. I made this with the skinless, boneless thighs called for and the chicken was not crispy nor did it look nice when plating, so I tried it again with skin-on thighs. Having the crispy skin was an improvement, and it plated much more attractively, but there was quite a lot of fat, even though I cut some out to make up for having the skin. This was one recipe that I thought was worth another try - but it still wasn't as good as I'd hoped.
-- [Updated] Roasted Mushrooms with Polenta
This has been the winner so far. It was delicious and ridiculously easy for how good it tasted. I used maitake, shiitake and cremini mushrooms (threw in a bit more than the recipes called for) and an organic polenta. The pre-made polenta was better in this dish than I thought it be - creamy on the inside and crispy on the edges. We loved this dish so much that there was not a speck left in the pan. This one is a keeper for sure. It was enough to keep my going through the book.
-- [Updated] Green Shashuka with Avocado, Chile and Feta
This was not good. The chile in the recipe title made no appearance in the list of ingredients nor in the instructions, so I was left to wonder about the editing of this book. The recipes have been so unlike Clark's previous books that I have to think that faulty editing might be the reason. IDK if chiles would have made a difference or not but this was a unanimous not good in my house. We ate it, but only because I will not throw away food unless it is entirely inedible.
-- [Updated] Spicy Stir-fried Pork with Green Beans and Tomatoes
This was good enough to make again. I had to adjust some of the seasoning amounts because the jalapeños I bought were on the mild side, but the dish came together very quickly and was tasty. It was successful enough to make me want to try a few more recipes.
-- [Updated] Roasted Chicken "Tagine" with Dates, Olives and Lemon
This, along with the mushroom dish, has been the best thing I've made from this book so far. The flavors were had the kind of the complexity and intensity that I love about Melissa Clark's recipes. I didn't serve it on couscous, although I agree with the recipe that the pan juices are worth having something to sop them up with. This was so good. My husband thought this was the best thing from this book.
-- [Updated] Spicy Pearl Couscous with Jammy Eggplant and Tomatoes
We love all of the ingredients, so I thought I'd give this a try. I should have stopped when I read the intro paragraph. It mentions the changes that were made to the recipe that inspired Clark to make this one, one of which was the inclusion of cherry tomatoes. The recipe itself, however, lists only canned diced tomatoes and no cherry tomatoes. I made it according to the canned tomatoes in the recipe, but the results weren't what I was hoping for. It's possible that it was due to the editing confusion between cherry and canned tomatoes. Perhaps I'll try this again using the cherry tomatoes but... not for a while.
At this point, I am suspecting that there were more errors in editing this book than the obvious one in the last recipe above. And maybe the errors just happened to be in the recipes I chose to make because I'm surprised that, aside from the Roasted Mushrooms and the Chicken "Tagine", we really haven't liked them that much. If this was not Melissa Clark, I would have quit after three strikes, but having had more strikes, it will be a while before I venture beyond those two again.
I am used to making Melissa Clark recipes that knock everyone socks off, but so far, my socks are still on. I wish I was giving this book a rave review because it would mean that we have been having some amazing dinners in my house this week. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. A lot of cookbook authors do ok/good, but Melissa Clark usually goes way beyond that. I was expecting her usual, amazingly great recipes and I have not yet consistently gotten that from this book.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025Great cookbook. Excellent price. Have on my counter for display
- Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2022I got this book as a way to get my husband more inspired to cook since I'm in my third trimester with twins and we have a three year old. I also have gestational diabetes due to the twins so have to eat a low carb diets. These recipes really work for our family since it provides a full meal instead of just a single dish.
He's made 8-10 meals with it and all have been excellent - mostly in the sheet pan and skillet sections. For people who like to eat clean meals that consist mostly of meat and veg, this is a great recipe book. We can easily add rice, pasta, bread or some other starchy/carb to fill out the meal.
The meats and veggies are well flavored and there is often a sauce that goes with meal to add even more flavor. I also love that she give easy substitutes for veggies in case they are out at the store, you're cooking with what you have on hand or adding more veggies for leftovers.
The only thing feedback I have is that there aren't estimated times for the recipes. While it says in the intro that most recipes take 1 hr, sometimes the meals are 40ish min and sometimes they are 1.5hrs. Which can make weekdays with a hungry kiddo and hungry mama eating for three a challenge. But then again my husband is not a very experienced home cook so that could be the cause for the variation.
I'm buying a copy of this for my best friend who is a mom of two and is always looking for ways to make healthy meals easier. It's truly a home run.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024I gave this to my daughter and also have one myself so we can compare and test recipes. Neither of us has ever discovered a bad recipe from the book. In fact we’ve raved about each one. Amazing that they are so simple as well. Love it!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2025The ideas in this cookbook are good, but the author must chronically under-season her food. When I cook from this book, I always end up adding 1.5-2x more seasoning than the recipe calls for. So not my favorite cookbook, but I don't totally regret purchasing it either. I'm especially a fan of the carrot-cauliflower soup with shrimp recipe (provided I double the seasoning)!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2023I love this cookbook.
As I do with most cookbook purchases, I checked this one out of the library first to give it a test run. I made one recipe (creamy corn and polenta bake with blue cheese). Then another (puffy spoonbread with corn, crab and roasted red peppers). And another (green shakshuka). By the time I made spiced Brussels sprouts with paneer and tangy lime dressing, I knew I had to buy this one. All of the recipes I've listed here are absolutely delicious, and so easy. (The spiced Brussels sprouts recipe alone is worth the price of the book. It's one of the easiest, most delicious recipes I've ever come across.) And I *love* the fact that Ms. Clark gives vegetarian and vegan variations for a lot of the recipes.
This is yet another winner from Melissa Clark. I look forward to cooking and eating my way through the entire book.
Can we get a Volume 2?
UPDATE: I just made the cheddar soufflé for a birthday brunch, and everyone raved about it.
Top reviews from other countries
- Eternal SenshiReviewed in Canada on September 12, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Great quality book + recipes
I would highly recommend disregarding negative opinions about this book. They read as they are coming from people who have never cooked or are offended by flavor. If you don't know what an ingredient is, Google is your friend. Also, the author makes several notes for each recipe on how to change items up.
Right off the bat you will notice that this book is of rich quality. The pages are thick and glossy. Much more thicker than the average book. The height of the book is much smaller though than the rest of my collection. It doesn't feel odd or weird though, despite that. It kind of adds a cozy feel, if that makes sense.
The variety of recipes is something that I really enjoyed skimming through. As I went through page after page, I felt like this was a really worthy purchase and knew I'd get my money's worth. I like to place sticky tabs / notes on recipes I am interested in but there were far too many in this one so I didn't even bother.
There are recipes of all sorts of tastes. Vegetarian, meat, sides, etc. The author uses a varying amount of herbs and spices and if you are a seasoned cook, as you read the ingredients, you will feel the recipe come to life already.
This book has Milk Street vibes in the sense that it contains flavors from all over the world, but she uses a lot more seasonings and herbs in her recipes (which I love!).
This book is not a simple, plain cookbook though. If you are looking for a quick weeknight meal with a fussy spouse / children, I would not recommend this. This feels like it is more geared towards people that enjoy cooking as a hobby and savoring wonderful flavors and tastes. Maybe you could use some of the recipes for a weekend dinner when dining with friends or family.
The only disappointment in this cookbook is that there are not images for every recipe. This does bother me a lot with other books but I think I can overlook that because of the quality of the product itself.
Highly recommend if you appreciate flavor, depth, and deliciousness. Do not recommend if you do not like to cook and / or do not like strong, bold flavors.
15/10/2022 Update: So far I've made 3 recipes from this book. The tofu and roasted veggies were freaking delicious. Loved the way of cutting the potatoes and fresh herbs made a huuuuuge difference.
The Kimchi Fried Rice was awesome! I added some sautéed garlic prawns to it and wow! This was sooooo delicious.
The Cumin-y Chicken and Rice was also super yummy! I added way more garlic and marinated my chicken for several hours, ignoring the recommended time. If you do this too, make sure to massage the chicken every couple hours or so!
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NoemiaReviewed in Brazil on September 28, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Um livro muito útil para acrescentar à sua coleção!
Excelente livro de Melissa Clark, que une a praticidade da execução com a sofisticação da receita, que é a marca registrada da autora.Melissa Clark publica regularmente na sessão de gastronomia do NY Times. Tem uma pegada francesa, associada a sua origem judaica, que vem das suas inúmeras viagens à França, na companhia dos pais. Recomendo este livro, muito útil na agitação da vida moderna para quem não abre mão de preparar "algo especial" em casa.
- KelseyReviewed in Canada on February 7, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal
Amazing recipes. Easy, efficient and absolutely delicious. I haven’t had one I don’t love. My family is sooo happy with all of these meals as well
- AlexReviewed in Canada on March 8, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of great meal ideas
I have always loved Melissa Clark’s NYT Cooking recipes, and had high hopes for this book in helping us find good new weekday meals. The recipes are easy to follow, and not too many ingredients. My family has a lot of allergies, and we were easily able to find a lot of recipes that either worked, or had easy allergy-friendly swaps.
- MaryfaceReviewed in Canada on February 19, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars All on one pot or dish is interesting
Cooks or not but all in one dish or pot. Love this!