The Gourmet Vegetarian Slow Cooker: Simple and Sophisticated Meals from Around the World

Overabundant quotation marks and occasional preaching aside, the recipes in this concise collection are simple and tempting. Organized by broad cuisine categories (Indian, Mexican and Southwestern, Greek, and so on), the dishes in this book don't school readers in the finer points of different cultures' cooking styles, but they do offer easy, tasty options for meat-free comfort food: slow-cooked grits with chili and cheese; polenta gnocchi in tomato sauce; wild mushroom stew on noodles. Appealing photos showcase prepared recipes that feel a step above traditional slow cooker fare, such as rustic potato and poblano gratin; risotto with lentils; polenta lasagna with tomato mushroom sauce; and Japanese-style braised tofu. The handful of surprisingly chic desserts sprinkled throughout—including red wine and cherry risotto; Mexican chocolate pudding cake; walnut and apple bread pudding—are a sweet bonus. (Mar.)