Leon: Fast Vegetarian

Expert vegetable chef Baxter and Dimbley, founder of U.K.’s health-conscious restaurant chain Leon offer a unique and inspiring collection of recipes featuring original dishes that let vegetables take center stage, whether in standalone meals or side dishes. To guide new chefs, the authors provide useful sections on substituting main ingredients, veggie prep, common mistakes, and using leftovers. Recipes span from breakfast and lunch through to cakes and desserts. Soups such as wild garlic, potato, and almond and spiced farro will warm the bones while the grilled corn, avocado, and toasted tortilla salad offers a light and flavorful alternative. The chefs cover fritters and pancakes, pasta, grains, and beans, rice and curry, and kid-friendly options, but where they truly excel is with casseroles such as spinach, squash, and blue cheese and grazing side dishes that include Maderia mushrooms on toast and polenta with creamed kale. Zucchini and tomato gratin, cauliflower cheese, and 10 types of mashed potatoes demonstrate the variety and appealing nature of their collective efforts. Ideal for experienced cooks looking for innovative ways to incorporate more vegetables into meals as well as new cooks just testing the vegetable waters, this collection offers expert guidance with tasty rewards. (Feb.)