Gluten Free Cookbook Review: Paleo Cooking by Elana Amsterdam
I recently received a review copy of Paleo Cooking from Elana's Pantry: Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free Recipes, by Elana Amsterdam, who also publishes the popular GF blog, Elana's Pantry. Elana's an advocate of healthy gluten-free cooking, and many of her recipes feature almond and coconut flours. I previously reviewed her Gluten-Free Cupcakes cookbook here and made a batch of toothsome strawberry cupcakes that quickly disappeared from plate to mouth in the Crispy Casa, so I was eager to pore through her newest publication.
At first glance, I wasn't too sure I'd be into making too many dishes from this book, as there seemed to be many ingredients that were unfamiliar to me or not in my pantry (kelp noodles, coconut cream concentrate, ume plum vinegar) but then Dan wanted to try a couple of recipes and I had my eye on some so there were soon some cooking stains on my brand new cookbook as we test drove some recipes and bookmarked others:
The recipe I enjoyed most was for a grain-free version of "Cauliflower Rice". Elana's base recipe is simple enough: one takes coarsely chopped cauliflowerettes and whizzes them in the food processor until they are as small as grains of rice. Step two involves frying up some aromatics and spices, adding in the cauliflower and then covering and cooking 5-10 minutes. I made the base version and then made up another version with sauteed curry leaves, garlic and cumin seeds and it was tasty indeed and a nice change from the heaviness and starchiness of regular rice. It is a nicely nutty tasting rice alternative and sucks up sauces and gravies quite nicely.
Dan was eager to cook up a batch of Elana's Paleo Tortillas, which use coconut flour, baking soda, eggs, olive oil, lime juice and water. Our batch seemed thicker than a regular corn or flour tortilla, almost like a crepe, but they were very tender and flavorful, and we enjoyed them very much.
When this hazy, hot and humid weather ever breaks here in the soggy Northeast, I plan to try baking up some of Elana's Olive Oil Thyme Crackers (using almond meal) and some of her other baking recipes, as they sound extremely tasty.
You can check out many of Elana's Paleo recipes for yourself back at her blog or buy a copy of this great new cookbook yourself from her website or at your favorite bookstore. It retails for $17.99.
At first glance, I wasn't too sure I'd be into making too many dishes from this book, as there seemed to be many ingredients that were unfamiliar to me or not in my pantry (kelp noodles, coconut cream concentrate, ume plum vinegar) but then Dan wanted to try a couple of recipes and I had my eye on some so there were soon some cooking stains on my brand new cookbook as we test drove some recipes and bookmarked others:
The recipe I enjoyed most was for a grain-free version of "Cauliflower Rice". Elana's base recipe is simple enough: one takes coarsely chopped cauliflowerettes and whizzes them in the food processor until they are as small as grains of rice. Step two involves frying up some aromatics and spices, adding in the cauliflower and then covering and cooking 5-10 minutes. I made the base version and then made up another version with sauteed curry leaves, garlic and cumin seeds and it was tasty indeed and a nice change from the heaviness and starchiness of regular rice. It is a nicely nutty tasting rice alternative and sucks up sauces and gravies quite nicely.
Dan was eager to cook up a batch of Elana's Paleo Tortillas, which use coconut flour, baking soda, eggs, olive oil, lime juice and water. Our batch seemed thicker than a regular corn or flour tortilla, almost like a crepe, but they were very tender and flavorful, and we enjoyed them very much.
When this hazy, hot and humid weather ever breaks here in the soggy Northeast, I plan to try baking up some of Elana's Olive Oil Thyme Crackers (using almond meal) and some of her other baking recipes, as they sound extremely tasty.
You can check out many of Elana's Paleo recipes for yourself back at her blog or buy a copy of this great new cookbook yourself from her website or at your favorite bookstore. It retails for $17.99.
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