Epic Salads (Jessica Prescott, Hardie Grant Books)

If you’re ready to ditch the pre-made salads from your local supermarket, Jessica Prescott’s Epic Salads: For every mood, craving and occasion is a must-have for your cookbook collection. Prescott (Vegan Goodness) says: ‘The point here is not to promote a salad-centric diet, but to highlight the ways we can incorporate salads into our meal rotations.’ The book exudes a summer vibe, starting with striking illustrations of vibrant produce in the chapter openers. Evi-O.Studio’s bold design and bright colours, combined with stylist Lee Blaycock’s clever use of props, keep the visuals fresh and interesting throughout. From a gado-gado salad plate to classics reinvented (such as a Greek salad with nectarines), each recipe includes an epic tip (such as how to pump up the protein) or swap (substitutes for ingredients or alternative dressings). There are also thoughtful touches, such as the inclusion of some recipes with servings for one. (No limp leftovers here.) The ‘Art of Salad Building’ section shows you how to choose a protein, dressing and leaf; what to add to the ‘body’ to make it a satisfying meal; and how to add crunch for texture and flavour. Meanwhile, the pasta and noodles section proves not all salads need to contain lettuce. Epic Salads offers a user-friendly collection suitable for cooks at any skill level. It is an excellent recommendation for readers interested in incorporating more vegetarian meals into their diet, and for fans of Molly Baz’s Cook This Book or More Is More and Alice Zaslavsky’s In Praise of Veg.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jess Lomas is the editor for reviews at Books+Publishing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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