Rebecca Lang is the author of many books including one of my favorites on Fried Chicken. I’ve cooked many a recipe from that title. I mean – fried chicken – what could be better? Well, maybe fried chicken without calories (a girl can dream). Her newest title The Southern Vegetable Book: A Root-to-Stalk Guide to the South’s Favorite Produce is destined to join a coveted spot next to Fried Chicken – everything in balance.
Books devoted to vegetables would never grab my attention until Ottolenghi started producing cookbooks. Vegetables, I always felt were boring, but necessary. Over the last few years, I’ve developed a new approach to vegetables and their role at the dinner table – they are still necessary and anything but boring.
The Southern Vegetable Book is organized by season and vegetable with over 100 classic and modern recipes. An introduction of each vegetable includes its history in Southern cooking as well as selection and preparation pointers. Not only does this stunningly photographed book have tempting recipes, but also advice on gardening, canning, kitchen composting and more.
Lang presents vegetables in many preparations – sides, mains and even dessert. I am eager to try many of these recipes including the Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes, the Baby Vidalia Skillet Soufflé, Chocolate Zucchini Cakes and Fried Brussels Sprouts with Peanut Vinaigrette. If I ever get my hands on some ramps, the first thing I’m making is the Bacon and Ramp Jam to use on the Caramelized Vidalia and Yogurt Biscuits. (Note: I just ordered ramp seeds.)
I’m fortunate that my son loves vegetables – he would prefer vegetables over anything at meal time (I have to set aside Brussels sprouts for me because he inhales them). This title will open up endless possibilities for us and hopefully help me with getting Andrew interested in the garden this year as well.
Thanks to Oxmoor House for allowing me to share this beautiful recipe for Layered Carrot Cake with you. Download the recipe by clicking the link in blue.
GIVEAWAY: Oxmoor House wants to share this title with one of you. To enter – please leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite vegetable dish. For a second entry (be sure to leave a second comment), please share this post and spread the vegetable love. This giveaway is open to US addresses only. A random winner will be chosen on April 20th. Good luck! Random Number Generator picked #11 – Aaron R.
Special thanks to Oxmoor House for providing me with a copy of this title for review.
Judy says
I love everything except beets, so it’s hard to pick one. Cole slaw might be my favorite, but creamed spinach and corn on the cob or Caesar Salad are fabulous, too.
Kerrey says
I love fried green tomatoes. A southern veg cookbook is right up my alley!
Karen Fender says
Well, that’s hard to say as I only eat vegetarian meals. I love veggie soups, chickpea false tuna salad, I love this dish with hashbrowns, articoke, onions and mushroom. Oh! I could go on and on
Jean Heller says
Roasted cauliflower with hot, smoky paprika is my favorite vegetable.
Mary Ann says
My favorite vegetable dish is Asparagus–any kind, roasted, steamed and especially on the grill. Just a little olive oil, salt and pepper and I am good to go.
Vicki says
I love all vegetables, but I guess my favorite would be cabbage. You can eat it so many different ways!
Cheryl says
My favorite vegetable dish would have to be the “skinny” version of my mom’s breaded deep fried cauliflower! I grew up with this, but now with all the attention to eating better, I make a lighter version by cutting the cauliflower in bite sized pieces, blanching, then rolling them in Italian bread crumbs, putting them on a baking sheet and baking for about 25 min. or until tender. I also love these without the breadcrumbs on the grill! Yummy!
Vicki says
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/irbratb/status/717405789695184896
Jennifer Barnes says
My favorite vegetable?? This is a hard but precious one. I knew I loved vegetables when I drew the perfect carrot in science class and made my oldest son a hand sewn carrot costume because his lil brother insisted on being a lil cotton tail ! Carrots a rediscovered favorite as the ‘new’ colors come available from heirloom enthusiast and we discover that the originals weren’t even orange! I do so hope 8 win a copy of the book to share w my 3 sons. We all love vegetables!!!
Debbie says
Roasted vegetables on a bed of fresh lettuce
Aaron Rishell says
Zucchini and tomato gratin
Ellen says
I love beets! Pickled, cold in a salad with goat cheese, or warm with bacon and greens. Yum!
Tina LaLena says
I love them all! Favorites: Leek gratin, Brussels sprouts with pancetta, fresh tomatoes with prosciutto, basil vinaigrette and gorgonzola – yum!
Laurel Eden says
I adore vegetables and have so many favorite dishes, but I think one of my favorites is an Heirloom tomato tart in the summer.
Jessica says
This sounds delicious! I definitely need inspiration when it comes to vegetables. My favorite vegetable dish would honestly be roasted broccoli or roasted broccoli. Both of those I could live on forever!
Jim Huff says
Very few vegetables I don’t like, but I love playing with corn and creating alternative succotash like dishes!Have used baby zucchini,; black beans; edamame; cherry tomatoes and combos of all!
jennifer says
Roasted green beans in a little olive oil and Salt/pepper with roasted cherry tomatoes and either pine nuts or slivered almonds.
Marcia1206 says
My favorite veggie dish is ratatouille!
Nancy Saporta says
I love a well-charred eggplant with deep smokey flavor.
larissa says
My favorite veggie dish at the moment is cauliflower baked in a white sauce with rosemary and Parmesan cheese. But we eat vegetables every day.
Alexis Muermann says
I love almost all veggies! Roasted cauliflower, sautéed broccoli with chili flakes, Brussels sprouts any way, even on pizza, pickled beets, cucumber salad… I’ll stop now, I’m getting hungry.
Melissa says
Vegetables don’t usually need much to dress them up, they’re delicious as is. I especially love roasted carrots.
Vivian says
I love vegetables, so this is tough. Current favorite is Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomelo and Star Anise from Plenty More..
Vivian says
Shared on Facebook
Marcia1206 says
I shared on FB Jenny
Allison Cofone says
I make trays of roasted veggies weekly. I love the versatility of zucchini and cauliflower. A fresh summer tomato is nature’s dessert. And veggie soup is a year-round love!
Allison Cofone says
Shared in FB!
Valorie Wolf says
I love eggplant – any way any how! Beautiful color!
Linda G. says
Greenbean casserole.
Nancy McClaskey says
Zucchini pizza crust!!
Linda G. says
Shared on Facebook
Nancy McClaskey says
Shared
Linda Morgan says
I like most Veggies but my most Favourite would have to be Eggplant Parmesion!! Although Fried Eggplant and Roasted Red Bell Peppers on a Hard Roll makes a really good Sandwich also!!!
Tracy says
I love anything with fresh sweet corn!
Sarah says
Favorite vegetable dish is a tough one, but I think one of the top three has to be oven-“fried” zucchini sticks with honey mustard dipping sauce. YUM. Others include roasted asparagus with olive oil and sea salt and pan-blistered green beans with peanut oil and salt.
Beverly Babarovich says
eggplant, okra, fried green tomatoes, fresh green beans right out of the garden cooked with bacon and tomatoes. All time favorite was my Mississippi Mama’s carrot cake.
Jessica Medina says
Kale soup!
Joan says
I love veggies especially in the summer. One of my favorites is a warm green bean and tommy toe salad.
Joan says
I shared on Facebook about the giveaway.
Laura A. Harley says
My favorite vegetable is garden fresh tomato, dusted with a little salt and pepper.
Nadia Murray says
roasted veg – root veg, cauliflower, asparagus – all with olive oil, salt and lots of pepper – root veg with rosemary and garlic too.
Chantal Smit says
I would love to win this! My favourite vegetable dish is oven roasted eggplant with rucola salad and tzatziki dressing.
Renee- Kudos Kitchen says
So hard to pick a favorite vegetable dish because I’m a veg-aholic. Onions may be my favorite vegetable however because they go in almost every savory dish I make.
Laura Benson says
I love stuffed peppers.
Linda Grothe says
Love love love capsicum and tomatoes. Roasted and puréed into soup add some sambol olek for a bit of heat. Scrumptious
Joni Ducey says
I love portabella mushrooms….especially marinated and then grilled. Yum.
Bonnie says
Roasted vegetables – Brussel sprouts, onions, peppers, cauliflower, kale…..
Katrina says
Favorite vegetable dish–Hmmm? I love anything sweet potato. Just to be different, one of my favorites is a sweet potato/chocolate bundt cake.
Heath Friedman says
I love the rainbow of vegetables, but this book title brought to mind my mother’s spoon corn bread, making johnny cakes & greens with ham hocks. These are some warm memories. It would be fun to read a modern chef’s take on southern vegetable dishes!
Joan A says
Roasting is our favorite way to prepare veggies.
Julie says
Heirloom tomato and chickpea salad with lemon vinaigrette! As a vegetarian raised by a home-cookin’ Tennessee mama, this cookbook looks perfectly delicious!
Julie says
I posted a link to your giveaway on my facebook page. Thank you!
Julie @ Texan New Yorker says
This book sounds amazing! I’m with you – vegetables have gone from necessary but boring to incredibly interesting and I love being creative with them now! I’m just cooking for two (adults), but oftentimes we just eat a big side dish for dinner. 🙂
Yvonne Sowder says
I use a lot of veggies in my cooking. The book sounds outstanding. Would really like to win it to add to my cook book collection.
Sharese D. says
I have recently started cooking again. ….have three pre-teens, all with very different tastes. However, they all love green vegetables. I am looking for some great new recipes with other vegetables that we can all enjoy.
Teslaca says
My favorite veggie dish is a big salad with all sorts of vegetables in it and lots of herbs. The variety is endless and flavors can be changed with all sorts of dressings.
rnjj watanabe says
I love vegetables of all colors, raw, cooked and pickled. I especially like eggplants since it’s so versatile and are used in different cuisines, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian etc… My favorite is eggplant lasagna 🙂
rnjj watanabe says
Shared on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/126311964527485472/
Dawn Cradic says
Roasted or grilled asparagus. Or fresh garden tomatoes in a caprese salad. My mouth is watering.
Dawn Cradic says
Shared on FB
Tina W says
My favorite would be grilled eggplant. Meaty, smoky, rich. (tossed in a salad with grilled zucchini, peppers and onion —- even better)
Tina W says
tweeted: https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/721223744526495744
Anne says
Hands down, my favorite vegetable dish is a corn side dish called “Southern Skillet Corn,” from KevinAndAmanda.com. Fresh corn stripped from the cob, sautéed in butter, then simmered with a flour-sugar-salt-pepper-water mixture. Freezes well, too, so we can have that fabulous summer flavor all winter. (I also make broth from the cobs, which is great as a replacement for the water in this dish, and ups the flavor in many other recipes, too.)
Anne says
I shared this cookbook giveaway and the link to the gorgeous carrot cake recipe on Pinterest. Thanks!
KimR says
I love vegetables but my favorite at the moment is zucchini. I like to spiralize it and combine it with angel hair pasta. I cook the pasta and zucchini together, and both are done at the same time. Also like to bake zucchini fries with Parmesan. Yum!