The Best Light Recipe
The editors from Cook’s Illustrated have put together a new cookbook that has grabbed my attention. It’s called The Best Light Recipe and is a compilation of over 300 tried, tested and delicious lower fat and reduced calorie recipes.
Below you’ll find the editors’ description of this exciting book, some customer reviews and a sample recipe.
Book Description
By the Editors from Cook’s Illustrated.
Let’s face it. In America’s Test Kitchen our goal has always been clear: develop the best recipe possible. Only rarely have we stopped to consider the fat or calorie content of the food we make …until now.
The Best Light Recipe is different. In response to the increasing interest from our readers to shed the same obsessive attention to the right ingredients and techniques for guaranteed foolproof recipes for lighter foods, we are pleased to offer more than 300 guaranteed foolproof full-flavored, lower fat and reduced-calorie recipes, 95% of which are completely new! Each recipe lists calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, protein, fiber and sodium per serving to help you cook smart.
From chunky guacamole to brownies, from macaroni and cheese, lasagna, and spaghetti and meatballs to blueberry muffins and even chocolate cake and cheesecake, we tested and retested our favorite recipes until we arrived at the best recipes that cut calories and fat without sacrificing flavor. We also recognized that we couldn’t do the impossible- so if we weren’t satisfied with the results in our kitchen, the recipe didn’t make it into the book. Nor did we include recipes that relied on smoke and mirrors to reduce fat and calories, like beef stew with only a forkful of beef or cookies the size of quarters.
The Best Light Recipe, packed with more than 100 illustrations and 16 pages of full-color photos, also includes naturally healthy recipes tweaked to be even lighter and healthier, like gazpacho, poached salmon, stir-fry chicken, grilled tuna burgers, and pan-roasted asparagus. And the healthy techniques you’ll learn, including using milk and cornstarch instead of cream and butter to make a simple pan sauce (trust us, it really works), or reserving the good olive oil to lightly drizzle on your pasta before serving (when you use less and get the most flavor), will last over a lifetime of healthy cooking.
The Best Light Recipe also features objective equipment ratings and ingredient tastings, from the best muffin tin and Dutch oven to the best soy sauce and chicken broth, as well as illustrated tips and techniques, from slicing flank steak for stir fries, to creating the best deep-fried crust without actually frying. In short, it is your essential guide to lighter, great-tasting recipes that deliver every time.
Customer Reviews
Courtesy of Amazon.com
Average Customer Rating:
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hooray!
Review: As a loyal reader and user of CI, I've often wondered why the Test Kitchen didn't create recipes that are/were more low in fat and calories. Let's face it - as delicious and good as many of their recipes are, they're not the healthiest. I was *thrilled* when I discovered that this book came out. I bought it immediately.
So far we've made about 5 recipes. All of them have been very tasty and, in fact, we have concluded we prefer the lightened versions of the chicken enchiladas and the fettuccine alfredo to the full-fat versions. I'm looking forward to trying more of the recipes!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Best Light Cookbook Published
Review: As a long time Cooks Illustrated fan and subscriber, I was so happy that they published this book. I recently ordered this book and have already prepared ten recipes. Each recipe was well written, easy to follow, and delicious. In typical Cooks illustrated fashion, they tested out several strategies for each recipe to find the one that would provide a low fat, lower calorie alternative without sacrificing taste.
I have many "light" cookbooks in my library, but none have impressed me until now! This book will now be my primary, everyday cookbook. I am so pleased with it, I have already ordered two additional copies as gifts for friends and family.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Low-down on the low-cal versions...
Review: Sure, the swanky restaurants and gourmet magazines we've come to love over the years offer us rich, decadent, flavorful recipes to savor, then all our "appreciation" gets taken away from us if we want to live longer and healthier. What a rip-off choosing low-fat OR flavor... pick ONE... can't have both! Until now!!!
FINALLY someone cares about TRULY great recipes to savor without giving up ANY of those favorite "foodies" qualities that CI really seemed to give attention to... layers of flavors, textures, colors, depth of character... almost sounds like wine snobs... very much the same thinking... we want what we want and we want it ALL (except, in this case, not the fat and calories).
I can't imagine how long it took to create this treasure chest! And all the "why use this" type information is fantastic! I am FINALLY confident about cooking healthier AND knowing that we all LOVE THESE RECIPES (7 for 7 so far)! I have resisted "healthier" cooking, not knowing how to get started cutting fats, carbs, calories without losing flavor entirely. So, I am so deeply grateful they put this cookbook out!
Already our new family favorites! I imagine replacing handed-down ultra-fat family traditional recipes with CI's lighter versions with the same excellent flavors I would be proud to put my own name on for generations! I even appreciate their honesty about things like... a lighter pie crust... don't bother, can't be done well enough.
What a great gift this is to my family!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Tried and tested in MY kitchen
Review: It is clear to me that the reviewer below with a 2 star rating has not sampled any of the recipes in this incredible cookbook. Without exception all the meals we have tried have been absolutely first rate. From the skillet green beans, to the chicken parmesan, to the blueberry cobbler, we have enjoyed not only delicious but light and healthy meals fit for a gourmand. Not only are the ingredients clearly outlined, but also the unique processes for cooking in low fat methods are defined.
The book is extremely well researched and includes preferred brands. For someone who has been cooking low fat for over 10 years, I am delighted that Cooks Illustrated has raised the bar for healthy cookbooks!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Ideal cookbook for most of us
Review: Finally, CI addresses nutrition concerns without sacrificing enjoyment. I've tried the banana bread, and its special technique for keeping the texture light -- cream the small amounts of butter and sugar first -- worked like a charm.
About 80% of the recipes are ones I'd like to make. This will be my primary cookbook from now on.
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Want more information? Click here to read the inside flap and back cover of the book.
