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Come Hungry: Salads, Meals, and Sweets for People Who Live to Eat
From Melissa Ben-Ishay—the co-founder of Baked by Melissa and creator of the viral Green Goddess Salad—comes an irresistible, veggie-packed cookbook with over 100 flavorful, nourishing recipes to inspire you to eat delicious meals that make you feel great.
When Melissa Ben-Ishay, the co-founder and CEO of bite-size cupcake empire Baked by Melissa, posted her vegan Green Goddess Salad on TikTok, it became a viral sensation. The recipe exploded online, gaining over 25 million views, landing Melissa on the TODAY Show, and inspiring fans like Cardi B and Lizzo to make their own version of the salad.
After the success of the Green Goddess Salad, Melissa continued to share her finely chopped, vegetable-focused recipes and inspired millions of fans to eat more greens with her flavorful, fresh creations. The meals all highlight Melissa’s food if you get your nourishment from mealtime, you can absolutely indulge in dessert every day, just like she does.
In Come Hungry, Melissa shares her favorite everyday recipes and tips for creating nourishing, delicious meals the whole family will love. With flavorful ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, Melissa encourages home cooks of all levels to cook outside of their comfort zones and reveals her go-to techniques for creating the perfect bite. Packed with colorful, craveable recipes, Come Hungry offers a wide range of simple dishes for any diet,
Mediterranean Grain SaladCoffee Shop Sesame Chicken SaladCrunchy Ramen Slaw with Grilled RibeyeGreen Veggie PizzaDouble Chocolate Zucchini CakeFrom her grandmother’s kitchen in the Catskills to her in-laws’ home on the Mediterranean, Melissa features recipes inspired by meals that have shaped her as a cook and promote a veggie-packed way of eating, from mouthwatering toasts topped with leftovers to filling a pita with flavorful small plates. Ultimately, each and every recipe encourages creativity in the kitchen and invites the reader—as Melissa’s family says to guests on their way for dinner—to come hungry.
When Melissa Ben-Ishay, the co-founder and CEO of bite-size cupcake empire Baked by Melissa, posted her vegan Green Goddess Salad on TikTok, it became a viral sensation. The recipe exploded online, gaining over 25 million views, landing Melissa on the TODAY Show, and inspiring fans like Cardi B and Lizzo to make their own version of the salad.
After the success of the Green Goddess Salad, Melissa continued to share her finely chopped, vegetable-focused recipes and inspired millions of fans to eat more greens with her flavorful, fresh creations. The meals all highlight Melissa’s food if you get your nourishment from mealtime, you can absolutely indulge in dessert every day, just like she does.
In Come Hungry, Melissa shares her favorite everyday recipes and tips for creating nourishing, delicious meals the whole family will love. With flavorful ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, Melissa encourages home cooks of all levels to cook outside of their comfort zones and reveals her go-to techniques for creating the perfect bite. Packed with colorful, craveable recipes, Come Hungry offers a wide range of simple dishes for any diet,
Mediterranean Grain SaladCoffee Shop Sesame Chicken SaladCrunchy Ramen Slaw with Grilled RibeyeGreen Veggie PizzaDouble Chocolate Zucchini CakeFrom her grandmother’s kitchen in the Catskills to her in-laws’ home on the Mediterranean, Melissa features recipes inspired by meals that have shaped her as a cook and promote a veggie-packed way of eating, from mouthwatering toasts topped with leftovers to filling a pita with flavorful small plates. Ultimately, each and every recipe encourages creativity in the kitchen and invites the reader—as Melissa’s family says to guests on their way for dinner—to come hungry.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2024
231 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 28, 2024
This is a splendid cookbook for fledgling cooks or anyone looking to up their salad game. What makes this a great cookbook for less experienced cooks is the majority of the recipes are relatively easy to prepare and every one is accompanied by a tasteful color picture of the finished dish.
More experienced cooks will likely find inspiration for fresh ideas from the well composed salads. The salads, along with the small plates and toasts make for a very nice collection of recipes. Most of them are familiar, the exception being the green goddess salad that the author is TikTok famous for (which led to TV appearances on Today and Live with Kelly & Ryan). I appreciated that all the salad-y dishes each included a dressing recipe and that all the dressing recipes used were then listed in separate chapter.
The Dessert section is also full of easy to make recipes that tend to incorporate premade items like oreos, cookie butter and graham crackers. The Bread chapter, consisting of recipes from the author's husband, is like an added bonus. Recipes here are a bit more complex with multiple steps, some requiring multiple days to prepare, but the instructions are concise and easy to follow.
More experienced cooks will likely find inspiration for fresh ideas from the well composed salads. The salads, along with the small plates and toasts make for a very nice collection of recipes. Most of them are familiar, the exception being the green goddess salad that the author is TikTok famous for (which led to TV appearances on Today and Live with Kelly & Ryan). I appreciated that all the salad-y dishes each included a dressing recipe and that all the dressing recipes used were then listed in separate chapter.
The Dessert section is also full of easy to make recipes that tend to incorporate premade items like oreos, cookie butter and graham crackers. The Bread chapter, consisting of recipes from the author's husband, is like an added bonus. Recipes here are a bit more complex with multiple steps, some requiring multiple days to prepare, but the instructions are concise and easy to follow.
January 5, 2026
Somehow the algorithm brought Baked by Melissa’s reels to me. I genuinely find her approach to food inspiring and enjoy seeing her put meals together, but I can’t really cook from watching a minute video, so this book is a great find!
I think it’s the first cookbook I’ve ever read straight through but it was so informative that I wanted to keep reading.
I’ve only made The OG Iceberg Salad so far and honestly it probably wasn’t my very favorite dressing ever (usually I just use balsamic vinegar and olive oil so it wasn’t that different either), but I do love that I was reminded that iceberg is actually good to eat! And I loved juicing lemons, grating garlic, and chopping the lettuce. It *felt* like I was making something delicious, which adds to the deliciousness in my opinion. (That’s what I meant by inspiring earlier, btw. I’m inspired by her to use crisp and fresh and tasty ingredients to make yummy meals with good ingredients! I think this salad would be amazing on a pita. That’s a few nice ingredients to make a delightful meal. Yum.)
Edit to add: while the OG Iceberg Salad says dress right before eating, I did have a ton of leftovers so some lettuce sat in the dressing for a day. It was much crispier than a day-dressed romaine would be! The second day I squirted in some balsamic and this probably became my favorite new dressing! Off to order a lemon tree.
I think it’s the first cookbook I’ve ever read straight through but it was so informative that I wanted to keep reading.
I’ve only made The OG Iceberg Salad so far and honestly it probably wasn’t my very favorite dressing ever (usually I just use balsamic vinegar and olive oil so it wasn’t that different either), but I do love that I was reminded that iceberg is actually good to eat! And I loved juicing lemons, grating garlic, and chopping the lettuce. It *felt* like I was making something delicious, which adds to the deliciousness in my opinion. (That’s what I meant by inspiring earlier, btw. I’m inspired by her to use crisp and fresh and tasty ingredients to make yummy meals with good ingredients! I think this salad would be amazing on a pita. That’s a few nice ingredients to make a delightful meal. Yum.)
Edit to add: while the OG Iceberg Salad says dress right before eating, I did have a ton of leftovers so some lettuce sat in the dressing for a day. It was much crispier than a day-dressed romaine would be! The second day I squirted in some balsamic and this probably became my favorite new dressing! Off to order a lemon tree.
January 23, 2024
I love her TikTok. I call her the salad lady. I e made many of her recipes from TikTok, but there's so many more here. The photos are gorgeous!
January 6, 2026
This book is everything I want to eat in summer, and as a matter of fact, always! Fresh, simple, and packed with flavour 🤤 I’ve bookmarked almost every single recipe to try, and being summer in Australia, I feel I shall be making the majority of them imminently!
March 30, 2024
Again, I am so behind when it comes to fads and social media hype. (I sometimes am very afraid that I will become that elderly woman in North Dakota that gleefully and glowingly reviewed Olive Garden on Yelp---clueless but cute. I don't want to be either of those things.)
The Green Goddess salad/dip creation by Ben-Ishay that went viral on TikToK was news to me (but it did sound delicious). I had to look it up. Then had to make it immediately. OMG.
But, I digress.... She mentions this Green Goddess rise to stardom in the intro. As with any cookbook I review, I carefully read the intro. I love reading intros to cookbooks. They can set the cook up for a joyride of what is to come. (This was especially true with Baz' More is More.)
Beyond the Green Goddess turn-on, I thought Ben-Ishay's writing was pretty disjointed but perhaps she was trying t reiterate the many people and kitchens that have influenced her cooking: her husband's Israeli heritage, her in-laws' Mediterranean kitchen, the home of her grandmother in the Catskills, her home growing up in New Jersey, grandparents in Brooklyn and Queens...
I can usually tell from the intro whether or not I will love the recipes. Even though the intro left me wanting, the recipes did not.
The "Small Plates" section included some very simple but delicious sounding salads. Her Israeli salad combines fresh veggies and herbs. The Tomato Salad is simply tomatoes lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and sweet paprika. I could keep going here will just say she uses the best ingredients in a stripped down delicious way. The same is true of the "Toasts" section---eight simple but elegant dishes. (There is a Green Goddess Toast, too.)
The "Salad" section is big plates and are a bit more complex than what was served up in "Small Plates." I was probably most intrigued by the Little Gem & Savory Granola Salad (87-88).
This is a salad heavy book and the next portion is "Grain Salads." "Quick Dinners & Sides" includes both dinner sized dishes (like Broccoli & Cauliflower Noodles and Soba & Greens) along with more traditional side dishes (Grilled Potato Salad and Grilled Garlic Broccoli).
Her recipes for "Dressings" follows (but I think it would have been better after the "Salad" section.
If you're a serious and dedicated bread maker, you will appreciate the recipes in "Breads." Most all (from the Challah to the Foccacia) require a leaven, various flours, and sometimes an overnight rise. All looked delicious. (I have failed to mention that every recipe in the book has accompanying photos.) If you're also a sourdough aficionado, you can find some recipes here to use your starter.
The recipes in "Desserts" are homey and familiar but with twists: Cheesecake-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookie Butter Blondies, Peanut Butter Banana Bread, and Double-Chocolate Zucchini Bread. There' were more inventive sweets and I almost named them all here.
Unlike most cookbooks, Ben-Ishay includes basic "Kitchen Basics" (kitchen tools, chopping basics, teach your kids to cook, and pantry staples) in the back of the book. As practical approaches she also has a DIY section on how to make spices, pickle veggies, make vanilla, and grow sprouts.
While this might not be the most exciting cookbook I've read recently, I do think it might be the most practical.
The Green Goddess salad/dip creation by Ben-Ishay that went viral on TikToK was news to me (but it did sound delicious). I had to look it up. Then had to make it immediately. OMG.
But, I digress.... She mentions this Green Goddess rise to stardom in the intro. As with any cookbook I review, I carefully read the intro. I love reading intros to cookbooks. They can set the cook up for a joyride of what is to come. (This was especially true with Baz' More is More.)
Beyond the Green Goddess turn-on, I thought Ben-Ishay's writing was pretty disjointed but perhaps she was trying t reiterate the many people and kitchens that have influenced her cooking: her husband's Israeli heritage, her in-laws' Mediterranean kitchen, the home of her grandmother in the Catskills, her home growing up in New Jersey, grandparents in Brooklyn and Queens...
I can usually tell from the intro whether or not I will love the recipes. Even though the intro left me wanting, the recipes did not.
The "Small Plates" section included some very simple but delicious sounding salads. Her Israeli salad combines fresh veggies and herbs. The Tomato Salad is simply tomatoes lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and sweet paprika. I could keep going here will just say she uses the best ingredients in a stripped down delicious way. The same is true of the "Toasts" section---eight simple but elegant dishes. (There is a Green Goddess Toast, too.)
The "Salad" section is big plates and are a bit more complex than what was served up in "Small Plates." I was probably most intrigued by the Little Gem & Savory Granola Salad (87-88).
This is a salad heavy book and the next portion is "Grain Salads." "Quick Dinners & Sides" includes both dinner sized dishes (like Broccoli & Cauliflower Noodles and Soba & Greens) along with more traditional side dishes (Grilled Potato Salad and Grilled Garlic Broccoli).
Her recipes for "Dressings" follows (but I think it would have been better after the "Salad" section.
If you're a serious and dedicated bread maker, you will appreciate the recipes in "Breads." Most all (from the Challah to the Foccacia) require a leaven, various flours, and sometimes an overnight rise. All looked delicious. (I have failed to mention that every recipe in the book has accompanying photos.) If you're also a sourdough aficionado, you can find some recipes here to use your starter.
The recipes in "Desserts" are homey and familiar but with twists: Cheesecake-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookie Butter Blondies, Peanut Butter Banana Bread, and Double-Chocolate Zucchini Bread. There' were more inventive sweets and I almost named them all here.
Unlike most cookbooks, Ben-Ishay includes basic "Kitchen Basics" (kitchen tools, chopping basics, teach your kids to cook, and pantry staples) in the back of the book. As practical approaches she also has a DIY section on how to make spices, pickle veggies, make vanilla, and grow sprouts.
While this might not be the most exciting cookbook I've read recently, I do think it might be the most practical.
June 19, 2024
Tik-Tok sensation Ben-Ishay introduces the book talking about the green goddess dressing that launched her to fame, as well as her Jewish heritage, close family, and foodie life. Meh. Interesting enough, but the good stuff starts with the recipes, each of which I’m pleased to report includes a gorgeous full-colour, full-page photo. (That does push the book’s price to nearly $45 Canadian – yikes!) The book is divided into ten sections: Small Plates (tapas and sharing bowls), Toasts, Salads (suitable as mains), Grain Salads (ditto), Quick Dinners & Sides, Dressings, Breads, Desserts, and then Kitchen Basics and DIY Kitchen Staples, where she explains how to make quick pickled onions and DIY vanilla, for instance. The recipes are drool-worthy. The Israeli salad of onion, tomato and cucumber is already a favourite in our house, as is the nearly identical Mediterranean salad. The beets and seeds salad will be tested once my garlic scapes appear (a recipe that uses garlic scapes!!). The avocado and tomato toast is a winner too, even if you do make it in a pan rather than a toaster. Nearly all the recipes serve 4-6, and are delightfully simple, using ingredients most of us have in our kitchens or in our gardens. With the exception of some of the breads and desserts, most are on the table in under 30 minutes. Which brings me to what’s missing – I would have liked to see prep and cooking times for the recipes, and some basic nutrition info like calories, sodium, and fat content. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its adult nonfiction collection.
May 30, 2025
My May 2025 cookbook focus. I made 7 recipes (3 salads and 4 sweet treats). The book is beautiful and the recipes are easy to follow. The 2 grain-based salads I made were absolutely fantastic. Perfect for spring.
My one complaint is that for some of the salad recipes the dressing makes about double what you need. Not a bad thing to have extra dressing, but have to make sure you don’t just dump all the dressing on. Also, I felt like I should be shopping at a farmers market or growing my own herbs etc. The recipes use such a wide variety of veggies and herbs that required me to hit up a couple different stores, a little impractical for this season of my life.
All the sweets I made were delicious. However a couple of the recipes needed some modification as written. Nothing some notes can’t fix, but it was a little annoying to have things not turn out perfectly.
My one complaint is that for some of the salad recipes the dressing makes about double what you need. Not a bad thing to have extra dressing, but have to make sure you don’t just dump all the dressing on. Also, I felt like I should be shopping at a farmers market or growing my own herbs etc. The recipes use such a wide variety of veggies and herbs that required me to hit up a couple different stores, a little impractical for this season of my life.
All the sweets I made were delicious. However a couple of the recipes needed some modification as written. Nothing some notes can’t fix, but it was a little annoying to have things not turn out perfectly.
February 4, 2024
I loved this book, which is crazy because I'm lukewarm for her cupcakes. This book covers how the author and her Israeli husband eat everyday with their family. The food is Mediterranean-inspired, with lots of salads and delicious dressings. Most of the recipes would work for weeknights, and are family/group friendly. The only thing I wished was that she had nutritional information - that would have brought this up to 5 stars.
February 9, 2024
What an incredible book! I was gifted a copy of it from a dear friend who is also obsessed with Melissa and her cooking. I follow her on Tik Tok she just makes everything look so easy. I made 2 of the recipes for my bookclub January meeting and everyone loved them. So happy to have this added to my shelf of cookbooks it’s definitely my new go to. Congratulations Melissa on being the NYT #3 bestseller !!!
April 13, 2024
l follow Melissa on TikTok so preordered her book. It did NOT disappoint!! I could hear her voice as I read her stories and recipes. I’m so glad to have the ingredient lists and complete instructions for all the great dishes I have seen her make. Now I also know the personal history behind many of them, too!
I don’t give many 5 star ratings, but this cookbook hit all the bells and whistles for me.
I don’t give many 5 star ratings, but this cookbook hit all the bells and whistles for me.
July 17, 2025
Since being diagnosed with lupus, I’ve tried to eat very clean but cannot give up flavor and I’ve recently discovered Melissa on Instagram leading to finding her cookbook and she has a new fan for life. I adore her and love her clean recipe. Recipes are wonderful and delicious and healthy. The cookbook is a feast for the eyes. Nothing is too complicated. I recommend her stuff and we’ve made it for a few neighbors and gotten good feedback so I think it’s safe to say it’s a winner!
January 16, 2024
This cookbook is amazing!!! The imagery is vibrant and the recipes are written simply and clearly. I have many cookbooks and never have I flipped through any and wanted to make EVERY recipe like I do with this one. Having made some of Melissa’s recipes before I know they are delicious (and crowd pleasers!).
June 12, 2024
I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because honestly, I’d still rather watch Melissa make salad on her social media videos than read a recipe for even the very same salad. She’s my favorite social media content creator and I find her mesmerizing to watch. The book was good, but not the SAME.
July 10, 2025
It's a very beautiful cookbook full of wholesome recipes. It wasn't really my style of food, but I still found a few I would like to give a try. The pictures are incredible and I appreciate the tips Melissa Ben-Ishay shares with readers throughout the book.
December 22, 2025
I follow Melissa on instagram and get a kick watching her slap together her recipes. Her book is colorfully illustrated. Found her background very interesting and her take on cooking informal and fun.Tried her salads and dressings. A keeper for sure!
January 4, 2026
This cookbook was fine. Great pictures and a personal story. I didn’t think that there were any recipes or techniques l I hadn’t seen many times before in other books. Nothing wrong with it, it just didn’t appeal to me personally and I wasn’t inspired.
January 21, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up due to the chapter on dressings.
February 5, 2024
So many recipes I wanted to try. I had to buy it.
February 6, 2024
Gorgeous pictures accompany each recipe. Here are the ones I'd like to make:
Double chocolate zucchini bread
S'mores treats
The OG iceberg
Double chocolate zucchini bread
S'mores treats
The OG iceberg
March 9, 2024
Really great. Worth owning a copy. 📚
March 11, 2024
I love this! The pictures, the recipes and the tips. I borrowed from the library but just bought a copy!
March 11, 2024
obsessed with the date caramel
March 11, 2024
Pictures are stunning and book was a joy to flip through during my shift as a bookseller. I will definitely be making some of these salads!
March 23, 2024
Love her TikToks and happy to have her recipes and wisdom in book form. A perfect balance of eating healthy while still enjoying sweets. Beautifully photographed
March 24, 2024
Sadly, this didn't make much of an impression on me
June 3, 2024
I started loving salads again.
June 25, 2024
Really enjoyable and visual appealing book.
I made some of these recipes and they were lovely.
Will definitely make more.
I made some of these recipes and they were lovely.
Will definitely make more.
October 2, 2025
Excellent salads!!
October 18, 2025
My favourite cookbook right now!!
May 11, 2025
I love this cookbook! So many great recipes with different ingredients. Melissa has taken me out of my comfort zone and into her world of creative meals. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews