Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans

by Michelle Tam, Henry Fong

By the creators of the critically-acclaimed leading Paleo food blog, Nom Nom Paleo features over 100 flavor-packed, nutrient-dense recipes using real, whole ingredients for foodies, fitness buffs, and families, presented in a fun, fresh style complete with awesome cartoons and tons of 4-color photography. Nom Nom Paleo is a visual feast, crackling with humor and packed with stunningly photographed step-by-step recipes free of gluten, soy, and added sugar. Designed to inspire the whole family to chow down on healthy, home-cooked meals, this cookbook compiles over 100 foolproof recipes that demonstrate how fun and flavorful cooking with wholesome ingredients can be. And did we mention the cartoons?


Nom Nom Paleo kicks off with a fresh introduction to Paleo eating, taking readers on a guided tour of author Michelle Tam's real-food strategies for stocking the kitchen, saving time, and maximizing flavors. Also, sprinkled throughout the book are enlightening features on feeding kids, packing nutritious lunches, boosting umami, and much more.

But the heart of this book is Michelle's award-winning recipes, 50 percent of which are brand-new—even to diehard fans who own her bestselling iPad cookbook app. Readers can start by marrying their favorite ingredients with building blocks like Sriracha Mayonnaise, Louisiana Remoulade, and the infamous Magic Mushroom Powder. These basic recipes lay the foundation for many of the fabulous delights in the rest of the book including Eggplant & "Ricotta" Stacks, Crab Louie, and Devils on Horseback.

There's something for everyone in this cookbook, from small bites like Apple Chips and Kabalagala (Ugandan plantain fritters) to family-sized platters of Coconut Pineapple Rice and Siu Yoke (crispy roast pork belly). Crave exotic spices? You won't be able to resist the fragrant aromas of Fast Pho or Mulligatawny Soup. In the mood for down-home comforts? Make some Yankee Pot Roast or Chicken Nuggets drizzled with Lemon Honey Sauce. When a quick weeknight meal is in order, Nom Nom Paleo can show you how to make Crispy Smashed Chicken or Whole-Roasted Branzini in less than 30 minutes. And for a cold treat on a hot day, nothing beats Mocha Popsicles or a two-minute Strawberry Banana Ice Cream.

Healthy cooking doesn't mean sacrificing flavor. This book gives you "Paleo with personality," and will make you excited to play in the kitchen again.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Health, Reference, Nutrition

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 17, 2013

About the author

New York Times bestselling cookbook author Michelle Tam is the critically acclaimed co-creator of Nom Nom Paleo, the Saveur Best Food Blog Award winning website and Webby Award winning cooking app. Her debut cookbook, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans, was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award, and her eagerly-anticipated second cookbook, Ready or Not!, hits bookstores this August.

A native Californian, Michelle studied nutrition and food science at UC Berkeley, and earned her doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco. Michelle and her family currently split their time between Palo Alto, California and Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cook book with a sense of humor!

Laugh -cook -eat! --

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michelle makes cooking fun with this cookbook. Cartoons and diagrams for illustrating. Easy to follow instructions. I've been waiting on this one for awhile. She brings Umami to every meal. I highly recommend this cookbook. I was not disappointed.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't follow a paleo diet but a close friend of mine does and he loves it! Other than hearing it referred to as the “caveman diet”, I don't know a whole lot about it. This is exactly why I took advantage of the opportunity to read Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans. Food blogger, cookbook author, family chef (and former pharmacist): Michelle Tam provides an educational introduction for newbies about the what and why of paleo, along with 153 doable recipes that follow the paleo guidelines. Foods are baked, steamed, sauteed, pressure cooked, slow cooked, eaten raw...there's gorgeous photos, a meal planner, and a convenient quick-glance recipe index to screen for allergy and other diet considerations.

An overview of the recipes I came across while reading this cookbook is as follows: salad dressings, various sauces and gravies, condiments such as salsa, pesto, hot sauces, and mayo, pickled and fermented vegetables, bone broth, grain-free tortillas, rice and pasta alternatives, vegetable side dishes, salads, egg, meat, and seafood dishes, soups, curry, common snacks/appetizers, casserole, dairy alternatives, desserts, and beverages. One thing I liked about this cookbook is how it showcases a melting pot of cultures in regards to preparation and spices. I love learning about various cooking styles and all the fun flavors in the world. Paleo or not, if you like to cook good food, check out this cookbook!

Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader's copy (ARC) of Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Source: NetGalley
Authors: Michelle Tam, Henry Fong
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Pub Date: 01 Aug 2017

[Suzanne Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having switched to a primal/paleo lifestyle in 2012, I’m always looking for cookbooks that sup-port this eating plan and quite frankly, some have been better than others. After a family member recommended Nom Nom Paleo, I decided to visit author and food blogger Michelle tam’s web-site to check for myself. After reading her candid and often humorous blog and trying a couple of the recipes, I ordered her book from the publisher.

Was I in for a surprise! This is one of the coolest paleo books out there. Ms. Tam’s book is a large-size hardback filled with stunning photos and the cutest cartoons. I loved reading Michelle Tam’s story of how she came to promote paleo after a love affair with processed carbs. (Hint: her husband and co-author, Henry Fong, led the way.

Nom Nom Paleo covers not only Michelle’s story but offers several tips in the introductory sec-tion: My Kitchen. Here she explains the why’s of a paleo diet and lists red, yellow and green light foods to keep one on track. In just a few pages she gives useful tips on everything from which foods are best to using herbs and spices to which tools will be most helpful. I love her tip on umami (Japanese for “deliciousness”, that additional taste ingredient apart from sweet, salty, spicy and sour that brings a dish from plain old “good” to sublime.

The largest section of Nom Nom Paleo is devoted to Ms. Tam’s 100 plus deliciously different recipes (described by her publisher as “"often Asian-influenced, often California-inspired, and always popping with flavor”). Each chapter covers a family of foods: Building Blocks, Nibbles, Salads and Soups, Eggs, Plants, Seafood, Poultry, Meat and Treats. There are acknowledgments, a bibliography, a metric conversion and equivalents page and the index. In all, 277 pages of ex-citement with recipes you’ll love.

When I review a cookbook, I make a point to test several recipes. In Nom Nom Paleo I have made the Paleo Mayonnaise (p. 40), Louisiana Remoulade (p. 63), Roasted Kabocha Wedges (p. 154), Garlic Mashed Cauliflower (p. 155), Coconut Pineapple “Rice” (p. 157), Fiona’s Green Chicken (p. 193), Chicken Nuggets (p. 195), Smashed Steak Skewers & Cherry Barbecue Sauce (p. 220), and also the Italian Meatballs and Warm Brussels Sprout Slaw from her blog of the same name. (Get it, you won’t be sorry!) All of the dishes were easy to prepare; the Green Chicken, Coconut Pineapple “Rice” and the Smashed Steak Skewers were particularly delicious and recommended. I also recommend following her blog at http://nomnompaleo.com.

Even though I’m no stranger to primal/paleo cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo far exceeded my ex-pectations. Michelle Tam has an easy, friendly writing style and the photos by her co-conspirator, Henry Fong, are beyond fantastic. Michelle’s prose is engaging, often hilarious, and her recipes unique and easy to follow. Leave it to these two foodaholics to tantalize us with pages and pages of beckoning recipes and outstanding photography. I anticipate their book will not sit idle on my cookbook shelf.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's quirky and fun. Full of real information without being too heady. Would be great for a beginning cook or someone with seasoned skills. She breaks it down for you and gives you real life. Photography and stories are great. I have never made a Nom Nom recipe that I didn't like... always packed with flavor. Even if you are not in need of a dairy or wheat free cook book... or have no intention to jump on the Paleo wagon this book is still a MUST have. I cannot wait to make my way through the recipes!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite cookbook. The graphics, photography, and organization make the book beautiful, entertaining, and easy to read. The authors, as on their blog, have a trustworthy yet down-to-earth writing style. Their humor keeps the tone light and healthy because - as you fellow real fooders know - preparing 21 meals a week is a lot of work!

The book begins with an introduction to paleo eating, including the author's personal story and lists for stocking your kitchen. I love that the authors included their kids in their story, along with a discussion of whether the kids eat paleo. The recipes are then broken down into nine chapters: sauces and rubs (titled "Building Blocks"), Nibbles, Salads & Soups, Eggs, Plants, Seafood, Poultry, Meat, and Treats. Treats is appropriately a very short chapter in keeping with a paleo lifestyle. The division of chapter contents is exactly how I organize my own cooking, which I find very useful. (As an aside, my favorite cookbook setup is one that has sections by season.) Paleo newbies may prefer the traditional breakfast-lunch-dinner arrangement, but I find this will be more useful over the long run. I am ready to cook my way through all of these delicious recipes, and I can't wait for Michelle Tam and Henry Fong to release their next book

The other cookbooks I currently use most are Well Fed and Well Fed 2, Against All Grain, and The Art of Simple Food.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first cookbook I have read cover to cover in one sitting. It is a quirky, funny, informative cookbook on eating Paleo. Although I don't plan on "going Paleo" any time soon, I am totally making my own mayo and kick ass bone broth!

[Nat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to write "judgy" in italics.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the type of person who will repeatedly buy fresh produce and protein in a spurt of optimism, only to let them decay quietly in the fridge as my good intentions fade away. This cookbook has really helped me to get over this fatal flaw :) Every recipe I've made from Food for Humans has been a hit, which keeps me coming back to try more!

I've recently returned to the Paleo lifestyle to support my husband, who is trying to commit to it for the first time, and seeing significant improvements to his overall health and weight already. I got this cookbook because I've been following Michelle Tam's blog for a long time and successfully tried a number of her recipes and thought they were great.

The cookbook does NOT disappoint. It's not just a rehash of her blog recipes, although there are a couple of the tried and true staples, with great pictures and fun advice, as always. But man, there's just such a plethora of food genres covered in here. It really gets quite gourmet, but it's all explained clearly and concisely, so it's not intimidating for a poor cook like myself to tackle and succeed at. You get tons of creative and delicious recipes that are bursting with flavor (umami) and nutritious goodness.

I think the layout really helps too, because I can't be the only person who's ever just shut a cookbook without opening it again because there were not enough pictures to get my mouth watering and heart pumping to run to the grocery and get cracking in the kitchen. Maybe it's different for veteran cooks, but that's what I love about this cookbook. There's big, lovely pictures for each recipe, along with process photos. I've been working my way through this book consistently, and my husband is extremely happy about the support of his healthy lifestyle choice as well.

Some of my favorite recipes so far:

Apple chips (simple but amazing)
Crispy Gizzard Confit (not as intimidating as it sounds, and freaking GODLIKE. I'm craving them already)
Crab & Avocado Temaki (really solid replacement for sushi rolls)
Slow cooker chicken + gravy (my first encounter with a full raw chicken. not my last)
Grilled Lamb chops & Mint Chimichurri (Hubby wasn't too into the chimichurri but the lamb chops were great)

[blueMeridian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having an allergy to soy, to most dairy by extension, and un-pinpointed issues with wheat/gluten type grains, I find paleo a very useful trend. Nomnompaleo.com was a site I ran across a couple years ago after my diagnosis and I've been following it ever since, so I'm familiar with the look and feel of Tam's writing style, which is both casual and generally informative; the kind of writing where I enjoy reading the latest post even if the recipe doesn't appeal to me. Still, I mostly use the internet to search for recipes these days, which provides me with tens if not hundreds of variations for any search I care to run, so I'm just now getting around to the cookbook itself.

I enjoyed it reading it - cover to cover! - and it has turned out to have a number of useful recipes for me, particularly in the areas of building blocks, such as Magic Mushroom Powder and a handful of sauces, including salad dressings. It's overall a good inspiration and I'm looking forward to trying a number of the recipes inside.

(I will note that there were some very frustrating rendering issues with reading the eBook in Adobe Digital Editions via Win8 laptop, but that's on the publisher/software restrictions, not the book itself. Interacting with the electronic version was a much more pleasant experience when I moved it to a different format.)

[Am Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Easy to follow - Step by step pictures, detailed descriptions and/or explanations; makes the entire cooking process very easy.

2) Many 1-step recipes - E.g. Ghee-coated kale/mushroom chips: just put them in the oven and you're done!

3) Inspirational - I was struck by many how 'bout I do that to so-and-so food item moments while reading this.

4) Some neat and novel ideas - E.g. Dicing mushrooms releases their aroma! Who'd have thought! And zucchini noodles - really?! Have to try sometime! Many more aha and wow moments await.

5) Comics - There're manga panels inside. It made things fun.

6) Well thought through - From layout to photos to recipe descriptions... everything was great. No complaints!

As far as recipe books go, this one's definitely a keeper for me.

[Miss Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

michelle tam obviously has a lot more money than i do but the food here does look really good! I am not in a position where buying things like fresh living mussels is an option for me so i probably won't be making much of it. i did like the comics and photography though. also i tried her carrot cardamom soup recipe and it was pretty good! added rice to it because i don't actually follow a paleo diet and i like being full at the end of my meals

3 stars

[MrsJoseph *grouchy* · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://bookslifewine.com/review-nom-n...

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes! Great intro to paleo with delicious recipes & pictures to prove it! I'm vegan but my husband isn't so this book was great for both of us!

[Beate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this at breakfast, which is a good time to look at pretty food pictures. I like the wit and the pictures, and I'm not doing paleo, I just like food. My main annoyance is the number of gadgets she uses, which makes some of it hard to execute.

I'm definitely interested in some of the seasoning and recipes. I'll come back to this book because the recipes look tasty (I haven't had the opportunity to cook them yet).

[Sara (Sjthroughthelookingglass) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook provided unique flavors and new dishes to try. The format is creative and interesting if you are reading it as a book, but when cooking I find the formatting lengthy...if that makes sense.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book formatted for fun. Very visually appealing. I have tried one or two recipes from this book. They were good. Lots of Asian dishes which is great, but I need some variety.

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made one recipe out of the books that I liked, but I really can’t see myself making a lot more. They look good and the photos in the book are great. Good instructions.

[I can read · Rating 1 out of 5]

“In Cantonese – my parents’ native tongue – my mother, father, sister, and I can all be described as ‘wai sek’: we live to eat” (page 5).

Ms. Michelle Tam euphemistically translates "wai sek" to mean "live to eat", but another translation would be gluttony. The term "wai sek" perfectly describes what is wrong with the modern western diet: from the foodie who seeks out the gourmet experiences from various cultures to the junk food junkie who partakes in readily available fat-laden meals, the commonality here is the urge to eat beyond just curtailing hunger. Her approach to mitigating the excesses of her affluent lifestyle is to cut out the carbohydrates in her diet. Unlike other low carb diet books, where there is a tendency to place blame on carbohydrates for diseases of overweight and obesity, Ms. Tam does not disparage carbohydrates to any great extent. This may be due to her Chinese heritage, where plenty of carbohydrates are consumed in the form of rice.

There is a major inconsistency in the message of this cookbook. The Paleo diet philosophy promotes the consumption of “real, unprocessed foods” and the shunning of processed foods. However the recipes here include processed ingredients such as bacon, ghee, coconut aminos, coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, coconut milk, coconut flour, almond flour, maple syrup, etc. Case in point is the use of salt – Kosher salt and sea salt is used in preference to table salt, with the logic being that table salt is “highly processed”. Sorry, but, all salt is processed, and salt is just sodium chloride. There are no grounds for the condemnation of table salt.

You can label yourself as “wai sek” or a foodaholic in order to justify your own lifestyle choices, but, is it really too hard to learn not to be so “wai sek”?

[Jennifer Ochoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good beginner cookbook for those interested in the Paleo diet. It is a fun read with beautiful photography. If you expect challenging recipes or recipes that aren't already on the Nom Nom Paleo blog, you will be disappointed.

One big gripe (and a reason for 3 stars instead of 4) is that there is no calculated nutritional content. It's a terrible oversight, considering that nutritional content would take the writer very little time to calculate so that the readers do not have to. It's a complaint I have of the blog as well, but when creating a cookbook (that people will pay for), the author should have made a little more effort for the reader.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great cookbook with delicious recipes, and easy to learn but necessary advanced kitchen skills. I love the spectrum of food you get with Michelle- Thai, Korean, French, Italian. It also shows you how great cooking with fresh foods can be (even if you aren't paleo, or refuse to pay for grassfed beef, there are good healthy recipes in here!), and her introduction on kitchen and weekly planning makes it all relatively easy.

My only beef (haha) is that on the kindle there is no recipe table of contents that I can link to. I have select poultry and then scroll to the recipe. That drives me insane.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I was officially diagnosed with celiac disease, started cross-fit training, and generally had to do a lifestyle overhaul, Michelle Tam's blog and now her amazing cookbook and iPad app, have been by my side. She's my go to gal for all things Paleo. She makes cooking fun and shows that it doesn't have to be very time consuming at all. Her recipes are easy to follow, look amazing, and taste delicious. I have even surprised guests. Don't take my word for it though, check it out for yourself, you just might be amazed.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Not so much for the recipes (but these are very good as well) but the humour in which Michelle writes about the everyday hurdles we face trying to feed our family "healthy". Her accounts had me laughing out loud. So we are not the only disfunctionial family at mealtimes. I actually forgot at times that it was a recipe book I was reading.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have pre ordered this book and can't wait till December! I just got the 80 page preview and I am so excited to get started with some of the recipes. The photos are fantastic, the cartoons are fun, and the food all looks yummy enough to eat right off the page!

December needs to get here soon!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A substantial hardcover volume with heavy pages and incredibly gorgeous photographs, this cookbook makes you want to get up off the couch RIGHTNOW and make one of the enticing recipes inside. Buy this book if you love food.

[Sarah Guyette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to make every single thing in this book! I wish I weren't so lazy about cooking complicated food right now. Not everything is complicated, but some of the recipes have huge lists of ingredients. I can't wait to eat all this stuff. nom nom

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book, explaining the Paleo lifestyle and including easy recipes with all the tools you'll need for a Paleo kitchen. Although I'm not quite ready to go "full Paleo", I appreciate all the health benefits and love the delicious meals.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 4 stars because I haven't made anything from it yet. But read it from cover to cover and everything looks delish!

[Mmaster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cynic at this book. Cynic is now a verb. I'm sure the recipes are wonderful, but I am way too picky an eater for any of the suggestions to appeal to me...

[Marissa (Rae Gun Ramblings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drooling while reading through this. ANd yes I did totally read a cookbook. I love her personality and writing style. The recipes sound and look delicious.