The Defined Dish: Whole30 Endorsed, Healthy and Wholesome Weeknight Recipes

by Alex Snodgrass, Melissa Hartwig Urban (Foreword)

Healthy, easy, and delicious recipes from the Defined Dish blog--fully endorsed by Whole30

Alex Snodgrass of TheDefinedDish.com is the third author in the popular Whole30 Endorsed series. With gluten-free, dairy-free, and grain-free recipes that sound and look way too delicious to be healthy, this is a cookbook people can turn to after completing a Whole30, when they’re looking to reintroduce healthful ingredients like tortillas, yogurt, beans, and legumes. Recipes like Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa or Black Pepper Chicken are easy enough to prepare even after a busy day at work. There are no esoteric ingredients in these recipes, but instead something to suit every taste, each dish clearly marked if it is Whole30 compliant, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and more. Alex includes delicious variations, too, such as using lettuce wraps instead of taco shells, to ensure recipes can work for almost any diet. And for anyone looking to stick to their Whole30 for longer, at least sixty of the recipes are fully compliant.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Health, Food and Drink, Reference

304 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2019

Reviews

[kate. · Rating 3 out of 5]

pros:
- the photography + design of this cookbook is amazing!
- lots of recipes!
- mostly grain-free, as well as sugar-free + just overall wholesome
- sections with different cuisines

cons:
- very meat-based (which is fine, i just wish it was more plant-based :)
- i wish at least some of the recipes were a -bit- more simple

i read through this one + marked a bunch i want to try! :))

[Melissa Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not exaggerating when I say this recipe book changed my life. I was never a big cooker, mainly because I couldn’t seem to pick recipes that my wife liked. (Very demotivating). But she loves everything in this book and I’ve cooked almost half the dishes! Something about the way Alex writes her recipes makes it easier for me to cook and I feel like she’s not judging me thanks to the cute little blurbs before the recipes. Highly recommend. Shout out to my sister-in-law for introducing it to me!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I too was an Alex fan on Insta. I don't often follow recipes but this one is a great jumping off point with lots of clean, straight-forward, healthy dishes. I personally found lots of inspiration; I've been in a bit of a cooking drought lately.

And it has lots of beautiful pictures. And not a lot of that backstory that drives me bonkers about other cookbooks. ;)

[Kristin Oke · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite go-to cook books. Everything is so delicious and flavorful, and so easy to make. I was diagnosed gluten intolerant two years ago and was so sad - was so hard to find delicious recipes and I always felt like I was missing out when I took gluten full recipes and turned them GF. I love that her recipes are all GF or give instructions to make GF - but even my non GF family completely loves them! Cannot wait for her second book to arrive!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great cookbook for healthy and wholesome recipes and "Whole 30" endorsed. The only complaint I have is that it is dinner recipes. I liked her recipes so much that I wanted some breakfast, lunch and dinner!

[Dre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Alex’s blog for years and I finally got my hands on her very first cookbook. I have tried a few but I can’t wait to make my way through the rest of these recipes this year.

[Beth LeBeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have made literally so many recipes from this book and they are all delicious and don’t make me feel like shit. Want one in every color. Love this so much 10/10

[Molly Monger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this cookbook! The steak street tacos and the grain free chicken no-parm are a favorite for us! Absolutely love that there are pictures for every recipe!

[Karista Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this book for a review and I wasn't sure what to expect as I wasn't familiar with Alex Snodgrass or her blog. But I am pleasantly surprised by this book. The book is beautifully photographed and the smiling author radiates true joy for her cooking and her family's good health. The recipes are fresh and simple with some fun twists on old favorites. I tried several of the recipes and they were easy, tasty and I knew I'd absolutely make them again. This book is especially great for quick weeknight meals. I liked the book so much I bought one for my oldest daughter who is a very busy nurse.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her blog. Follow her on Instagram. I absolutely love her recipes for clean acne delicious food.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found The Defined Dish on Instagram in 2019 when I decided to do my first round of Whole 30. She popped up in my search, and I have been hooked since!

This is, by far, my favorite cook book. I have cooked more recipes out of this one than all of my others combined! I think what I love most about Alex Snodgrass's recipes is that even my picky 8 year old seems to enjoy most of what I've cooked so far. I love that everything is clean ingredients. She includes the steps to make a sauce, marinade, etc., so any meal is complete. The best part is that the steps are easy and most of the time I have what I need in my pantry. Alex even includes staple pantry items in the front of the book to set you up for success! She is also mindful of her audience. Every recipe lists whether or not it is gluten free/dairy free/whole 30 compliant/ grain free. She will also add ways to make it so for any reader that needs the modification.

I can't recommend this book enough. It almost always gets passed around when I have a small gathering because I want people to enjoy her food as much as I do!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Alex on Instagram after a bunch of other cooking account tagged her in stories. I made one of her dairy free dishes from her blog for me and my boyfriend. I’m not 100% lactose intolerant but heavy amounts does irritate my body. The recipe was a hit!! Even my boyfriend loved it which says a lot since he hates nut substitutes for anything. Since then we’ve been making Alex’s dishes. I was super excited when I heard she was coming out with a book. Last week target and amazon had a buy 2 get 1 free book sale so I knew I had to buy this book. I’ve already made two of the recipes and they were delicious! My boyfriend is very excited for the taco section and he usually has a lack of enthusiasm towards this sort of thing. I love that each recipe says if it’s dairy free, gluten free ect. Also it seems like EVERY recipe has a picture, something I’m always very fond of. I can’t wait to make more of the dishes!!

[Emily Blasik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Defined Dish is my kind of cookbook. It's super straightforward (with juuust the right amount of backstory/narrative)—and more importantly, the meals are delicious, Paleo-friendly, and come together in half an hour at most. (Unless it's crockpot, which, how much easier can you get!)

I followed Alex's blog and Instagram before I was gifted the book, so I was familiar with her recipes but hadn't cooked many until now. (Why I didn't start sooner, I'll never know.) My husband and I are amazed by how tasty her dishes are when they take such little effort. So far, we've loved her Chicken Tikka Masala, Curried Pot Roast, Sheet Pan Sausage with Squash and Roasted Grapes, Street Steak Tacos, and Blackened Tuna Bowls—and we can't wait to try more! I have a feeling this cookbook will be used on repeat in our house.

On the menu for tonight's dinner: Cajun Crab Cakes with Remoulade!

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought wholesome would mean more plant-forward, but it was very meat focused. Lots of lamb, lots of meatballs, brisket, carnitas, sausage, chicken, ground turkey, filet mignon.

Someone recommended this in a thread that was just about cookbooks, like “this is the one I pull off the shelf the most.” But *Whole30 endorsed* means I often came across the phrase (replace white rice with cauliflower rice, for example) “… to be Whole30 compliant.” So, I ended up feeling like I was not the target audience in a couple senses.

However, we’re pescatarian and I think fish & seafood is a place the book shines. And there are flavors from around the world, I’d like to come away with some sauce recipes to keep in my back pocket.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features lots of everyday recipes that have been cleaned up. Almost all of them are under an hour to prepare, and many are half that. There is a photo for each recipe, and your family would not be aware that they are 'eating clean' if you serve these. There were a few too many random photos of the author, and I wish they had included nutritional information with the recipes, so we would know the calories, sodium etc. This is worth checking out if you're looking for some quick, healthier everyday recipes. The strongest chapter (for me) was the salads - lots of different ideas, and with the summer coming up, the 'no cook' concept is front of mind.

[Ladonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a gift from a friend who received two last Christmas. I’ve cooked every recipe in it with the exception of one. The only way that these are good weeknight recipes is if you do not work outside the home. There is only a handful of the recipes that can be prepared during the week. Most of them would need to be prepared on the weekends. 80% of the recipes in this book are good and husband tested and approved. It’s heavy on ethnic food so if you’re someone with strong dietary restrictions that’s been having trouble finding ethnic foods, like Asian and Indian, this is a good recipe book for those kinds of recipes. Overall it was a good cookbook, but not my favorite one.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook has become a staple in our home this year! I’ve followed Alex for a few years and have found her recipes to be a great go-to for weekday meals. Her recipes are simple, eclectic, healthy, and easy to modify.

We’ve loved so many of the meals from this cookbook. The Cajun jambalaya is fantastic (we use rice instead of cauliflower rice), black pepper chicken, chipotle chicken tostadas... everything we’ve made has been a hit! We had the lemony Greek potato soup tonight and it was wonderful!

Thanks Alex for an amazing book and meal inspiration!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I added several recipes from this book into my regular rotation after checking this out from the library, which I didn't expect.

She lists if a recipe is dairy-free, paleo-friendly, or whole30, which could be very helpful depending on your diet.

Some of her regular ingredients I don't normally use but I just swapped them in for mine and it's usually okay (arrrowroot starch versus corn starch, coconut aminos versus soy sauce, etc.)

Overall, it was surprisingly a hit for me and had a decent amount of weeknight-friendly meals!

[Meg Pilcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite weeknight meal cookbook and my go-to gift to anyone who is just learning how to cook. She includes a nice array of cuisines with very doable 30-40 min time limits. I was delighted to find that the Whole 30 aspect of each recipe is easy to substitute out (arrowroot for flour, coconut aminos for soy sauce) but also helped guide my grocery shopping and other cooking to be healthier and more whole food driven. Only downside is the author has a bit of a selfie streak and there are as many photos of her as there are of the food.

[Chantalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best cookbook I’ve ever owned. Alex Snodgrass makes it easy to tackle every dish with simple & delicious combinations of ingredients, clear & detailed instruction, & beautiful images of every recipe. When you get your copy, try the following recipes: walnut crusted scallops with butternut squash, crispy slow cooker carnitas, Greek lemon and oregano soup, Mongolian beef stir-fry, & brussels sprout salad with honey-mustard vinaigrette!

[Ashley (findabooknook) B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a chef but I do follow directions well. This cookbook has been an absolute home run. I don’t have a lot of time to cook and when I do, I want most of my family to enjoy the effort. EVERYTHING I have made from this has been a hit with my family. Some of our favorites include: Turkey Skillet Bake, Hamburger Meatballs, Whole 30 Pot Roast, Chipotle Chicken with Pineapple Tostada, and the Mexican Cabbage Soup when we have eaten out too much and need to detox!

[JL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite cookbook to date. So many simple recipes with ways to eat healthier. i highly suggest you read the first section to purchase some pantry items before you dive it. There were some items on there I had never heard of and it was easier to prepare meals already having some of the more commonly used staples. We have successfully cooked almost a dozen of the recipes and they were all winners!!

[Ramona Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. I made the grain free chicken Parmesan and it didn’t disappoint. The photos are gorgeous and the good so approachable - especially for a book endorsed by the Whole30 program. Instead of feeling like I’m missing something by going grain or dairy free, Alex makes me excited to try her dishes.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Approachable. Not preachy. Doable. And utterly delicious.
Includes Southern favorites and we never felt we were on a "diet".
We've solidly resisted going down the Whole30 path until I found this cookbook. It changed everything so more than a 30 day program, we have been eating from this and "No Crumbs Left" well past the 30. If I were Oprah, I'd be giving this to everyone.

[Michelle Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every recipe is fantastic. I made meatloaf meatballs last night and they are perfect. Her paleo Reuben is on constant repeat. The Korean beef recipe is really my fav. I think I’ve made it 6 times since I got her book in the spring. Her photos are lovely and the recipes are clearly well tested. I follow Alex on Instagram and I love her. She’s sweet, funny, real, and inspirational.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not enough stars to rate this cookbook! I have made over half of the recipes and every one is incredible and a new favorite. I bought 10 copies at the Holidays and gave them all to family and friends. This is the only cookbook I have ever had that I do not make changes to the recipes. Great adaptations for different dietary needs. LOVE!

[Maca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My FAVORITE

This is my absolute favorite cookbook that I’ve spent the last several years using again and again. If I’m in a cooking slump, this is the cookbook I reach for to re-inspire me. It’s the one cookbook where I know I’m going to have the ingredients for meals on hand and every single recipe is delicious! Love Alex & love everything she creates!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely photos, which is a must for me when it comes to cookbooks. I wasn't familiar with Alex Snodgrass, her blog or Whole 30...just looking at the new cookbook selection at my library. I did find several recipies that I'm eager to try.

[✨ Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a vegetarian, there are only a handful of recipes from this book that I can easy. But those that I can are great. I first made the spaghetti squash pad thai 2 weeks ago after checking this book out from the library. I've since made it 3 times. Absolutely delicious.

[Patricia Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

like this cookbook. easy to make recipes with simple ingredients. good format and photography. wish all the recipes started on the right side of the book. not a fan of the back and forth recipes on both left and right.