The PDQ (Pretty Darn Quick) Vegetarian Cookbook: More Than 240 Healthy and Easy No-Prep Recipes for Busy Cooks

by Donna Klein

More than 240 healthy and easy no-prep recipes for creating delicious meals-in 30 minutes or less.

No chopping, peeling, slicing, coring, seeding, whipping, or blending required!

From appetizing hors d'oeuvres to impressive desserts, from casual weeknight suppers or elegant dinner parties, The PDQ Vegetarian Cookbook is bursting with great-tasting recipes that eliminate the prep work by taking clever advantage of the best new convenience foods and innovative time-saving techniques.

The PDQ

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Nonfiction, Cooking

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2004

Reviews

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful, quick easy recipes. Worth checking out for busy vegetarians.

[Becky Koski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a ton of great ideas for quick, easy meals that are relatively healthy. For those that are new to eating vegetarian, it can be a great help. A lot of the recipes can be modified to be vegan or gluten free if need be. The thing I use this book for the most - ideas when I don't have much time to cook dinner, and for quick appetizers when going to a party. Also, the "Enlightened mac'n'cheese" with nutmeg, cayenne and tomatoes has become a staple in my house - we modified the spices (we add more) and sometimes change up the veggies just for fun, but we make this recipe probably once a week. Everything I've made from this book has turned out DELICIOUS, and is super easy to make - I highly recommend it.

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

The format is very unappealing, if efficient. No photos to make dishes look appealing. Many of the recipes are obvious, even overly simplistic, if you have any experience cooking. For example, cheese quesadillas and refried bean tostadas are in the book. If you've ever been to a Mexican food restaurant in the US, you've encountered these dishes. And while recipes might be helpful when you're shopping, if you've ever eaten the dish you already know the ingredients.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like pictures in my cookbooks... but I found a couple recipes to try.

[Kecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This cookbook suffers from a lack of photographs and a lack of good recipes. I would have liked fewer recipes and more photos. I tried 2 recipes and I'll admit that they were both QUICK and the were both EASY. The problem was that they were not all that great.

First I tried the white bean with blue cheese salad. I threw this together in less than 5 minutes for lunch. It was just OK. I ate it but I won't be making this again.

Then I tried the linguine with feta and mint. Luckily I had some really good black pepper linguine from my local farmer's market otherwise this would have been a flavorless dud. I have a forest of mint in my yard so I added extra mint but it did not help. The leftover the next day was much better, but I don't cook for leftovers.

The recipes are quick and they are easy...but that's the best I can say about them.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great vegetarian and vegan recipes. I really like this cookbook because it doesn't use "weird" ingredients, don't get this book for "frou-frou" fancy dishes. Busy cooks will like this book to because you don't have to chop, peel, slice, core, or seed any vegetables. Nutritional analysis is also included. The only thing I don't care for is that there are no photos, but that isn't a big deal.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally bought a copy of this book, as I had borrowed it from the library so many times. I appreciate the "quick" aspect and many of the recipes appeal to me. Everything I have tried so far is good (really recommend the Black Bean Tacos). And I am successfully getting my blood pressure under control, so mission accomplished!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the quick recipes in this book and the ones we've tried, they're delicious! Josh especially liked the Taco Casserole.

[Tamara Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that it divided recipes by vegetarian, lacto-ovo and vegan. I also found it helpful that it provided way to substitute items if you were vegan.

[Julie Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide variety of vegetarian recipes. Just wish there were some pictures..... I love photos of the dish!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I have been looking for! No-frills, no-meat, straightforward pantry cooking.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise and some wonderful ideas to get a delicious meal on the table quick. I do wish there were more breakfast ideas.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quick (hence the title) and inspired, I foresee making many of the recipes in this one.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found a few recipes I'll try out.