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The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook: 175 Healthy, Easy, and Delicious Recipes Made Just for You
175 single-serving Mediterranean Diet recipes for every home cook who just wants a satisfying and delicious meal for themselves.
Although the Mediterranean Diet has a host of health benefits, making the switch can feel daunting…especially if you only need to make one serving per meal. The good news is that it’s possible to prepare single-serving recipes that are full of flavor, easy to make, and economical—and The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook is here to help.
This book allows you to make delicious, diet-friendly recipes for every meal from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Each of the 175 single serving recipes is quick and simple to make to save you both time and money. And while the ingredients are common, the results are anything but. From single-serving, veggie-packed breakfast sandwiches to salmon with spinach and chickpeas, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious versions of all your favorite dishes, no matter what the occasion.
Whether you live alone or are just searching for the perfect meal for yourself, cooking solo never needs to be boring (or overwhelming) again!
Although the Mediterranean Diet has a host of health benefits, making the switch can feel daunting…especially if you only need to make one serving per meal. The good news is that it’s possible to prepare single-serving recipes that are full of flavor, easy to make, and economical—and The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook is here to help.
This book allows you to make delicious, diet-friendly recipes for every meal from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Each of the 175 single serving recipes is quick and simple to make to save you both time and money. And while the ingredients are common, the results are anything but. From single-serving, veggie-packed breakfast sandwiches to salmon with spinach and chickpeas, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious versions of all your favorite dishes, no matter what the occasion.
Whether you live alone or are just searching for the perfect meal for yourself, cooking solo never needs to be boring (or overwhelming) again!
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 9, 2023
The Mediterranean lifestyle and diet is all the craze at the moment, and for good reason! Whenever I see a cookbook based on that diet on NetGalley, I usually request it. I'm really pleased with The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook by Kelly Jaggers because it is perfect for us singletons and empty-nesters.
There are tons of options and hints on how to deal with fresh herbs, for example (chop them finely, pop them into an ice cube tray and cover with a tad of water. Defrost the cube or toss it in whole for your next savoury recipe!)
Zucchini and sweet potato chips are a snap with her basic recipe and instructions.
The wild rice and mushroom soup will only take you 10 minutes if you've stocked your pantry the way she outlines in the first chapter. (And who knew that wild rice is actually the seed of a variety of grass that grows near lakes and streams, and is rich in protein, fiber, and lysine. Bonus!)
Side dishes abound: Lemon Garlic Rice Pilaf, Basil Pesto Rice with Olives and Goat cheese, Green Beans with Potatoes and Tomatoes, Herbed Orzo, Cilantro Lime Rice and Citrus Mashed Sweet potatoes: I plan to try them all at some point! Note: the author uses brown rice, but you can adapt the recipes by using plain white rice if, like me, you have a sensitivity to brown rice and grains.
Main dishes included pasta (Fettuccine with Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce - takes only 10 minutes! Olive Oil Pasta with Marinated Artichokes and Spinach, Orzo and Mozzarella-Stuffed Tomatoes, Fettuccine with Crab and Lemon, Lasagna Rolls - saves having tons of leftovers by using one noodle and layering it and rolling it in on itself! Smart!)
For seafood lovers, Linguine with Clams is a simple enough recipe without a ton of ingredients to deal with, as is her Mediterranean Seafood Chowder recipe. Most of her soup and salad recipes take 5 or 10 minutes to assemble and less than an hour to cook, which is a bonus. Baked Crab Cakes are always a welcome treat, and her recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare and 27 minutes to bake. Steamed, poached and baked whitefish, halibut, cod and salmon are also on offer. I have been using foil to make fish packets and find that my fish always comes out tender and tasty. The lemon herb recipe in this book uses fresh rainbow trout, rosemary thyme and oregano to bring a variation to my usual fare, which pleased me very much!
Poultry lovers (myself included) will enjoy the Chicken and Mushroom Marsala - 10 minutes to prepare and 16 minutes to cook! Mini Turkey Meatloaf or Turkey Meatballs sound interesting, Her Fig-Glazed Chicken Breast sounded downright decadent. (Use fig preserves/jam or even orange marmalade as an option)
Beef, Lamb and pork recipes are also covered. The Beef Stroganoff and Phyllo-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin recipes looked mouth-wateringly good, as did the homemade Salisbury Steak.
Desserts: Lemon or Banana Loaf Cake. Chocolate or Applesauce Mug Cake, Blueberry Crumble, Frozen Fruity Yogurt Bark, Grilled Peaches with Yogurt and Honey...!
You can see why I am giving this one 5 full stars. The recipes are all easy, don't have a zillion ingredients, and don't take all day to prepare and cook. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this excellent cookbook in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended!
(Note: images are from the internet since copyright restrictions do not permit me to reproduce the lovely pictures included in this recipe book.)
I
There are tons of options and hints on how to deal with fresh herbs, for example (chop them finely, pop them into an ice cube tray and cover with a tad of water. Defrost the cube or toss it in whole for your next savoury recipe!)
Zucchini and sweet potato chips are a snap with her basic recipe and instructions.
The wild rice and mushroom soup will only take you 10 minutes if you've stocked your pantry the way she outlines in the first chapter. (And who knew that wild rice is actually the seed of a variety of grass that grows near lakes and streams, and is rich in protein, fiber, and lysine. Bonus!)
Side dishes abound: Lemon Garlic Rice Pilaf, Basil Pesto Rice with Olives and Goat cheese, Green Beans with Potatoes and Tomatoes, Herbed Orzo, Cilantro Lime Rice and Citrus Mashed Sweet potatoes: I plan to try them all at some point! Note: the author uses brown rice, but you can adapt the recipes by using plain white rice if, like me, you have a sensitivity to brown rice and grains.
Main dishes included pasta (Fettuccine with Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce - takes only 10 minutes! Olive Oil Pasta with Marinated Artichokes and Spinach, Orzo and Mozzarella-Stuffed Tomatoes, Fettuccine with Crab and Lemon, Lasagna Rolls - saves having tons of leftovers by using one noodle and layering it and rolling it in on itself! Smart!)
For seafood lovers, Linguine with Clams is a simple enough recipe without a ton of ingredients to deal with, as is her Mediterranean Seafood Chowder recipe. Most of her soup and salad recipes take 5 or 10 minutes to assemble and less than an hour to cook, which is a bonus. Baked Crab Cakes are always a welcome treat, and her recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare and 27 minutes to bake. Steamed, poached and baked whitefish, halibut, cod and salmon are also on offer. I have been using foil to make fish packets and find that my fish always comes out tender and tasty. The lemon herb recipe in this book uses fresh rainbow trout, rosemary thyme and oregano to bring a variation to my usual fare, which pleased me very much!
Poultry lovers (myself included) will enjoy the Chicken and Mushroom Marsala - 10 minutes to prepare and 16 minutes to cook! Mini Turkey Meatloaf or Turkey Meatballs sound interesting, Her Fig-Glazed Chicken Breast sounded downright decadent. (Use fig preserves/jam or even orange marmalade as an option)
Beef, Lamb and pork recipes are also covered. The Beef Stroganoff and Phyllo-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin recipes looked mouth-wateringly good, as did the homemade Salisbury Steak.
Desserts: Lemon or Banana Loaf Cake. Chocolate or Applesauce Mug Cake, Blueberry Crumble, Frozen Fruity Yogurt Bark, Grilled Peaches with Yogurt and Honey...!
You can see why I am giving this one 5 full stars. The recipes are all easy, don't have a zillion ingredients, and don't take all day to prepare and cook. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this excellent cookbook in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended!
(Note: images are from the internet since copyright restrictions do not permit me to reproduce the lovely pictures included in this recipe book.)
I
May 22, 2023
Healthy ingredients. Tasty recipes. No leftovers.
Cooking for one often involves making a dish that feeds four (or more), calling it “meal prep” and then feeling obligated to eat the remaining three (or more!) portions in the next four days. Sometimes that works, but sometimes….well, it doesn’t. I’m sure that I am not alone in having guiltily dumped some uneaten leftovers into the trash or down the disposal. But cutting recipes down to a single portion doesn’t always work well, either. This cookbook offers a different option….recipes that are specifically designed for a single portion. Even desserts! The ingredients are healthy, lots of fresh veggies and fruits, lean meats, healthy fats, etc., all of the elements of a healthy Mediterranean diet. The book is organized by basic meal type (breakfast, snacks, salads and soups, poultry, and so on), so the reader can easily focus in on what they want to prepare. As i flipped through the 175 recipes, I jotted down several for which I knew i had all of the ingredients already on hand, and got to work testing them out. I made Shakshuka (Egg Cooked in Tomato Sauce), a spin on a dish from Northern Africa, one morning; an Italian Mixed Green Salad one night to go with some pasta; and a Beef and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole on another night. I have a Chicken and Noodles Casserole (yes, a casserole for one!) on tap for tonight, possibly with an Applesauce Mug Cake for dessert, and have a Three Bean Salad and Chicken with Lemon Asparagus planned for the week ahead.
To make the actual making of each recipe go quickly, preplanning is helpful. Choosing recipes that will use common ingredients can both prevent waste (asparagus is generally sold as a pound, but a single serving is certainly less than that, for example, so either buy less if you can or find a few recipes that will use it up) and to make life easy. Since a single portion recipe will often call for small amounts of things like onions and celery, but many recipes will use those ingredients, chopping a whole onion and a few stalks of celery at one time, and storing the excess in the fridge to grab in the coming days, saves both time and minimizes how many times you need to take out the knife and cutting board, and then wash them. I found the portion sizes appropriate, and found the prep time to be reasonable. I was glad to see that the majority of the recipes used primarily pantry and grocery staples that will be found in most cook’s kitchens and/or on their weekly lists. Hints are also given on substitutions, and ways to minimize waste. All in all, I found that this cookbook lived up to its billing. If you find yourself, whether always of just sometimes, cooking for just one, and you aren’t a huge fan of leftovers, you will want to pick up a copy. Thanks to NetGalley and Adam’s Media for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of this title.
Cooking for one often involves making a dish that feeds four (or more), calling it “meal prep” and then feeling obligated to eat the remaining three (or more!) portions in the next four days. Sometimes that works, but sometimes….well, it doesn’t. I’m sure that I am not alone in having guiltily dumped some uneaten leftovers into the trash or down the disposal. But cutting recipes down to a single portion doesn’t always work well, either. This cookbook offers a different option….recipes that are specifically designed for a single portion. Even desserts! The ingredients are healthy, lots of fresh veggies and fruits, lean meats, healthy fats, etc., all of the elements of a healthy Mediterranean diet. The book is organized by basic meal type (breakfast, snacks, salads and soups, poultry, and so on), so the reader can easily focus in on what they want to prepare. As i flipped through the 175 recipes, I jotted down several for which I knew i had all of the ingredients already on hand, and got to work testing them out. I made Shakshuka (Egg Cooked in Tomato Sauce), a spin on a dish from Northern Africa, one morning; an Italian Mixed Green Salad one night to go with some pasta; and a Beef and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole on another night. I have a Chicken and Noodles Casserole (yes, a casserole for one!) on tap for tonight, possibly with an Applesauce Mug Cake for dessert, and have a Three Bean Salad and Chicken with Lemon Asparagus planned for the week ahead.
To make the actual making of each recipe go quickly, preplanning is helpful. Choosing recipes that will use common ingredients can both prevent waste (asparagus is generally sold as a pound, but a single serving is certainly less than that, for example, so either buy less if you can or find a few recipes that will use it up) and to make life easy. Since a single portion recipe will often call for small amounts of things like onions and celery, but many recipes will use those ingredients, chopping a whole onion and a few stalks of celery at one time, and storing the excess in the fridge to grab in the coming days, saves both time and minimizes how many times you need to take out the knife and cutting board, and then wash them. I found the portion sizes appropriate, and found the prep time to be reasonable. I was glad to see that the majority of the recipes used primarily pantry and grocery staples that will be found in most cook’s kitchens and/or on their weekly lists. Hints are also given on substitutions, and ways to minimize waste. All in all, I found that this cookbook lived up to its billing. If you find yourself, whether always of just sometimes, cooking for just one, and you aren’t a huge fan of leftovers, you will want to pick up a copy. Thanks to NetGalley and Adam’s Media for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of this title.
June 13, 2023
Beginner's cookbook for the recipes are very easy and very doable to make. I appreciate the explanation at the beginning of what a Mediterranean diet should look like, it is very hard to find a good synopsis as what it is expected from the Mediterranean diet.
I love the nutritional facts are included in the each recipe. Also that each recipe has a great portion size for just one sitting versus other books where they make 2 to 3 servings where then there is leftovers.
Although there many reoccurring ingredients, I'd love to see suggestions on recipes that only use half of a can ingredient to suggest another recipe from the book that would up the other half of the item, so I don't have to go searching the book myself to find another recipe to use up the other half. I would also appreciate more pictures be included because pictures books, I mean pictures of food are fun!
Overall, I fix meals for some very picky family members so I really liked the concept of fixing just myslef a pasta sauce, dip or side dish to add to with my family's meals.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Adams Media for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book.
I love the nutritional facts are included in the each recipe. Also that each recipe has a great portion size for just one sitting versus other books where they make 2 to 3 servings where then there is leftovers.
Although there many reoccurring ingredients, I'd love to see suggestions on recipes that only use half of a can ingredient to suggest another recipe from the book that would up the other half of the item, so I don't have to go searching the book myself to find another recipe to use up the other half. I would also appreciate more pictures be included because pictures books, I mean pictures of food are fun!
Overall, I fix meals for some very picky family members so I really liked the concept of fixing just myslef a pasta sauce, dip or side dish to add to with my family's meals.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Adams Media for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book.
May 14, 2023
This was a pretty good cookbook with a lot of recipes that are easy to make and very doable for amateur cooks. I think it's a great beginner cookbook, but I felt like some of the recipes were a bit more Americanized vs Mediterranean. However, if you are starting to eat healthy and need a place to start without being overwhelmed, then I think this is the perfect book for you. Overall, I would recommend this book.
May 23, 2023
I was able to look at an ARC through netgalley. I want to buy this book. The recipes are easy and look delicious. They are also realistic about ingredients you can find at your average grocery store. I am giving it 4 stars because I am always a stickler to having more pictures in cookbooks.
September 10, 2023
The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook: 175 Healthy, Easy, and Delicious Recipes Made Just for You does a good job of introducing the Mediterranean diet, with a good roadmap to the lifestyle change, staple ingredients to have on hand, tools, shopping tips, and meal prep information. There are good tips scattered throughout, helpful hints to making the diet work for each individual. Another plus is that the recipes are mainly easy to execute, good for those needing quick dishes on a work night. Where the cookbook falls short is in the lack of photographs and its repetitiveness. Some dishes are really similar to others, with few ingredients swapped out to make them different. A good cookbook is a jumping off point to creativity in the kitchen, but I really do not get this feeling from The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook.
The recipes are separated into sections, some of which I have listed below with some example dishes.
Breakfast: Shashuka; Berry and Yogurt Smoothie; Red Pepper and Feta Omelet
Dips and Snacks: Zucchini and Sweet Potato Chips; Spicy Roast Chickpeas
Soups and Salads: Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup; Italian Mixed Green Salad
Side Dishes: Cilantro Lime Rice; Citrus Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Main Dishes: Fettuccine with Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce; Lasagna Rolls
Seafood Dishes: Linguine and Clams; Mediterranean Seafood Chowder
Poultry Dishes: Easy Pesto Chicken; Chicken with Lemon Asparagus; Turkey Meatballs
Pork, Lamb, and Beef Dishes: Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff; Phyllo-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin
Desserts: Dark Chocolate Mousse
Overall, The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook just does not stand out from the many other cookbooks on the subject. The lack of photographs is a major detraction, especially as inspiration in cooking often comes from the visual medium. For this reason, I would be hesitant to recommend it to other readers.
Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this cookbook was entirely my own.
The recipes are separated into sections, some of which I have listed below with some example dishes.
Breakfast: Shashuka; Berry and Yogurt Smoothie; Red Pepper and Feta Omelet
Dips and Snacks: Zucchini and Sweet Potato Chips; Spicy Roast Chickpeas
Soups and Salads: Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup; Italian Mixed Green Salad
Side Dishes: Cilantro Lime Rice; Citrus Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Main Dishes: Fettuccine with Greek Yogurt Alfredo Sauce; Lasagna Rolls
Seafood Dishes: Linguine and Clams; Mediterranean Seafood Chowder
Poultry Dishes: Easy Pesto Chicken; Chicken with Lemon Asparagus; Turkey Meatballs
Pork, Lamb, and Beef Dishes: Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff; Phyllo-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin
Desserts: Dark Chocolate Mousse
Overall, The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook just does not stand out from the many other cookbooks on the subject. The lack of photographs is a major detraction, especially as inspiration in cooking often comes from the visual medium. For this reason, I would be hesitant to recommend it to other readers.
Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this cookbook was entirely my own.
June 14, 2023
Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook, has 175 recipes, so it really means it when it claim's it is an ultimate cookbook. The introduction is good, it has a lot information regarding eating healthy Overall the book has a good layout for a cookbook, mostly one page recipes with clear instructions and ingredients. There definitely not enough pictures of the recipes, and the few there are don't really seam that appetizing. I know Mediterranean foods do look and taste really good so this is a little bit of a disappointment. I do like the little notes at the top of recipes giving tips, tricks, and substitutes for preparation. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2023
Well, this was a bit of a surprise, in that I thought the concept around it all would lead to more context around it all. Here is a book definitively trying to offer the whole Mediterranean diet, in dishes for one person, as well as feed in bits and bobs about meal prep, kitchen planning, and so on. But we have very little preamble before we're in to the recipes, and I might not be alone in thinking we ought to have more – what can and cannot be frozen, how storage should be optimised, and so on. Sure, we get some of the 'can's but not the 'cannot's.
Perhaps that is a leftover from me thinking cooking for one is more of a beginner's thing, which it clearly isn't, the number of single-occupancy households in the western world today. The real novice could easily be drawn to this, however, for the simple fact it has a lot more recipes than many cookbooks, cuts out the flab and photos, and just gets on with letting us get on with the cooking.
And what we're cooking first is of course breakfast, the most important meal of the day until the other two. Pancakes and a berry compote don't seem the most Mediterranean to me, but they're here to show variety, as is yes, the legally-obliged shakshuka – those things are everywhere, and if I see the ISS menu choices and they're not mentioned, I'd be shocked. Prime for me to try – the spanakopita-influenced frittata. After those it's snacking, hence all the dips and condiments like spicy roast chickpeas, then soups and salads (if roasted carrot tahini bisque for one does not appeal, there's a vegan avgolemono), and sides and accompaniments, such as blinged-up asparagus. With multiple options available to us we're only now hitting the main courses, with pasta, from lasagne rolls (to stop us needing a humongous baking dish) to fettuccine with crab and lemon. Veggie mains are next – the tostadas not alone on these pages to look and sound more Mexican, but we're all friends by now. We don't leave the fish behind, with linguine alle vongole right there at the start. Then it's poultry, and the fact the introduction says we have this scarcely, and red meat even more rarely, is proven by the fact it comes dumped towards the end. The desserts never really convinced they were Mediterranean – where's the limoncello sorbet, for one?
Overall, several impressions – this covers the whole Med, never really telling us where a dish comes from unless necessary, which is possibly more honest than other books claiming to know the derivation. You're also, rightly or wrongly, expected to learn on the hoof – to notice the avocado or the chickpea the first time it turns up (breakfast time, in both cases) and take on board then the best storage tips. There might have been a supplement or index for all this info.
And as far as economising goes, it could go further with preservation. Just a symbol on the page each time would tell us if dishes when cooked were freezable for our budget's sake. Many dishes cooked, surely, will last longer than all their constituents alone. If you do have a freezer to fill there is nothing here about sizing up for future servings, meaning we cook this, that and the other one by one – and I know it wasn't the idea to bulk-produce, but this might have helped – certainly more than the 'how to reduce a recipe table'. Also, it seems to be an American book – I don't think I've clapped eyes on 'Montreal steak seasoning'.
All told, this was a sterling success – the photo editor didn't always pick what I thought the best choice, but we have no flannel, and a lot more decisions to make after scanning this. There is a lot here you would wish to try – and then, of course, hope to double-up and try on someone else. It didn't take a silly amount of ingredients or equipment, and it certainly seemed Mediterranean enough to fit the remit. I'd easily see this being returned to on a regular basis. Four and a half stars.
Perhaps that is a leftover from me thinking cooking for one is more of a beginner's thing, which it clearly isn't, the number of single-occupancy households in the western world today. The real novice could easily be drawn to this, however, for the simple fact it has a lot more recipes than many cookbooks, cuts out the flab and photos, and just gets on with letting us get on with the cooking.
And what we're cooking first is of course breakfast, the most important meal of the day until the other two. Pancakes and a berry compote don't seem the most Mediterranean to me, but they're here to show variety, as is yes, the legally-obliged shakshuka – those things are everywhere, and if I see the ISS menu choices and they're not mentioned, I'd be shocked. Prime for me to try – the spanakopita-influenced frittata. After those it's snacking, hence all the dips and condiments like spicy roast chickpeas, then soups and salads (if roasted carrot tahini bisque for one does not appeal, there's a vegan avgolemono), and sides and accompaniments, such as blinged-up asparagus. With multiple options available to us we're only now hitting the main courses, with pasta, from lasagne rolls (to stop us needing a humongous baking dish) to fettuccine with crab and lemon. Veggie mains are next – the tostadas not alone on these pages to look and sound more Mexican, but we're all friends by now. We don't leave the fish behind, with linguine alle vongole right there at the start. Then it's poultry, and the fact the introduction says we have this scarcely, and red meat even more rarely, is proven by the fact it comes dumped towards the end. The desserts never really convinced they were Mediterranean – where's the limoncello sorbet, for one?
Overall, several impressions – this covers the whole Med, never really telling us where a dish comes from unless necessary, which is possibly more honest than other books claiming to know the derivation. You're also, rightly or wrongly, expected to learn on the hoof – to notice the avocado or the chickpea the first time it turns up (breakfast time, in both cases) and take on board then the best storage tips. There might have been a supplement or index for all this info.
And as far as economising goes, it could go further with preservation. Just a symbol on the page each time would tell us if dishes when cooked were freezable for our budget's sake. Many dishes cooked, surely, will last longer than all their constituents alone. If you do have a freezer to fill there is nothing here about sizing up for future servings, meaning we cook this, that and the other one by one – and I know it wasn't the idea to bulk-produce, but this might have helped – certainly more than the 'how to reduce a recipe table'. Also, it seems to be an American book – I don't think I've clapped eyes on 'Montreal steak seasoning'.
All told, this was a sterling success – the photo editor didn't always pick what I thought the best choice, but we have no flannel, and a lot more decisions to make after scanning this. There is a lot here you would wish to try – and then, of course, hope to double-up and try on someone else. It didn't take a silly amount of ingredients or equipment, and it certainly seemed Mediterranean enough to fit the remit. I'd easily see this being returned to on a regular basis. Four and a half stars.
June 8, 2023
A nice addition to anyones cookbook library and one that will actually get used often. So many cookbooks and recipes are for a minimum of 4 to people so this being for 1 or 2 is a nice change. We aren’t always having a dinner party and that many over for every single meal. The recipes are clear, concise and uncomplicated while being delicious, easy to follow and prepare and healthy. Part of the reason I enjoy cookbooks beside the obvious and have a library of varied cuisines is for the imagery. This is the only part of this book that in my opinion was lacking. I made multiple recipes and all were delightful.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 14, 2023
Whether you live alone, or you just want to cook for yourself while your partner is away, this book has all the information, and recipes that you need! Kelly Jaggers tells you why the Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on plant-based foods and seafood, is so healthy, and lists all the ingredients you need to start cooking. She even lists the equipment.
Most of the recipes seem easy, and delicious, although some would be too spicy for me. The recipes include Eggs Florentine, Balsamic-Glazed Pork, and Beef Stew with Red Wine. They all have simple instructions, and mouth-watering pictures.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Most of the recipes seem easy, and delicious, although some would be too spicy for me. The recipes include Eggs Florentine, Balsamic-Glazed Pork, and Beef Stew with Red Wine. They all have simple instructions, and mouth-watering pictures.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 4, 2023
At last, a recipe book full of food I want to make ! I made the Chicken and Mushroom Marsala for my tea and it was delicious. Full of recipes using the sort of ingredients you can find in all the supermarkets, no more searching on the internet for ingredients you have never heard of and will only use one and then forget. The husband was going out to dinner but I let him taste mine (cruel I know) and he decided that it was probably much better than he was likely to get served. Doubling up tomorrow. Love this book.
July 20, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the recipes that I tried and the author gave some great tips and tricks to store excess ingredients to make them last longer. I went through the book and chose 7 recipes that appealed to me, made a shopping list and got all the ingredients for the following week. There were a couple that will definitely be on my weekly list and some that although looked good were not my favourite. Well worth purchasing this if you are cooking for one.
I really enjoyed the recipes that I tried and the author gave some great tips and tricks to store excess ingredients to make them last longer. I went through the book and chose 7 recipes that appealed to me, made a shopping list and got all the ingredients for the following week. There were a couple that will definitely be on my weekly list and some that although looked good were not my favourite. Well worth purchasing this if you are cooking for one.
May 24, 2023
Really great cookbook!
The recipes are simple, easy to follow and delicious. I really like the layout of how they are divided into categories. It's hard to find cookbooks for one - and to have heathy meals. This one is a winner!
Some of my favorites were the soups, salads, and snack recipes. And, the ingredients are all easy to find.
Even if you have a family but you are looking for lunch recipes, this is a great cookbook to grab!
The recipes are simple, easy to follow and delicious. I really like the layout of how they are divided into categories. It's hard to find cookbooks for one - and to have heathy meals. This one is a winner!
Some of my favorites were the soups, salads, and snack recipes. And, the ingredients are all easy to find.
Even if you have a family but you are looking for lunch recipes, this is a great cookbook to grab!
June 14, 2023
Healthy cooking for one made easy...
Finally! A cookbook I can acutually use. I want to eat healthy and don't need to cook for an army, so this was perfect for me. I especially liked that the extra info added for each recipe (calories, fiber, carb, protein, etc) that helps make solid choices. Tasty recipes from breakfast, lunch, soups and salads, dinner and dessert. Healthy can be easy and attainable.
Recommend.
Finally! A cookbook I can acutually use. I want to eat healthy and don't need to cook for an army, so this was perfect for me. I especially liked that the extra info added for each recipe (calories, fiber, carb, protein, etc) that helps make solid choices. Tasty recipes from breakfast, lunch, soups and salads, dinner and dessert. Healthy can be easy and attainable.
Recommend.
August 21, 2025
I don't normally review cookbooks. I mean, you don't really read them, right? I have to leave a review for this one. I have several Mediterranean diet cookbooks, and they are OK. This one? The very first recipe I tried was fantastic. So much flavor! It was simple to pull together with ingredients I already had in my pantry and fridge. I doubled the recipe since I was making it for my husband and myself. I've got many recipes bookmarked to make!
June 4, 2023
More American with a nod to Mediterranean-style cuisine. This is a good book for getting the beginner cook in the kitchen and preparing healthful dishes for one. The nutritional info was informative and useful. The recipes were serviceable and easy to follow. I might consider re-titling the book to something like "Healthy Eating for One," a much needed resource in its own right.
June 7, 2023
An excellent cookbook! Tons of fabulous recipes covering every meal. I particularly love the breakfast recipes. Full of useful information and healthy, flavorful meal options.
The recipes are well laid out and easy to follow. These are recipes that anyone can have success with. .
Looking forward to some fabulous meals thanks to this cookbook.
The recipes are well laid out and easy to follow. These are recipes that anyone can have success with. .
Looking forward to some fabulous meals thanks to this cookbook.
January 2, 2024
With 175 quick and simple meals for one, this book uses common ingredients for every meal. While the ingredients might be common the results are not. It’s so nice to find recipes for one that are delicious and cut down on time and waste. Looking forward to trying everything!! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
June 23, 2023
Nicely done and easy to use and follow. This has a nice variety of recipes and ideas, and it is certainly helpful to the growing number of people living alone.
Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!
Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!
June 6, 2023
Easy recipes for one or two people.
I wish there had been more pictures.
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.
I wish there had been more pictures.
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2023
I love these recipes. They are terrific for a quick, healthy meal with real ingredients. Easily accessible ingredients with easy to follow instructions.
August 24, 2026
Definitely buying a copy of this for future use.
May 24, 2023
Easy, creative recipes that are for one person, so you don't have a ton of leftovers! A really solid book for a beginner to the Mediterranean Diet.
My only complaint is I wish each recipe had a picture!
Thank you Netgalley and Adams Media for the ARC!
My only complaint is I wish each recipe had a picture!
Thank you Netgalley and Adams Media for the ARC!
June 30, 2023
Kelly Jaggers’ The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook is a great and comprehensive collection of single-serving Mediterranean recipes. I love the impressive range of easy-to-follow recipes as well as the helpful tips. However, the book’s layout could have been nicer and I would have loved more pictures.
This well-organised book features chapters on Breakfast; Dips and Snacks; Salads and Soups; Side Dishes; Pasta Dishes; Vegetarian Main Dishes; Seafood; Poultry Dishes; Pork, Lamb, and Beef Dishes; and Desserts. There is also a helpful chapter introducing readers to the Mediterranean diet as well as the process of cooking for one. Jaggers gives useful tips (fresh herbs can be placed in water and stored in the fridge!) and also lists important pantry staples and ingredients like beans, olive oil, and canned tuna. This chapter also features useful tools and equipment.
Although many of the recipes may be time or labour-intensive, all the dishes in this book are approachable for beginner cooks. Many of the ingredients are affordable and accessible pantry staples like chicken, flour, and pasta. However, several of the dishes require quite a few specialty ingredients like feta cheese, clams, polenta, and quinoa. But, they are still moderately inexpensive and not too difficult to find.
There are easy dishes like Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata (made easier with frozen shredded hash brown potatoes), Shrimp Scampi, and Easy Pesto Chicken. You can also try familiar favourites like Shakshuka, Tzatziki Sauce, Baba Ghanoush, and Minestrone Soup. Slightly more difficult dishes include Lasagna Rolls, Beef Stew with Red Wine, and Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff. There are even simple but impressively decadent sweet treats like White Wine-Poached Pear, Frozen Fruity Yogurt Bark, and Red Wine-Poached Figs with Ricotta and Almonds.
The recipes are clearly detailed and easy-to-follow. Each recipe begins with a brief but informative write-up offering helpful tips, useful facts on a main ingredient, tasting notes, ingredient swaps, and a short background of the dish. I also appreciate the inclusion of calorie information and other nutritional values.
The book’s layout is simple and clean but boring. I wish the design was more eye-catching. Furthermore, there are only a sparse handful of pictures which are too simply staged and which do not do the delicious recipes any justice. I would love many more pictures so I can see how the dishes should look.
Thank you to NetGalley and Adams Media for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🍅🍅🍅🍅 out of 5 tomatoes!
This well-organised book features chapters on Breakfast; Dips and Snacks; Salads and Soups; Side Dishes; Pasta Dishes; Vegetarian Main Dishes; Seafood; Poultry Dishes; Pork, Lamb, and Beef Dishes; and Desserts. There is also a helpful chapter introducing readers to the Mediterranean diet as well as the process of cooking for one. Jaggers gives useful tips (fresh herbs can be placed in water and stored in the fridge!) and also lists important pantry staples and ingredients like beans, olive oil, and canned tuna. This chapter also features useful tools and equipment.
Although many of the recipes may be time or labour-intensive, all the dishes in this book are approachable for beginner cooks. Many of the ingredients are affordable and accessible pantry staples like chicken, flour, and pasta. However, several of the dishes require quite a few specialty ingredients like feta cheese, clams, polenta, and quinoa. But, they are still moderately inexpensive and not too difficult to find.
There are easy dishes like Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata (made easier with frozen shredded hash brown potatoes), Shrimp Scampi, and Easy Pesto Chicken. You can also try familiar favourites like Shakshuka, Tzatziki Sauce, Baba Ghanoush, and Minestrone Soup. Slightly more difficult dishes include Lasagna Rolls, Beef Stew with Red Wine, and Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff. There are even simple but impressively decadent sweet treats like White Wine-Poached Pear, Frozen Fruity Yogurt Bark, and Red Wine-Poached Figs with Ricotta and Almonds.
The recipes are clearly detailed and easy-to-follow. Each recipe begins with a brief but informative write-up offering helpful tips, useful facts on a main ingredient, tasting notes, ingredient swaps, and a short background of the dish. I also appreciate the inclusion of calorie information and other nutritional values.
The book’s layout is simple and clean but boring. I wish the design was more eye-catching. Furthermore, there are only a sparse handful of pictures which are too simply staged and which do not do the delicious recipes any justice. I would love many more pictures so I can see how the dishes should look.
Thank you to NetGalley and Adams Media for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🍅🍅🍅🍅 out of 5 tomatoes!
May 7, 2023
Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
175 single-serving Mediterranean Diet recipes for every home cook who just wants a satisfying and delicious meal for themselves.
Although the Mediterranean Diet has a host of health benefits, making the switch can feel daunting…especially if you only need to make one serving per meal. The good news is that it’s possible to prepare single-serving recipes that are full of flavour, easy to make, and economical—and The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook is here to help.
This book allows you to make delicious, diet-friendly recipes for every meal from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Each of the 175 single-serving recipes is quick and simple to make to save you both time and money. And while the ingredients are common, the results are anything but. From single-serving, veggie-packed breakfast sandwiches to salmon with spinach and chickpeas, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious versions of all your favourite dishes, no matter what the occasion.
Whether you live alone or are just searching for the perfect meal for yourself, cooking solo never needs to be boring (or overwhelming) again!
I really liked the recipes in this book as they are healthy and tasty but I would have to double or triple (or more) each recipe as I am not going to cook a meal and not have leftovers! (This was a major bone of contention with an ex-boyfriend of mine as HIS mom cooked a fresh meal every night of the year which I refused to do - he once ate four servings of dinner just to tick me off! Thank goodness hubby is a leftover lover as I love to cook but won't do it every day!)
These recipes are easy to do if you have the ingredients in your fridge and larder vs. making up a shopping list and cooking from that - I am not sure how you are going to save money if you have to buy 21 possible meal combinations a week and not have any food go bad, though ... food is darn expensive these days ... but I guess that if you are making 21 combinations of meals from core ingredients it would work...for you. Not me.
This is a book that I will recommend at our branch, but I think the cover needs re-doing as it is not going to POP on the shelves...it looks like a fiction book and not a cookbook. (Hey, I said that I would be honest!)
#shortbutsweetreviews
#hatethecover
*********************************************************
175 single-serving Mediterranean Diet recipes for every home cook who just wants a satisfying and delicious meal for themselves.
Although the Mediterranean Diet has a host of health benefits, making the switch can feel daunting…especially if you only need to make one serving per meal. The good news is that it’s possible to prepare single-serving recipes that are full of flavour, easy to make, and economical—and The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cooking for One Cookbook is here to help.
This book allows you to make delicious, diet-friendly recipes for every meal from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Each of the 175 single-serving recipes is quick and simple to make to save you both time and money. And while the ingredients are common, the results are anything but. From single-serving, veggie-packed breakfast sandwiches to salmon with spinach and chickpeas, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious versions of all your favourite dishes, no matter what the occasion.
Whether you live alone or are just searching for the perfect meal for yourself, cooking solo never needs to be boring (or overwhelming) again!
I really liked the recipes in this book as they are healthy and tasty but I would have to double or triple (or more) each recipe as I am not going to cook a meal and not have leftovers! (This was a major bone of contention with an ex-boyfriend of mine as HIS mom cooked a fresh meal every night of the year which I refused to do - he once ate four servings of dinner just to tick me off! Thank goodness hubby is a leftover lover as I love to cook but won't do it every day!)
These recipes are easy to do if you have the ingredients in your fridge and larder vs. making up a shopping list and cooking from that - I am not sure how you are going to save money if you have to buy 21 possible meal combinations a week and not have any food go bad, though ... food is darn expensive these days ... but I guess that if you are making 21 combinations of meals from core ingredients it would work...for you. Not me.
This is a book that I will recommend at our branch, but I think the cover needs re-doing as it is not going to POP on the shelves...it looks like a fiction book and not a cookbook. (Hey, I said that I would be honest!)
#shortbutsweetreviews
#hatethecover
July 27, 2023
I received a copy from Adams Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After the Mediterranean diet was highly recommended by my nutritionist, I decided to start looking at some books and check it out. In this book, you will find 175 recipes that are perfect for when you’re cooking for just yourself. However, like most recipes, it’s extremely easy to adjust each recipe for when you find yourself cooking for more than just yourself.
The book is organized by type of recipe: breakfast, appetizers, vegetarian main dishes, poultry, dessert, soups, and so on. It’s easy to jump to what kind of recipe you’re looking for and find a variety of tasty sounding easy to follow recipes. I do wish there were more pictures to go with the recipes, but I don’t mind that it’s lacking in photos. However, I do think that a lot of people find the recipes more enticing when there’s a picture to go along with each one, so I think more pictures would’ve been a great addition to the book.
Each recipe is detailed and easy to follow. Some of the recipes are labor intensive, but if anyone finds that daunting or otherwise can’t commit to that much work in one go, the author recommends doing the prep work in advance. Actually, there are some pretty good tips in the opening of the book before we even get to the recipes. I really liked the section on how to plan ahead and stop wasting food. It’s easy to buy a little too much or have extra veggies and such leftovers from what one needed to make a meal. There are some pretty good tips on how to avoid buying too much but also what you can do with things such as leftover unused herbs so they don’t go to waste.
Overall, the recipes are clear and sound delicious. I actually already eat some variations of a portion of the recipes, but I think that makes the stuff I haven’t eaten before seem more promising. The book is clearly laid out, has excellent tips, and clear instructions for anyone new to cooking. I think it could’ve had more pictures of the finished foods, but otherwise, I think it’s an excellent recipe book that’s great for new and experienced cooks.
After the Mediterranean diet was highly recommended by my nutritionist, I decided to start looking at some books and check it out. In this book, you will find 175 recipes that are perfect for when you’re cooking for just yourself. However, like most recipes, it’s extremely easy to adjust each recipe for when you find yourself cooking for more than just yourself.
The book is organized by type of recipe: breakfast, appetizers, vegetarian main dishes, poultry, dessert, soups, and so on. It’s easy to jump to what kind of recipe you’re looking for and find a variety of tasty sounding easy to follow recipes. I do wish there were more pictures to go with the recipes, but I don’t mind that it’s lacking in photos. However, I do think that a lot of people find the recipes more enticing when there’s a picture to go along with each one, so I think more pictures would’ve been a great addition to the book.
Each recipe is detailed and easy to follow. Some of the recipes are labor intensive, but if anyone finds that daunting or otherwise can’t commit to that much work in one go, the author recommends doing the prep work in advance. Actually, there are some pretty good tips in the opening of the book before we even get to the recipes. I really liked the section on how to plan ahead and stop wasting food. It’s easy to buy a little too much or have extra veggies and such leftovers from what one needed to make a meal. There are some pretty good tips on how to avoid buying too much but also what you can do with things such as leftover unused herbs so they don’t go to waste.
Overall, the recipes are clear and sound delicious. I actually already eat some variations of a portion of the recipes, but I think that makes the stuff I haven’t eaten before seem more promising. The book is clearly laid out, has excellent tips, and clear instructions for anyone new to cooking. I think it could’ve had more pictures of the finished foods, but otherwise, I think it’s an excellent recipe book that’s great for new and experienced cooks.
May 13, 2023
This is a fine cookbook but I often felt like it missed the point. The main reason most people in the states want to switch to a Mediterranean diet is for the health and longevity that people in the blue zones typically enjoy. But first of all, the food is one part of an overall lifestyle that incorporates lots more movement, socialization, physical work and a totally different way of life. And if you research what people really eat in these regions traditionally, it was simple, fresh, homemade food. Breakfast would not be layered overnight oats with nuts and fruit and low-fat Greek yogurt, it would be a hard boiled egg and a handful of olives and cherry tomatoes or leftover homemade soup or a piece of homemade flatbread dipped in homemade hummus and a drizzle of authentic olive oil. A salad might be a bowl full of greens from the garden freshly picked and still brimming with every vitamin and mineral, with a splash of oil and vinegar and some crumbled feta cheese and walnuts. It’s simple and fresh and easy. It doesn’t call for complex recipes made with canned beans, canned low sodium vegetable broth, low-fat yogurt and breads made weeks ago and full of dough conditioners and preservatives. I also felt that the recipes were much more like American dishes with Mediterranean elements rather than being very traditional. That’s true with most Mediterranean cookbooks, not just this one.
That said, I appreciate the novel approach of this one offering recipes for one person. The recipes seem tasty and fairly easy. I appreciated the nutritional information for each recipe. Do note that there aren’t many photos. The book will work fairly well for people on special diets like gluten free and vegetarian. It won’t work as well for people on a low carb diet or those who avoid grains (particularly wheat, rice and oats).
I read a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
That said, I appreciate the novel approach of this one offering recipes for one person. The recipes seem tasty and fairly easy. I appreciated the nutritional information for each recipe. Do note that there aren’t many photos. The book will work fairly well for people on special diets like gluten free and vegetarian. It won’t work as well for people on a low carb diet or those who avoid grains (particularly wheat, rice and oats).
I read a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 15, 2023
I read through A LOT of cookbooks. Some I find completely unhelpful, others I glean a handful of recipes from. Few do I ever find where I would gladly make 90% of the recipes. This one qualifies as one of those few.
If you love Mediterranean flavors (or if you're on the diet, I'm not) this cookbook is for you. So many yummy things! It doesn't have a lot of pictures, and the ones it does have are not beautifully staged, but the recipes speak for themselves.
I think this makes a great cookbook for one (as advertised) but you can also adapt for more than one as needed. I am really enjoying this cookbook and plan to add it to my shelf as a well-used go to.
If you love Mediterranean flavors (or if you're on the diet, I'm not) this cookbook is for you. So many yummy things! It doesn't have a lot of pictures, and the ones it does have are not beautifully staged, but the recipes speak for themselves.
I think this makes a great cookbook for one (as advertised) but you can also adapt for more than one as needed. I am really enjoying this cookbook and plan to add it to my shelf as a well-used go to.
May 27, 2023
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an interesting recipe book. I wish there were more photos since I like to see what things should look like when deciding what to make. There are also a lot of recipes that are more Mediterranean "inspired" or Americanized Mediterranean than traditional. That being said there's quite a few recipes in this book that look good. Some of the recipes require more prep than others and there's quite a bit of meat, but overall a nice collection of recipes to choose from.
This is an interesting recipe book. I wish there were more photos since I like to see what things should look like when deciding what to make. There are also a lot of recipes that are more Mediterranean "inspired" or Americanized Mediterranean than traditional. That being said there's quite a few recipes in this book that look good. Some of the recipes require more prep than others and there's quite a bit of meat, but overall a nice collection of recipes to choose from.
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