Title:	The Everything Healthy Mediterranean Cookbook: 300 fresh and simple recipes for better living
	Author:	Peter Minaki
	Published:	December 3, 2019, Everything
	No. of Pages:	320
	Cover Price:	$18.99 Paperback, $11.99 Kindle

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Mediterranean food has been especially popular for the last few years due to the fact that it is touted as healthy. Peter Minaki has gathered some of the most healthy of Mediterranean recipes and included them in his excellent cookbook, The Everything Healthy Mediterranean Cookbook: 300 fresh and simple recipes for better living. This cookbook proves that eating healthy can also be delicious. The Mediterranean region includes Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Serbia, Slovenia, and Spain, as well as Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. This cookbook includes recipes from many of those countries. According to the author, “There are regional differences in what constitutes the Mediterranean diet, but all share an essential common trait: a focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish.” What more could you want?

The recipes represent a good variety of dishes – there is something for everyone here – including some favorites: one of the best Tzatziki recipes to be served with any number of the Greek dishes, especially the Pork Souvlaki, or alone as a dip with pita, an excellent and easy Penne all’Arrabbiata, and a hearty Giouvarlakia Soup that is perfect for a cold winter night. Sauerkraut Rice makes an excellent side dish and is surprisingly delicious. Tuscan Chicken and Sausage Stew has minimal ingredients and maximum flavor – an easy go-to dish for busy cooks. Minaki’s classic Braciola is not only easy to make, but excellent. His Osso Buco is made in the slow cooker to save time, and has become a favorite.

The book includes an entire section with vegetarian main dishes, and even non-vegetarians will be tempted. However, the chapter that includes Beef, Pork, and Lamb has so many good recipes, that carnivores will have trouble deciding what to make next and will skip the vegetarian choices altogether. Both the Poultry and the fish and seafood chapters are equally appealing, and the queue for trying new dishes from these is getting longer. The chapter on sauces is varied and from numerous countries. And for those who like dessert, the choices are incredible.

It is unfortunate that only some of the recipes are pictured; those photographs included are excellent. The recipes are easy-to-understand and are suitable for most cooks from beginner to advanced. If it weren’t for the lack of photos, this would be the perfect cookbook. Albeit the lack of photographs, this is truly one of the best Mediterranean cookbooks out there. If you only own one Mediterranean cookbook, this should be it.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.