The Naked Cookbook

I’m actually busy graduating right now (check on my facebook page or instagram for pictures! :D!), so I figured I’d share another cookbook review with you in the meantime!

You know how they say never to judge a book by its cover? This is probably one of the ones where that’s a really good rule to go by. The cover is pretty nondescript, with just the title of the book and the author stamped into plain cardboard. It goes with the theme of the book!

The Naked Cookbook

By Tess Ward

Genre: Cookbook
Pages: 128

The Naked Cookbook moves away from processed and refined foods and focuses on eating food in its most naked form (hence, the title)! It focuses on efficient and practical recipes that celebrate creativity in cooking.

It starts off with the basics–broths, stocks, infused oils, dips, yogurts, sauces and dressings.

Pure

You can learn how to make things like Molasses + Ginger Porkballs with Bok Choy, Smoked Haddock in Coconut Milk, Chilled Avocado + Yogurt Soup…

Raw

This section has recipes on how to make Kimchi, Beef Carpaccio with Capers + Arugula, Salmon Tartare + Wasabi Creme Fraiche (I need that in my life), Raw Spring Rolls + Peanut Dipping Sauce…

Stripped

Green Cauliflower “Couscous” with Pumpkin Seeds, Summer Salad Bowl, Soba Noodle Salad with Cucumber + Mango (yum! <3)…

Bare

Hainanese Chicken, Miso Salmon, Lamb Meatballs with Rhubarb Sauce, Fennel + Tarragon Quinoa Patties…

Nude

Beet + Orange Quinoa Granola, Toasted Oatmeal with Earl Grey Tea-Soaked Raisins, Coconut Yogurt, Flax + Pumpkin Gluten-Free Bread…

Clean

Allll sorts of juices in this recipe (e.g. Supersalad Juice, Happiness Juice, Energy Juice), as well as smoothies (e.g. Green Goddess Smoothie), different types of nut milks, supermilks, lattes, ices, and cocktails…

Detox

I’ve never really been on board with the whole “detox” thing and actually really dislike the word, but I really appreciated the fact that this didn’t advocate for “juice cleanses” or crazy fasts or anything like that.

The detox they refer to is just cutting out the foods + substances that interfere with the detoxification process (e.g. processed foods), especially when you’re running on low and are most likely to reach for caffeine, energy drinks, or sugar. It also gives suggestions for healing/cleansing foods for different parts of the body.

Truth be told, I was actually somewhat concerned that this book would have zero pictures whatsoever. I’m glad I took a chance with it. Although there are definitely more recipes than pictures, it does manage to strike a good balance between the two.

Each recipe contains a short intro, the serving size, ingredient list, and instructions. I didn’t feel like the ingredients were things that were particularly rare or difficult to obtain (and this is coming from someone who lives in a town with 3000 people! :O ). The back of the book also contains a section called “The Naked Pantry,” which includes a list of healthy “naked” foods to stock in your pantry!

• Do you follow The Naked Cookbook‘s philosophies?
• What do you like to keep your kitchen/pantry stocked with?

Check out my other book reviews!