I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Great, easy-to-use cookbook with just a few ingredients.

For a long time we have been hearing that the Mediterranean diet is the one to follow in order to be healthy.  Well, the good news is that healthy takes nothing away from delicious as this collection of 101 recipes proves.  With so many choices, reader-cooks will be happy and well through many meals.

Readers will find recipes for seafood, pasta, poultry, vegetable, snacks and desserts in this collection. The author also includes sections on topics including the Mediterranean diet, staples to have on hand, etc. 

Try a cheesy spinach pie, creamy garlic and cheese polenta,  or how about a caramelized flatbread with arugula.  The recipes appear to be very doable and the illustrations are enticing.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

5 INGREDIENT MEDITERRANEAN COOKBOOK by Denise Hazime has "101 Easy & Flavorful Recipes for Every Day." Hazime, whose Lebanese family has undoubtedly influenced her cooking interests, divides the cookbook into multiple sections such as snacks and small plates, vegetables and meatless mains, and pasta, pizza and breads. Personally, I am looking forward to trying several in the fish and seafood chapter, including Baked Swordfish with Herbs, Baked Salmon and Tomato Pockets, and Whitefish with Lemon and Capers. Although the spices and olive oil may cause the recipe to exceed 5 ingredients, the recipes focus on fresh and common main ingredients. Pictures are lacking, but Hazmine does include a short note at the beginning of each recipe, estimates prep and cook time, and also often provides ideas for substitutions and variations along with nutritional data.

veryone knows that Mediterranean food is healthy and delicious. However, sometimes we don’t have time to prepare it properly. Denise Hazime grew up in a Lebanese family, and knows the ins and outs of Mediterranean cooking. She presents it in 5-Ingredient Mediterranean Cookbook: 101 Easy & Flavorful Recipes for Every Day, an excellent cookbook that contains dozens of recipes that are quick and easy since they have only five ingredients. That is not to say that the recipes don’t measure up to recipes with long lists of ingredients; in fact, these simple recipes are actually mouthwatering, and busy cooks will appreciate the simplicity.

Of course this cookbook contains sections on ingredients and hints on shopping for the best ingredients, but it’s the variety of the recipes that really stands out. Hazime’s recipe for hummus is excellent, and since hummus is popular on its own as a dip and also popular as an accompaniment to main dishes, this is a recipe everyone will want to make. There are a lot of traditional Mediterranean recipes included in this cookbook, and dozens of lesser known dishes that are hard to resist. Included are appetizers and dips, as well as side dishes, meats, fish, and poultry dishes, and vegetarian side dishes that are perfect for everyone. At the beginning of each recipe, Hazime has labeled important facts such as gluten-free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, etc. This is helpful for anyone who prepares meals for those on special diets.

The recipes are easy-to-follow and whether a beginning cook or a veteran cook, they will easily turn out picture perfect. Unfortunately, photographs are at a minimum, and it would have been nice to see what the finished dishes should look like. However, every recipe tried so far has turned out perfectly. The queue for preparing new dishes for friends and family is growing every time I open the book, and it is exciting to know that there are dozens of recipes waiting to be prepared and served.

This is an excellent cookbook for busy cooks, since there are minimal ingredients that are easily obtained. Highly recommended.

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

This book was a nice addiction to my cookbook collection. A lot of traditional and non-traditional recipes and tips in here! Healthy eating for everyone food with plenty of olives, olive oil and pita bread!

I love cookbooks that have healthy, easy recipes! This is a wonderful book filled with a variety of recipes to suit any craving or mood. I greatly appreciate the simplicity of these recipes. I especially look forward to preparing Spicy Roasted Potatoes, Tossed Lentil Salad, Quick White Bean and Vegetable Soup, Braised Chicken and Mushrooms, Fried Fresh Sardines and Minty Watermelon Salad.

Thank you, Callisto Media and NetGalley!

Great book, full of recipes that sound delicious. There are days I'm in the mood to spend all day fussing over a NYT French recipie, but often I don't have the energy, time or inclination. This is the perfect book for those days. As a busy mom I need flavorful, healthy and easy meals that my kids will eat, and this book gave me numerous options.