Plated

I think make-ahead meals and freezer-friendly recipes are going to be my future once residency starts, so this cookbook (Plated) could not have come at a better time!

I don’t know if you’ve heard of the food delivery company, Plated, but the idea behind it is to provide people with fresh, pre-portioned ingredients + chef-designed recipes so that anyone can make their own meals at home, and this book definitely reflects that philosophy.

Plated

plated

By Elana Karp & Suzanne Dumaine

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Genre: Cookbook
Pages: 240

Plated is divided into the following chapters:

Kitchen Basics

This chapter details how to outfit your kitchen, from having just the basic tools to going all out. It also covers what to stock in your pantry, and goes over their “kitchen commandments” and knife skills.

Flavoring

Learn how to make all kinds of different spice rubs, marinades, dressings, sauces, and infusions!

plated

Weeknight Dinners

Don’t have a lot of time on your hands? This recipe covers their favorite quick and reliable recipes with seasonal ingredients as swap-ins so that you can customize them according to what’s fresh when you’re making em’!

plated

One-Pan Roasted Rosemary Chicken

Great For Leftovers

Do you cook in bulk? (I love to do this–it saves so much time!) This section covers recipes that can be re-purposed with just the addition of 1-2 ingredients! (I totally agree with them that gnocchi is a wondrous leftover food…)

plated

Herb-Marinated Steak with Tomato, Onion, and Herb Salad

Make Ahead

These recipes might take a little bit more time, but they’re awesome for reheating, and taste even better a few days after cooking! They include instructions on how to store em’!

plated

Beer-Braised Pulled Chicken

Weekend Feasts

This section includes more ambitious recipes and are designed for 4-6 servings so you can share (or pig out).

plated

Gin & Grapefruit-Cured Gravlax with Pumpernickel Toasts

For A Crowd

Have a dinner party but hating on the planning? This section has menus that combine recipes from throughout the book (along with some new ones) and includes a timeline so you can put everything together without ignoring all your guests!

plated

The menus include…Date Night, Cocktail Party, Fancy Pants Dinner Party, Sunday Supper, Weekend Brunch, Backyard Barbecue, and Thanksgiving Dinner!

On the Side

Appetizers and side dishes can enhance a meal and sometimes even steal the whole show. This section has lots of versatile recipes that should work with all sorts of different meals. :]

plated

Corn Salad with Red Onion and Basil

At the End

…and what is a full meal without dessert?! These range from super simple to labor-intensive!

plated

Clafoutis with Fresh Cherries

There’s an appendix at the back with a seasonal produce guide and glossary. Each recipe includes a short intro, serving size, an ingredient list, and of course, the instructions.

I think this book was very well thought-out and put together, and would be awesome for pretty much anyone, but especially great for beginning cooks! :]


  • What’s your favorite “leftovers” recipe?
  • Share a make-ahead recipe with me! :]

Check out my other book reviews!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.fairyburger.com/plated/

16 comments

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  1. I like simple and quick recipes. I always like trying new recipes. Sounds like a great book.

    1. Same here! :D I can’t wait to try the ones in here!

  2. This looks like such a great cookbook! Especially because it covers the basics and seasoning ideas too!

    I rarely have leftovers as I don’t like them (I’m weird like that) but if I do, it’s usually something like meatballs or roast chicken that I can use in multiple meals!
    Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Core³: a Killer No-Equipment Ab & Oblique WorkoutMy Profile

    1. Agreed! I love that I can just make my own seasonings at home now! :P

      haha, no worries! To each their own! I like versatile leftovers that I can recreate into other things too, but if that’s not an option, I tend to just eat the same thing until it’s gone. (Hooray for that crushing student debt dictating my actions. :P )

  3. This book looks awesome! I love the way they’ve organized it. I might have to check this one out!
    Carly @ Fitliving Eats recently posted…Clean Green Avocado Hummus {vegan}My Profile

    1. I really like the way they organized it too! :] It was so well thought out!

  4. ok 1, that looks delicious! I’m drooling over those photos

    2, definitely worth buying for me! I usually don’t prep a lot of meals ahead of time, but the Mister really wants to start stocking up on foods for “his nights”. This would be perfect!
    Laura recently posted…Wednesday Pinspiration: Barbecue Recipes!My Profile

    1. For serious! I’m planning on doing a lot of make-ahead meals before residency starts so that I’ll have a lot of pretty-much-ready-to-eat meals tucked away in my freezer for when things get super busy!!

  5. All of the chapter ideas for the cookbook sound creative and well-organized! Of course “at the end” intrigues me the most ;) Did you have a favorite recipe? The gravlax looks delicious – but I am a sucker for anything salmon!

    1. hehehe, I have no doubt in my mind that we would get along swimmingly! I love anything salmon too, so that was probably the one that jumped out the most (but there are so many that look good…I can’t choose just one! x_x).

  6. The chapters sound very well organized and creative. Of course I’m drawn to the gravlax cause I’m a sucker for anything salmon :) I love the idea of having entire chapters devoted to bulk cooking and one stocked with menus! Do you have a favorite recipe or chapter?

  7. It sounds like the book would really fit with my own cooking philosopy! Love the pictures too.
    Corina recently posted…Harissa-Marinated Lamb SaladMy Profile

    1. Same! :D So many delicious + healthy recipes to try out! :]

  8. Cookbooks with pretty pictures are seriously just a way for me to relax!
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Coconut Matcha Ice CreamMy Profile

  9. This sounds amazing!!! All these pics are making me hungry ;)

    1. hehehe, they definitely made me hungry too!!

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