[.ca] Ainsley Harriott's Low Fat Meals in Minutes (ISBN 0563522909)

From Amazon.co.uk:
Blink and there's another Ainsley Harriott book out, this incarnation is Low Fat Meals in Minutes. The target audience this time is the weight-watching home-maker, struggling to fit those healthy lifestyle changes into a busy schedule; and perhaps also keeping an eye on the kids' fat intake. You really have to hand it to Harriott: he's very good at what he does. Low Fat Meals in Minutes presents 80 fresh, interesting, tasty, low-fat recipes, none of which takes more than an hour to prepare and cook (and most a lot less), and each of which is accompanied by a clear colour photograph--so you know exactly what it's supposed to look like--and nutrition notes. What could be simpler or more encouraging? In the usual Harriott manner, inspiration ranges all over, with a preference for the flavours of Latin America, the Mediterranean and South-East Asia. So Prawn, Mushroom and Bean Sprout Noodles sits cheek-by-jowl with Jalapeno Tiger-Prawn Ginger Skewers; while not far away is Roast Lemon Bay-Scented Cod. Cajun and Jamaican jerk seasonings are also used to good effect, for example in the Louisiana Blue Cheese and Chicken Sandwich and Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Puddings are strong on fruit: a particularly happy invention is the "Live and Kicking" Lemon and Chilli Sorbet. A handy collection, therefore, of speedy, waistline-friendly recipe ideas, which might prove something of a primer in expanding culinary horizons. The drawback, for some, will be Harriott himself. You don't have to be a toffee-nosed Elizabeth-David-or-nothing purist to find his manner grating ("Slap 'em on the barbie" "Dee-lish!" "Wowee"). But he's nothing if not friendly. --Robin Davidson

Gourmet greats that happen to be low fat!:
I say 'happen to be low fat' because eating these recipes, you don-t feel like you're missing out on the pleasure of eating fine food. All the recipes i-ve tried so far have been terrific (e.g. the bang bang tofu wraps) and the flavors are sophisticated and satisfying. These are recipes you could serve to guests as well. The quantities are in both english/american measurements and metric, full nutritional info is provided and Ainsley provides additional guidance on how to substitute low fat for full fat ingredients. There are many seafood and barbecue recipes included too. Some of the recipes are traditionally English but a wide variety of cuisines are represented (Asian, Indian, Italian, Cajun) I wish this book was even longer! One caveat - many of the foods are quite spicy hot, though sensitive eaters could probably reduce or eliminate some of those ingredients. Brilliant book and I highly recommend it!

Finally, low fat doens't equal low taste anymore!:
Ainsley has always been my favourite chef, but most of the times, his recipes are dripping with the bad stuff, like fat, butter and chocolate. Being on a diet to loose weight, I have been waiting for ages for him to come with a book on low fat recipes and itr is great! Really tasty foods, dips, desserst, snacks and full meals to make a great impression or to just enjoy yourself, but without the most fattening stuff. You won't loose pounds on end with this book, but it gives you good low fat ideas for a special occasion!

Classically reworked recipes.:
As with one of the commentators, I too think that Ainsley Harriott is one of the best-if not the best-of the TV chefs. In Australia we are privileged to see him frequently on the ABC and Diane and I are avid watchers. As a result I have purchased all of his cookbooks and because his recipes are so good, these books get a regular workout in our kitchen. This particular book is perhaps better than Gourmet Express 1 and 2 if only because he has reworked some more familiar recipes and taken the fatter cooking methods or ingrediants out of this collection-the same great tastes are still there but without the fat content. For instance a recipe we have recently tried is his version of "Light and crunchy fish cakes". Rather than shallow frying them as is traditional, Ainsely bakes them for 30 minutes-fat eliminated, taste remains-simple but effective. His book is full of these wonderful old and new recipes that he has reworked to eliminate the fats and I believe he has done it wonderfully. I recommend all his cookbooks!