Another Cookbook Review by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
Life is getting busier again for families who are juggling back-to-school, back to sports, and more. What we need are delicious and nutritious meals that are quick to prepare. Here’s a new cookbook that fits the bill with recipes that are as delicious as they are nutritious!
In Shred Happens So Easy, So Good, author Arash Hashemi seems to have hit all the popular food trends in one great book with over 100 Protein-Packed, Mediterranean Favourites with a Low-Carb Twist.
I had heard about Arash Hashemi through social media—after all, he lost about 100 pounds by cooking protein-packed, Mediterranean-inspired meals. He states on the back cover; “I lost 100 pounds in the process, but this book isn’t about diets. It’s about real food that’s so easy and so good.”
In this book, you will find delicious recipes under chapters called Shareable Plates, Spreads & Dips, Salads, Mains, Pasta & Rice, Power Bowls, Sauces & Salsas, Spice Blends, and Desserts. The introduction offers a look into the author’s life with an inspiring story about his ‘makeover’ from being overweight to running in a Half Ironman race. There’s also a go-to source for what to stock in the pantry to be able to whip up healthy meals at home.
A few stand-out, must try recipes include Baked Whole Cauliflower, San Francisco Shrimp Louie Salad, Grilled Eggplant Dip, One-Dish Za’atar Chicken (you will find spice blends at the back of the book), and Greek Pasta Salad. For quick meals when the kids are back to school and life gets busy, try the One-Dish Lemony Chicken Bake, Bolognese Pasta, or Pasta Carbonara. Company coming? Try the Shrimp Pasta in White Wine Sauce, “Marry Me” Chicken Pasta, or Moroccan Braised Lamb Leg.
For those who are into “bowls” for lunch or dinner, the Mediterranean Chicken Power Bowl is delicious (there are instructions to make homemade pickled onion). The Dessert chapter includes yummy treats such as Tiramisu, Lemon Ricotta Crepes, and Crème Caramel.
Shred Happens So Easy, So Good is so inspiring, it makes me want to start making almost every dish from front to back cover; trying out new spice mixes resulting in flavour-packed Mediterranean-inspired meals that will surely help me and others enjoy great meals while perhaps losing a pound or two the Arash Hashemi way.
Excerpted from Shred Happens So Easy, So Good by Arash Hashemi. Copyright © 2025 Arash Hashemi. Photographs Copyright© 2025 by Ghazalle Badiozamani. Arranged by special permission from the Publisher, Appetite by Random House, Random House ® a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. All rights reserved.
review by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
2019 Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) Certificate of Excellence Third Place Best Food and Drink Feature
Other articles from totimes.ca – mtltimes.ca – otttimes.ca
ALSO check out this other cookbook, perfect for back-to-school days from another Toronto author on TOtimes.ca:
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