Tenderheart

Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon is not just a cookbook about vegetables; it is a heartwarming narrative interwoven with tales of unbreakable family bonds, love, and loss. The book beautifully captures the legacy of food as a profound way to stay connected to loved ones, including those who have passed. Each recipe is infused with personal stories, memories, and the comforting presence of family, making every dish more than just a meal, but a cherished connection to the past.

This masterwork by Australia’s most respected vegetable-loving food writer takes readers on a comprehensive, vegetable-by-vegetable journey, offering clever and inventive ways to combine ingredients, flavours, and textures. Hetty Lui McKinnon meticulously devotes one chapter to each of her 22 favourite everyday vegetables, ranging from Asian greens to zucchini. Her approach is practical, accessible, and designed with economy in mind, ensuring that anyone can replicate these delicious dishes in their own kitchen.

What makes Tenderheart stand out is Hetty's globally inspired flavour palette, with a special emphasis on creating simple yet imaginative weeknight meals. These recipes will forever change your perspective on what the humble vegetable is capable of achieving in the culinary world.

With 180 new, inspiring, and consistently delicious recipes, this book serves as the ultimate vegetable bible from Australia’s reigning salad queen. Hetty’s signature style shines through in each dish, showcasing the versatility and richness of vegetables in a way that is both innovative and deeply personal.

Some of the enticing recipes featured in Tenderheart include:

Broccoli wontons with umami crisp; Cauliflower and kale pesto pasta salad with burrata; Smoky eggplant and lentil stew with baked feta; Tiger salad with green tea noodles; Torn lasagne with kale and kimchi; Southern fried mushrooms; Tingly 'cacio e pepe' snow peas with rice noodles; Salt and pepper potato gems; Seaweed burnt butter pasta; Spinach and mint ruffled milk pie; Carrot and almond polenta cake with lemon drizzle; Ginger and date sticky rye puddings; Spiced pumpkin doughnuts.

Tenderheart was deservedly longlisted for the Indie Book Awards 2023 for Illustrated Non-Fiction, highlighting its significance not just as a collection of recipes but as a beautifully illustrated narrative that celebrates the profound connection between food, family, and memory.