200 Best Lactose-Free Recipes: From appetizers and soups to main courses and deserts

Jan Main
Robert Rose Publishing (2006)
ISBN 9780778801351
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (2/11)


It is suggested by some experts that half of the world’s population is lactose intolerant.  The inability to digest and absorb lactose (which is the sugar in the milk) is considered to be a genetic disorder. Fortunately many restaurants are now indicating on the menus which dishes are lactose free.  In the meantime, those of us that are lactose intolerant have to learn to cook without using dairy or dairy products.  “200 Best Lactose-Free Recipes” certainly gives us many options.

For the purpose of this review we are asked to test three recipes.  I decided to try “Creamy Stovetop Rice Pudding.”  Using apple juice instead of milk was a good substitute but I didn’t feel it was a good enough to make again.  For me it was too sweet and wasn’t as creamy as I expected it to be.  But, giving this recipe another chance I tested it using coconut milk instead and the rice pudding ended up being very delicious.

The second recipe I tested was “Fettuccini Alfredo.”  The recipe called for 2% lactose-free milk.  I liked the flavor of the bay leaf and nutmeg.  Using 2% milk cut down the richness of the original Alfredo recipe but was nice.  I’ll try this again using coconut milk instead.

For my last recipe in the test I made “Double Pumpkin Muffins.”  The recipe called for soy milk and is a good substitute.  I like the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves for spices but I especially liked using pumpkin seeds, currants, and sesame seeds in the muffins.  It’s a good recipe and I will make it again.

Perusing other recipes in “200 Best Lactose-Free Recipes,” I noted that most ingredients could be found in a kitchen pantry and certainly at a local grocery store.  I’ve been using coconut milk as a substitute for cow’s milk for about a year now and love it.  It is thick, creamy, and rich.  It can be found in the dairy section of most grocery stores as it is becoming a very popular substitute. I believe it can be used in any of the recipes in this cookbook.   I believe this cookbook would be a good addition if needing to cook without using dairy.

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