Seaweed may seem initially off-putting as a food source to many people, what with its somewhat slimy reputation. But Ocean Greens: Explore the World of Edible Seaweed and Sea Vegetables: A Way of Eating for Your Health and the Planet's is sure to change opinions on that. Full of gorgeous photographs and vegan recipes that showcase various forms of seaweed--including Sea Chowder (kombu and potato based), Zucchini Spaghetti with Sea Pesto and the authors' special Dutch Weed Burger, a plant-based hamburger whose popularity in the Netherlands led to a documentary.
Tips on the nutritional values of different seaweeds, interviews with seaweed harvesters, suggestions of ways to locally source seaweed and creative recipes that showcase "the new kale" make Ocean Greens an eminently useful tool for anyone thinking of trying to make their diet more plant-based. Ocean Greens is a perfect gift for vegetarian friends, or chefs who like to branch out into new food groups. --Jessica Howard, blogger at Quirky Bookworm