Gaby Dalkin - Eat What You Want: 125 Recipes for Real Life

Editor: Holly Dolce

Designer: Claudia Wu

Production Manager: Rebecca Westall

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019939747

ISBN: 978-1-4197-4286-6

eISBN: 978-1-68335-829-9

Copyright 2020 Gaby Dalkin

Photography by Matt Armendariz

Cover 2020 Abrams

Published in 2020 by Abrams, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

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If youve been following along with me and my adventures, whether through my cookbooks, blog, social media, or all of the above, then you know that Im all about food. Im always thinking about what Im going to eat. All. Day. Long. From waking up in the morning with a heaping slice of avo toast, to making a big bowl with all the toppings for lunch, to whipping up something simple and quick for dinner, and traveling all over the world looking for something new and delicious to eat. And why shouldnt I? Its something that brings me so much satisfaction and joy; its something I get to share with my husband, Thomas, and all of our friends; and its something that connects me with all of you. But lately Ive been thinking about the questions that Ive been getting more and more often from followers and friends alike: But what are you actually eating in real life? Or, But what are you eating when you want to feel great? Well, the answer to these questions is so important that it inspired me to write an entire book. Because the answer is simple: My food! My recipes! There is no alternate universe where Im only drinking smoothies and eating skimpy salads (while I love a good smoothie and a salad, its definitely not my style all the time). But lets get something straight, Im also not eating the ENTIRE cheese board myself, and those desserts are typically being served up to a big crowd, including my friends and family. So bottom line, to everyone who has ever asked what Im doing to look and feel good, I say this: Its all about balance, which means you can EAT WHAT YOU WANT.

Thats why I wanted to devote this book to recipes that reflect how I eat in real lifeno deprivation, no starvation, just my signature mash-up of bright flavors that are light and easy when you want it, and hearty and satisfying when you need it. And as always, simple enough to make during the week but special enough to serve up on the weekend. All of the dishes in this book will show you that you dont necessarily need to ditch the carbs/meat/dairy/sugar in order to feel awesome. How refreshing is that?!

Im not a dietician, but I know a thing or two about the topic because... I eat for a living. Over the years, Ive had a lot of time to think about what Im choosing to put in my body and how it makes me feel. What Ive discovered is that Im NOT a fan of diets (they never work for me!), and I think we will all drive ourselves crazy if we keep putting our favorite foods on the naughty list (who could actually live without bread or cheese?!). For me, balance really is everything. Sometimes we just need a little reset via lighter dishes filled with tons of fresh fruits and veggies like a Cauliflower Shawarma Bowl or lemony Tahini Broccolini. And then again, sometimes we just need a bowl full of Ham and Cheese Croissant Bread Pudding. And you know the recipes in this book are going to be solid, because if Im going to invite a dish into my life, then it has to be the best of the best, epic of epic, ALL CAPS, everything. Were talking Bahn Mi Bowls that beat the best of takeout, and Sweet PotatoBlack Bean Tacos that are so easy even Thomas could make them (a chapter in and of itself, because that guy is many things but a professional cook is not one of themif he can do it, so can you!), and a Strawberry Crispy Cobbler that will make you weak in the knees. Ill also share some of my tried-and-true tricks of the trade for getting a delicious, filling, soul-nourishing meal on the table, like my favorite dishes for using up an over-ambitious farmers market haul (since you know I cant control myself and always end up with more fruits and veggies than one human needs). And Ive included an entire chapter of the best sauces and vinaigrettes for turning just about anything into a meal.

Plus, theres obviously going to be some menus to help you put together spreads for a crowd. When it comes to maintaining balance in my life, a crucial part of that is letting go and letting loose. Im all about the Monday through Friday hustle, but when the weekend rolls around, I want to hit pause on the grind. Feeding my friends and family is one of my favorite things to do, especially because it means getting together, letting the week go, reconnecting, and recharging before were back at it Monday morning. So what if that also includes a few bottles of ros or a loaded-up cheese board? When youre giving yourself that kind of TLCand rounding things out with dishes that feature lots of fresh seasonal produceit does a body good. And because the weekend is also my favorite time to sneak in a hike, go for a bike ride, or get to my favorite workout class, I dont sweat it if my meals get a little indulgent. Whether youre planning a party or throwing together a pop-up feast, these menus are perfect for feeding a crowd and doing the weekend right. I designed them all so they can be tailored to your needs. So feel free to pick just a dish or two, or go all in and make the whole spread.

All told, Eat What You Want is an invitation/permission slip/pep rally for you to let go of all the noise around what you choose to eat. I say choose joy! Choose fun! Choose no apologies or excuses. But most of all, choose whatever makes you happy. I cant make that decision for you, but I can supply you with the recipes to make your journey that much more delicious. And Ill be here rooting you onso go ahead and dig in!

Yes, yes, we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But before you roll your eyes and reach for that bar, think about how much better you feel when you have a full tank of (delicious) fuel before you dive into your jam-packed schedule. I know not every morning is going to be so leisurely and lovely, but thats why Ive included lots of quick and easy recipessweet, savory, and everything in betweenthat you can make while half-asleep or even prep in advance. Then, when you have a little bit of time to stop and smell the pancakes, you can pick a recipe or two for a more laid-back brunch.