• Eat Your Books

  2001 James Beard Award Nominee, International Association of Culinary Professionals Award Winner

  See Seattle Tall Poppy's take on a recipe from this book (includes sample recipe).

• sfcarole on January 12, 2013

  Thanks for the tip Laura! I love this cookbook too. As you said, every recipe seems to turn out wonderfully. Lately, I've been trying to make one new recipe a week from Herbfarm, so, if I can find any peaches around, I'll try the grilled peach salad. As far as the meat recipes go, my husband loves the Dilled Chicken Piccata. And I've made the Sautéed Duck Breasts with Mint, Coriander and Olives so many times that it has led some friends to buy the cookbook! This weekend I made his Herbal Chicken Noodle Soup because my husband has the flu. Another success!

• Laura on January 12, 2013

  This may just be my favorite cookbook. Every recipe I have cooked from it has been just wonderful and the recipes are not overly-complicated. I've really come to rely on it for good meat recipes and the grilled peach salad is heaven!

• Foodelf on March 14, 2010

  As a herb-lover for years, this book sang to me. Everything I've tried was terrific and the Grilled Flank Steak in Oregano Marinade is a firm favourite I've made again and again to rave reviews and demands for the recipe.Jerry Traunfeld's imaginative approach to herbs and all food inspires and delights.

• sfcarole on February 08, 2010

  A friend's wedding reception was held at the Herbfarm outside of Seattle. The bride gave me this book as a gift, and little did I realize what a gem it was. From his Fettuccine with Red Onion, Blue Cheese and Thyme to his Fish en Papillote to his Lemon Verbena Sorbet--Traunfeld's flavor combinations are spot-on.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• Chanterelle and corn chowder with basil

  • Avocet on October 13, 2016

    We didn't think that the chanterelle flavor came though as much as we would have liked.

• Pumpkin and shrimp bisque

  • Katie on November 28, 2025

    Perfect for a Thanksgiving starter

• Balsamic potato salad

  • mez on January 28, 2012

    I have done this recipe twice, and each time is just doesn't live up to what I'm hoping for. Not quite sure why.

• Grilled peach salad

  • Laura on August 28, 2010

    Pg. 69. A beautiful way to serve the summer's bounty of peaches. This was delicious!

• Spinach with sorrel, mint, and anchovy

  • lorloff on September 15, 2024

    I had sorrel and spearmint in my garden and baby spinach from the farmer’s market This recipe was perfect, super flavorful and a home run, Highly recommended

• Swiss chard gratin

  • kjwright on July 07, 2011

    A favorite recipe - travels well for potlucks, elegant yet homey dish.

  • Laura on September 24, 2017

    Pg.134. I rarely cook dishes containing flour, milk and cheese, but this was worth the splurge! Very easy to assemble and absolutely delicious. The nutmeg really came through and really enhanced the flavor of the entire dish.

• Roasted ratatouille

  • Laura on September 06, 2014

    Pg. 141. Wow, this is fabulous. I was searching for a new ratatouille recipe and this turned up in my EYB search. As one might expect from an Herbfarm recipe, it used several fresh herbs that I happened to have left over from previous meals. (Yay!) I made a couple of changes -- I drizzled some basil oil that I had leftover from another dish over the vegetables before the final stint in the oven. Also, in the place of breadcrumbs, I sprinkled parmigiano-reggiano over the top before the final bake. I'd make this again tomorrow!

• Spicy red cabbage with apple and cilantro

  • Avocet on August 22, 2023

    This was extremely good, and very fast and easy to do.I would not have thought to pair lime and cilantro with red cabbage, but it works very well indeed. Fixed it with pork chops with a mustard sauce and corn on the cob. p. 144.

• Roasted parsnips with thyme

  • bwehner on April 28, 2012

    So easy. Use a good quality balsamic & it's perfectly simple!

  • Laura on October 15, 2012

    Pg. 145. This dish is wonderful on many levels. It's absolutely delicious and it's very simple to prepare. Even though it's roasted, it almost seems like parsnip fries. We love parsnips, but even people who think they don't like them will like this dish. It was perfect as is, but next time I might try it with rosemary instead of thyme, just to see the difference.

• Herb-roasted potatoes

  • Laura on September 24, 2017

    Pg. 146. Made these with multi-colored fingerling potatoes. As the recipe directed, I cut the fingerlings in half crosswise. These turned out really crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. We liked them a lot. I'd make them again.

• Potatoes in herbed cream

  • cfrailey on February 16, 2023

    Delicious way to make scalloped potatoes

• Baked herb polenta

  • ellabee on February 24, 2013

    p.154. A more intuitive and reassuring version of the Wolfert minimal-stir, with the stirring at the beginning.

• Halibut baked with leeks, apple, and lovage

  • Laura on February 09, 2022

    Pg. 162. I made this for lunch today and we really liked it. I didn’t have any lovage, so I googled for substitutes and celery leaves came up. Unfortunately, none of the celery I had had any leaves, so I left that out. Anyway, except for the painstaking task of cutting the leek segments into tiny matchsticks it was very easy and relatively quick. Looking forward to leftovers for dinner tonight. I’d definitely make this again.

• Braised monkfish with fennel bulb and lemon thyme

  • Laura on February 28, 2015

    Pg. 168. We thought this was just ok. I did make some changes out of necessity or personal preference. Rather than monkfish, I used cod (I don't cook monkfish because it's time-consuming and laborious to remove the membrane). I also couldn't find lemon thyme, so used English thyme and added a lot of lemon zest to compensate. Overall, the dish just didn't have very much of the lemon or fennel flavor -- it just fell flat for us. Needless to say, I wouldn't make it again.

• Braised chicken with leeks and porcini

  • ellabee on March 06, 2012

    page 200. Delicious and easy; a one-pan dish in a large saute pan. Thin slivers of roasted red pepper or some other contrasting garnish nice for company.

• Herb-braised short ribs of beef

  • bwehner on January 02, 2013

    This has now become my go to recipe for short ribs. Serve with Baked Herb Polenta from the same cookbook. Match made in heaven!

  • Laura on January 12, 2013

    Pg. 220. Fantastic! This is very easy to prep and doesn't take a lot of hands-on prep time, but it still needs to cook for about 3 hours. Very nice flavors and the beef was falling off the bone -- used grass-fed beef purchased directly from the farmer. Served with Italian Roast Potatoes from the NYT Cookbook and some sauteed kale. Lovely winter meal.

  • Foodelf on December 23, 2015

    Fantastic recipe with a lovely array of herbs showcasing and enhancing the short ribs. I've returned to it many times. I've loved everything I've made from this book, including the preceding recipe for Grilled Flank Steak.

  • DFarnham on January 01, 2021

    I've had this book for years, and finally got around to trying these ribs. Oh my gosh! This will now be my go-to short rib recipe! Outstanding, easy and so flavorful. Served on top of the baked herb polenta--wow!

• Pork tenderloin crusted with Mediterranean herbs

  • Laura on January 30, 2015

    Pg. 222. We really enjoyed this version of pork tenderloin. The herbs formed a really nice crust after being seared. The meat was perfectly cooked in the time designated and it was still really moist. It couldn't have been simpler. I also made the Red Pepper and Hazelnut Sauce that Traunfeld suggested to acccompany the pork. I was a bit skeptical that this sauce would be a good accompaniment to the pork, but made it anyway. The sauce on its own is really pretty and very delicious! It was fine with the pork, but I personally think it would be better partnered with fish. I'll definitely cook pork tenderloin with this recipe again!

  • TippyCanoe on August 13, 2021

    This recipe has been my favorite pork tenderloin recipe for years. I just pulled out the cookbook to find it again. This reminded me what a keeper this cookbook is. A real classic in the kitchen and the recipes still feel very relevant to my cooking today. I personally prefer serving with a classic romesco sauce over the suggested hazelnut sauce, but that is only because we live in Spain and local almonds are more easily available than hazelnuts.

• Maple-and-herb brined pork roast

  • Laura on December 20, 2010

    Pg. 224. This was quite good and very easy! The flavors of the herbs really come through if you follow his suggestion and line the bottom of the roasting pan with rosemary and sage branches. The meat was fairly moist, which is always a plus with pork. Would definitely make this again.

  • julesamomof2 on November 25, 2021

    While fine, this was a little underwhelming for me. However, I only brined the pork for about 6 hours, and the recipe states 16-24. I think that might make a big difference in the flavor. It also needs a gravy since on it's own its quite plain.

  • cfrailey on February 16, 2023

    Delicious with recommended side of Potatoes in Herbed Cream. Used a boneless pork shoulder, approx 4 lb. I rated this 5 stars.

• Herb-crusted rack of lamb

  • kjwright on July 07, 2011

    Great entree for entertaining. Simple and mostly advance prep.

• Roast boneless leg of lamb with rosemary and lavender

  • Laura on December 25, 2010

    Pg. 229. This is excellent! And it could not be more simple. Made a lovely Christmas dinner entree. I do have to confess that I did not include the lavender (not a fan), but otherwise followed the directions exactly. I'll be making this again and again.

  • ellabee on March 06, 2012

    p.229. Minus lavender, this is my go-to roast lamb recipe. Outstanding. We get a half lamb every winter, so may someday work up courage to try with lavender.

  • bwehner on December 23, 2015

    Agreed! It's delicious. If you take his advice to trim well before marinating, it's worth the effort. Tender, very flavorful, easy.

  • julesamomof2 on April 13, 2020

    Perfection! No need to look further and as infrequently as I serve lamb, I will stick with this recipe. I was nervous about the lavender, but I since I had dried lavender on hand I added sparingly and it added a nice floral note but was not overwhelming in any way.

• Pear, maple, and rosemary clafouti

  • NanaCooks on September 29, 2013

    Very quick to make. Nice use of our own pears. Lots of maple flavor.

• Apple-rosemary soufflé

  • bwehner on January 02, 2013

    Light and delicate. Very good. But, individual flavors aren't that distinguishable. The apple sauce is delicious.

• Red pepper and hazelnut sauce

  • Laura on January 30, 2015

    Pg. 331. This sauce is sensational! Traunfeld describes it as a version of romesco sauce, substituting hazelnuts for almonds. I made it exactly as written, but did take the shortcut step of using bottled roasted red peppers rather than roasting the peppers myself. I don't think the sauce suffered from it at all. The sauce is a really lovely salmon color and while I made it to accompany the Pork Tenderloin with Mediterranean Herbs recipe, I think it would be better paired with seafood or vegetables.