What do you think?
Rate this book
The Don't Panic Pantry Cookbook: Mostly Vegetarian Comfort Food That Happens to Be Pretty Good for You
This is the book that seeks to answer the eternal question: "What am I supposed to eat?" Here the chef and writer Noah Galuten, host of the charmingly self-deprecating YouTube series "Don't Panic Pantry," serves up convenient, healthily delicious, mostly vegetarian comfort food, teaching you how to prepare meals and snacks you're genuinely excited to eat.
As the world changes around us, we are constantly vacillating between two different versions of ourselves: the one who wants to be healthier and the one who wants to be excited, or comforted, by the food that we eat. We all want to eat "better," but what does that mean? This book is here to say: Don't panic.
Don't panic about learning how to cook; or environmental sustainability; or nutrition. Don't panic about what to make for breakfast or dinner or midnight snacks, because Noah Galuten has your back! In Noah's kitchen, trying really matters, perfection is overrated, and better is good enough. Noah gives you the tools to create kitchen staples and vegetable-and-bean-centric dishes (with just a little meat too) that will become the beloved, simple, everyday meals you will make over and over in your home.
Here are recipes for a "Chef Salad" with Cheddar Croutons and Probiotic Ranch; and three different versions of broccoli pasta (vegetarian, pescatarian or with rosemary-infused sausage) that you will put on weekly rotation. There are recipes for Noah's Instagram-famous Krauty Beans; a 30-second Vegan Tahini Dressing that will become your new favorite dip; a Miso Roast Chicken with Vegetables that you can prep in advance and leave in the fridge for several hours, or even a day, that makes dinner for your entire family using a single sheet pan. But there's also--for when you really need it--the fresh herbed panko-crusted Mozzarella Marinara that made Galuten's famously funny wife, comedian Iliza Shlesinger, break down in grateful tears. Here are your pantry staples for the future, to help you make cooking at home the tastier, more convenient, don't panic option.
As the world changes around us, we are constantly vacillating between two different versions of ourselves: the one who wants to be healthier and the one who wants to be excited, or comforted, by the food that we eat. We all want to eat "better," but what does that mean? This book is here to say: Don't panic.
Don't panic about learning how to cook; or environmental sustainability; or nutrition. Don't panic about what to make for breakfast or dinner or midnight snacks, because Noah Galuten has your back! In Noah's kitchen, trying really matters, perfection is overrated, and better is good enough. Noah gives you the tools to create kitchen staples and vegetable-and-bean-centric dishes (with just a little meat too) that will become the beloved, simple, everyday meals you will make over and over in your home.
Here are recipes for a "Chef Salad" with Cheddar Croutons and Probiotic Ranch; and three different versions of broccoli pasta (vegetarian, pescatarian or with rosemary-infused sausage) that you will put on weekly rotation. There are recipes for Noah's Instagram-famous Krauty Beans; a 30-second Vegan Tahini Dressing that will become your new favorite dip; a Miso Roast Chicken with Vegetables that you can prep in advance and leave in the fridge for several hours, or even a day, that makes dinner for your entire family using a single sheet pan. But there's also--for when you really need it--the fresh herbed panko-crusted Mozzarella Marinara that made Galuten's famously funny wife, comedian Iliza Shlesinger, break down in grateful tears. Here are your pantry staples for the future, to help you make cooking at home the tastier, more convenient, don't panic option.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published January 31, 2023
44 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 7, 2022
I'm a big fan of cookbooks, even if I rarely get around to using them when it comes time to cook.
Too often I freeze up at too many options and absolutely panic only to fall back on reliable recipes I've used for years, and then lament the fact that I never try anything new.
"Don't Panic" and "Pantry" are both big draws for me in a cookbook title, it turns out. "Mostly Vegetarian" is a perk, given that my spouse has recently started trying to steer themselves toward a more veggie and less meaty diet.
I absolutely loved the introduction's emphasis on 'don't panic' and 'trying matters'. I've recently found that reminding myself that 'better is enough' and 'perfection does not exist' helps a lot with my day to day life, so seeing those phrases right there, staring me in the face from the introduction, was delightful. "Learn how to make food you are willing to eat" is a phrase everyone needs to hear and sit with.
I was also pleased to realize that Noah Galuten's wife is the comedian my mom recently told me about, emphasizing how much I would adore her and needed to go watch some stuff immediately. It looks like I'll be looking into their pandemic cooking videos first!
I was quite pleased to see that most of the pantry staple recommendations are things I already have stashed around our kitchen and pantry, although I did jot down a couple of things that made sense to me that we don't keep on hand. I was also pleasantly surprised at how much of the book seemed to be variations on things I already do- I made so many notes of things to try out next time I panic and go to my tried-and-true recipes, so that I'll at least feel like I'm mixing it up when I'm not stepping entirely out of my comfort zone.
I did copy down a few recipes in their entirety and am eager to get a chance to try those. I've been wanting to try my hand at pickling for a while and the "Ginger-Habanero Carrot Pickles" looked and sounded amazing! They'll likely be my first stop with this book, but I'm also eager to tackle some of those soups and salad dressings as well!
Overall, I'll definitely be recommending this book to those who seem overwhelmed by our cookbook selection and to friends who express frustration at not knowing where to start.
Too often I freeze up at too many options and absolutely panic only to fall back on reliable recipes I've used for years, and then lament the fact that I never try anything new.
"Don't Panic" and "Pantry" are both big draws for me in a cookbook title, it turns out. "Mostly Vegetarian" is a perk, given that my spouse has recently started trying to steer themselves toward a more veggie and less meaty diet.
I absolutely loved the introduction's emphasis on 'don't panic' and 'trying matters'. I've recently found that reminding myself that 'better is enough' and 'perfection does not exist' helps a lot with my day to day life, so seeing those phrases right there, staring me in the face from the introduction, was delightful. "Learn how to make food you are willing to eat" is a phrase everyone needs to hear and sit with.
I was also pleased to realize that Noah Galuten's wife is the comedian my mom recently told me about, emphasizing how much I would adore her and needed to go watch some stuff immediately. It looks like I'll be looking into their pandemic cooking videos first!
I was quite pleased to see that most of the pantry staple recommendations are things I already have stashed around our kitchen and pantry, although I did jot down a couple of things that made sense to me that we don't keep on hand. I was also pleasantly surprised at how much of the book seemed to be variations on things I already do- I made so many notes of things to try out next time I panic and go to my tried-and-true recipes, so that I'll at least feel like I'm mixing it up when I'm not stepping entirely out of my comfort zone.
I did copy down a few recipes in their entirety and am eager to get a chance to try those. I've been wanting to try my hand at pickling for a while and the "Ginger-Habanero Carrot Pickles" looked and sounded amazing! They'll likely be my first stop with this book, but I'm also eager to tackle some of those soups and salad dressings as well!
Overall, I'll definitely be recommending this book to those who seem overwhelmed by our cookbook selection and to friends who express frustration at not knowing where to start.
February 5, 2023
I love to cook and I love to read cookbooks. I enjoyed the new ideas (new for me) The Don’t Panic Cookbook and look forward to trying a few. Author Noah Galuten uses a lot of tamari, miso, tahini, and chilies—items we use rarely in our house, but might make eating more fun. I enjoyed reading this and might watch Galuten’s web series from the pandemic (The Don’t Worry Pantry).
February 8, 2023
Looking forward to trying some of these recipes! Many of them are bean-based due to Galuten’s upbringing, making them fibrous and vegetarian friendly.
September 1, 2022
How did I miss The Don’t Panic Pantry during the CoVid quarantine! I really missed out on something amazing. A chef and his comedienne wife cook live on the internet using the staples we all stocked up on at the grocery store. Full of mostly vegan recipes there are some very delicious comfort food recipes that are also no sugar. The exceptions use chicken stock, chicken or fish. I plan on making the clam pasta recipe this week! The Sausage and Broccoli Stromboli is delicious and so are the soups and grain bowls. If you are looking for healthy and delicious recipes for your family this is the book you need.
June 14, 2023
I love this cookbook. Straightforward, healthy food, designed for a home cook. My favorite recipe is The Hippie California salad, which reminds me of eating in Berkeley in the 90’s. The recipes are simple, but with different flavor profiles than I typically cook with, I’d love to cook through this whole book.
December 8, 2023
I borrowed the Kindle version from my local library via the Libby app. This was a good cookbook to go through, though I wish there were more photos.
April 29, 2023
I don't know the TV show that the book is based on (I thought it was a concept, " don't panic, we've got this")
The first thing that struck me about this book was the shame run through it. In the introduction, before we even get to the content, the authors repeat, three times, their "guidelines" for food, more than half are shame based, black and white rules ("this type of food is bad."). There are more nuances in the text but when you couple the sentence "don't panic about nutrition" with the "bad foods" listed less than 5 sentences later, how much nuance is really present?
As someone who practices (or tries to) intentional eating, I strive to not hold any food as "good/bad" but rather that all food serves a purpose (processed food is amazing, when compared to more realistic option of 'just not eating' as opposed to "cook your meal from scratch').
Similarly, the author encourages us to adapt the recipe, as he has to for his wife as she "has not this far properly explained " her food preferences. Does one need to justify a preference for or aversion to particular foods? Does one need to "properly " justify it?
The saving grace in the book is, of course, the actual recipes. If you like vegetarian Italian-american food (it's not exclusively, but overwhelmingly the content), this book might be up your alley. There are several things here I want to try.
But would I recommend it to my clients? Absolutely no. The food based shame in America is too strong without me suggesting a book that reinforces that toxic message.
The first thing that struck me about this book was the shame run through it. In the introduction, before we even get to the content, the authors repeat, three times, their "guidelines" for food, more than half are shame based, black and white rules ("this type of food is bad."). There are more nuances in the text but when you couple the sentence "don't panic about nutrition" with the "bad foods" listed less than 5 sentences later, how much nuance is really present?
As someone who practices (or tries to) intentional eating, I strive to not hold any food as "good/bad" but rather that all food serves a purpose (processed food is amazing, when compared to more realistic option of 'just not eating' as opposed to "cook your meal from scratch').
Similarly, the author encourages us to adapt the recipe, as he has to for his wife as she "has not this far properly explained " her food preferences. Does one need to justify a preference for or aversion to particular foods? Does one need to "properly " justify it?
The saving grace in the book is, of course, the actual recipes. If you like vegetarian Italian-american food (it's not exclusively, but overwhelmingly the content), this book might be up your alley. There are several things here I want to try.
But would I recommend it to my clients? Absolutely no. The food based shame in America is too strong without me suggesting a book that reinforces that toxic message.
February 4, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up. While I liked this, and even found a couple of recipes I’d be willing to try, I once again have to rail against the bougie-ness of a cookbook. Food deserts and food insecurity are 2 very real things in this country and many of the recipes in this cookbook call for ingredients that will be hard to source for anyone who falls in those 2 categories.
The author also dedicated many pages to decry the horrors of processed food and, look, from a health perspective I totally get it. However, not everyone has the resources - or the time - to not rely on food items from a box or a can.
On the positive side, there were several pasta dishes that piqued my interest. Adding in the lists of fully veg, vegan, and gluten free recipes before the index is something I wish most cookbooks would do.
The author also dedicated many pages to decry the horrors of processed food and, look, from a health perspective I totally get it. However, not everyone has the resources - or the time - to not rely on food items from a box or a can.
On the positive side, there were several pasta dishes that piqued my interest. Adding in the lists of fully veg, vegan, and gluten free recipes before the index is something I wish most cookbooks would do.
February 5, 2023
This would be a great book for someone learning how to cook who lives in an area where multiple grocery stores and markets are easily available. Though I think this book has potential, I was a bit disappointed. As a more seasoned cook, I had been hoping for more ideas on meals that I could quickly bring together and that would also make great leftovers. Most of the recipes listed can be put together in a reasonable amount of time. However, a good number of them are meant to be eaten in one sitting. That said, there are about three or four recipes that I will try that will reheat well. I was surprised by the number of meals that had meat as a primary ingredient, since the book was labeled "mostly vegetarian."
November 18, 2022
I wanted this to be the answer for all my friends who feel overwhelmed by cooking, and it wasn't. If you are someone who panics in the kitchen, this book may not be your answer. However, if you are someone who likes to maintain a kitchen/pantry of basics with which to build interesting dishes, this will be up your alley. Despite all that this was not, it will still be something I keep handy for meal planning and for when I want to make a vegetarian dish for friends and family.
June 16, 2023
TL:DR: I want to eat every recipe, but I don't think the book lived up to what the title promised.
There are a lot of delicious-sounding recipes in this book that I will definitely be trying but I take a little bit of issue with the "pantry" premise. If you are looking for a book on easy-to-reach pantry staples used in new ways, this is not it.
The seemed philosophy behind the book and title and the actual philosophy driving the contents are incongruent. Pantry-based cooking should be a means of shelf-stable and affordable food for all, but the type of ingredients are a bit specialized for the typical pantry. On one hand, in today's age great quality spices, specialties and even seafood are available to order on the internet; on the other pantry meals should be a way to fight food insecurity and these recipes do not meet that need. No cookbook that wants you to make your own broth is really a pantry cookbook. In fact I would say this cookbook utilizes more freezer than pantry.
If you are trying to recover from diet culture or repair your relationship with food, beware that there is "this is healthy, this is not" current running through the book. It is gentle, but there is a definite lens. I do appreciate the research and transparency that is mentioned throughout. It is backed up with logic and a clear tread of the author's upbringing.
Though there are substitutions, notes, and suggestions this is not as it claims a "mostly vegetarian" cookbook. This is a great book if you are trying out a "flexitarian" lifestyle and looking to reduce your meat consumption but may not meet your needs if you are already fully vegetarian.
There are a lot of delicious-sounding recipes in this book that I will definitely be trying but I take a little bit of issue with the "pantry" premise. If you are looking for a book on easy-to-reach pantry staples used in new ways, this is not it.
The seemed philosophy behind the book and title and the actual philosophy driving the contents are incongruent. Pantry-based cooking should be a means of shelf-stable and affordable food for all, but the type of ingredients are a bit specialized for the typical pantry. On one hand, in today's age great quality spices, specialties and even seafood are available to order on the internet; on the other pantry meals should be a way to fight food insecurity and these recipes do not meet that need. No cookbook that wants you to make your own broth is really a pantry cookbook. In fact I would say this cookbook utilizes more freezer than pantry.
If you are trying to recover from diet culture or repair your relationship with food, beware that there is "this is healthy, this is not" current running through the book. It is gentle, but there is a definite lens. I do appreciate the research and transparency that is mentioned throughout. It is backed up with logic and a clear tread of the author's upbringing.
Though there are substitutions, notes, and suggestions this is not as it claims a "mostly vegetarian" cookbook. This is a great book if you are trying out a "flexitarian" lifestyle and looking to reduce your meat consumption but may not meet your needs if you are already fully vegetarian.
April 28, 2023
I downloaded goodreads just to rate this book. I absolutely love it. Its easy, simple, entertaining, and full of info about what foods are healthy for you. I love how the book emphasizes just keeping a few things on hand will make a quick and healthy dinner fast and easy. This author reuses the same ingredients throughout so many recipes. It means Im not wasting my time buying all of these ingredients I will only use once. I love the personal stories included at the top of every recipe. I love the alternative suggestions for different methods of cooking. I love how basic each recipe is and yet so flavorful. And I am especially thankful for how my lifestyle is changing to more lentils, beans, and vegetables instead of always eating a large piece of meat for dinner. These recipes are cheap to make. Even when buying the better and higher quality ingredients. Also, many of the recipes are shown cooked by the author and his wife on the YouTube channel Dont Panic Pantry. Thank you a million times for this book. I will buy any book you publish in the future. I will also buy this book as gifts to friends and family. I wish you and your beautiful family all the best!
December 13, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this book.
This one was not as useful as I had hoped, unfortunately. My guess is if you live in an urban coastal area this would be a much better cookbook choice; I kept running down the lists of ingredients and thinking about my small town Iowa grocery stores and sighing. One breakfast suggestion here needed 45 minutes to cook. How am I ever supposed to make it to work? Another one was called "health sludge" which is just kind of hard to get behind. Tbh, I am not going to be making all my own stock anytime soon. I'm sure that this will fit many readers much better than it did me.
This one was not as useful as I had hoped, unfortunately. My guess is if you live in an urban coastal area this would be a much better cookbook choice; I kept running down the lists of ingredients and thinking about my small town Iowa grocery stores and sighing. One breakfast suggestion here needed 45 minutes to cook. How am I ever supposed to make it to work? Another one was called "health sludge" which is just kind of hard to get behind. Tbh, I am not going to be making all my own stock anytime soon. I'm sure that this will fit many readers much better than it did me.
April 4, 2025
Contains one of my favorite pesto recipes that doesn't need those darn expensive pine nuts. So many good mostly vegetarian meals that are filling, tasty, and don't require any out of the norm equipment. Most recipes I have been able to make very cheaply and in under an hour. Again, mostly vegetarian recipes, but there are you classic chicken parm, fish fillet, and meatball recipes are still in there. RECOMMENDED RECIPES: Barely Beef Chili, Jalapeno Pesto Humus Ginger-Cilantro Chicken Salad, Green Vegetable Pesto, Red Lentil Pomodoro with Spinach and White Beans
August 22, 2024
Even though I try to eat vegan, I enjoyed this "mostly" vegetarian cookbook. It would be an excellent cookbook for someone trying to get more plants and fiber (beans) into their diet. When he uses meat, it's usually an accent or flavoring for the dish rather than the star. He does have a few meat and fish dishes at the end of the book. I'm inspired to try versions of his recipes. The pasta sauces made me want to start cooking immediately.
March 6, 2023
This year I'm including everything, and I read a lot of cookbooks! Borrowed from the library, I don't think it adds enough to my overly-full cookbook shelf to merit a purchase, but I think it is a cookbook I'd definitely recommend. Good salads, soups look tasty, and I appreciate the overall healthy approach. Hmm, come to think of it, I might get a copy...
February 1, 2023
Upon opening the cookbook, I stumbled across two recipes with meat in them. It seems a bit misleading to say “mostly”vegetarian. The illustrations and layout look nice, but I didn’t bother looking at the rest of the recipes.
February 27, 2023
Beautiful cookbook with delicious, easy to follow recipes. Noah is a great writer and this is a cookbook you will enjoy reading as much as trying out these recipes. I gave this book to a few friends and they all love it!
March 25, 2023
some classic easy food, although overall nothing really inspired and the flavor pallet seemed fairly uniform to me which is one thing I hate especially in vegetarian cooking. It feels so lazy when there are so many different veg flavors and textures to work with.
March 29, 2023
I have never heard of this cook, and so maybe the vibe of the book was lost on me…? I thought the recipes were fussy and not that unique, and the photos of the author and his wife felt unnatural and fake.
This is an unkind review, but I really just think these recipes and this approach to cooking (upper middle class Hollywood Hills farmers market crowd) don’t bring much to advance good cooking for all.
This is an unkind review, but I really just think these recipes and this approach to cooking (upper middle class Hollywood Hills farmers market crowd) don’t bring much to advance good cooking for all.
August 10, 2023
Easy, healthy recipes you can make with stuff you already have in the cupboard. Some of them are so simple you think, I don’t need a recipe for this. But then again, I didn’t think the recipe on my own.
July 8, 2025
Was excited about the title, but didn't live up to my expectations. As someone who does a ton of cooking and reads a lot of cookbooks, this didn't offer much new to me, but more than that, I read through a few recipes and the instructions weren't clear on a few - so that was an early turnoff.
Read
May 6, 2023Not for me
June 7, 2023
Completely devoid of helpful advice about navigating the galaxy, let alone what to serve at Vogon poetry slams. Very disappointing.
September 5, 2023
Not one good recipe
December 3, 2023
I would have liked a few more pictures and a few more vegetarian bean recipes but there are a ton of veggie, vegan and gluten free recipes! I’m also excited to try the oven method for cooking beans!
December 4, 2023
So many beans. I was not excited to make a single recipe in here. Maybe more useful for people just learning how to cook?
August 10, 2024
Some good ideas overall.
November 21, 2024
Decent mostly American recipes, but similar to recipes I already have. They have a YouTube channel you can watch.
August 14, 2025
I can definitely see buying this one for my home pantry, not just because Noah and Iliza are freaking adorable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews