Book excerpt: Mediterranean vegetarian food is one of the healthiest and most delicious in the world. Based on simple, home-style cooking, this mouth-watering collection of over 200 dishes truly evokes the spirit of the region and makes it easy to reap the benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet. Based on fresh produce and readily-available ingredients, the recipes range form starters and salads to a wide variety of healthy main courses, rice, pasta and desserts, as well as all kinds of delicious ways to prepare vegetables. This book includes traditional fare from every country around the Mediterranean, such as potato and spinach croquettes from Albania, Catalan split pea soup, Sardinian aubergine ravioli, Provencal onion quiche, Tunisian couscous with sweet and hot peppers, and Dalmatian cream caramel. The recipes are simple and easy to prepare, with plenty of room for improvisation and flexibility. Much more than simply a cookery book, "Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking" is also a guide to this beautiful and diverse region, outlining the cultural and historical foundations of culinary specialities and traditions. Food writer Paola Gavin reveals how the pleasures of cooking and eating the Mediterranean way will be treasured by cooks and food-lovers alike.