Book Review: Bring favorite stories to the table with a new Pixar cookbook
A new Disney cookbook allows Pixar fans of all ages to create dishes inspired by favorite stories and characters – and you don’t have to be a French chef like Remy to make them.
Pixar: The Official Cookbook
Pixar: The Official Cookbook features 75 recipes for eats and treats that pay tribute to almost every Pixar short and film, including “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles,” and of course “Ratatouille.”
I enlisted my son and his girlfriend (both chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants) to help me test out six Pixar-inspired recipes, from the famous soup in “Ratatouille” to chocolaty Kol Nuts from “Elemental.” The book’s photography, suggestions for alternate ingredients, and even helpful tips and tricks from beloved characters, Pixar: The Official Cookbook not only creates fun in the kitchen but proves that “anyone can cook!”
Here’s what we made:
Gusteau’s Soup from “Ratatouille”
Remy’s version of the French restaurant’s famous soup was a “happy accident” after Linguini ruined his own batch, but it started the partnership between the unlikely duo – and when you taste it, you’ll know why it was the hit of Paris!
NOTE: The recipe does not call for salt but needs it. We recommend adding salt in each step, but you can season to taste at the end. Also, removing the potatoes from the soup before pureeing is a little tricky, so we suggest either pureeing the potatoes into the soup or cooking the potatoes separately and adding them later.
Broccoli Pizza from “Inside Out”
Riley and her mom were less-than-impressed with the broccoli pizza served in San Francisco but this thin-crust, garlicky, cheesy pizza brought us joy! And if (like Riley), you’re not a broccoli fan, other toppings can be substituted.
NOTE: The recipe calls for gluten-free flour, but we thought the crust ended up a bit too flat and dry. Since we’re not following a gluten-free diet, we would probably use regular flour next time (or store-bought pre-made pizza dough), but if you require a gluten-free crust, maybe use a little extra olive oil to add moisture.
22-Style Gyro inspired by “Soul”
Inspired by a “heated discussion” between Twenty-two and Archimedes in “Soul” about how to pronounce this Greek dish, the pita wrap is delicious no matter how you pronounce its name (but it’s “Yee-Roh”).
NOTE: Making the Gyro meat is a bit labor intensive, but if you’re willing to put in the time, the result is delicious. Another option would be to make little patties instead.
Trenette Al Pesto from “Luca”
A tribute to “Luca” director Enrico Casarosa’s family recipe, the pasta dish Giulia’s papa prepared for Luca and Alberto is easy to make – and even kids who avoid “green foods” might be willing to give it a try.
NOTE: The recipe calls for the pasta, green beans, and potatoes to be cooked together, but our beans and potatoes were a bit overcooked, so we suggest adding them a few minutes after the pasta. Also, we recommend toasting the pine nuts before adding them to the pesto.
Lemon Cookies inspired by “Cars 2”
The members of the international crime syndicate in the “Cars” sequel may be lemons (a name for “loser” vehicles), but these lemony sugar cookies are winners.
Kol Nuts from “Elemental”
The signature treat in “Elemental” is Kol Nuts, and we can certainly understand why. The chocolate truffles were very easy (and also very messy) to make, but this is one time parents won’t mind kids getting their hands “dirty.”
NOTE: The recipe calls for black cocoa powder, but we used regular cocoa powder.
All six recipes we tried were very fun and (relatively) easy – even for non-chefs. It’s the perfect cookbook for Pixar-loving families who love making meals together.
Click here to order Pixar: The Official Cookbook.
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