Hot Sheet

December 1, 2023
Massov and Lemoine, who have years of food-writing, recipe-developing, and cookbook-editing experience (and friendship!) between them, help readers turn out mouthwatering sheet-pan dishes, catering to both sweet and savory tastes. They begin the book with a heap of helpful information about sheet-pan cooking, such as sizes of sheet pans and how to care for them, along with other tools and equipment that might be needed. Readers will find recipes for omnivores, like roasted chicken with vegetables and Dijon mustard or ritzy fish and chips, as well as plant-based meals, like mushroom parmigiana and gnocchi with broccoli and lemony ricotta. Sure to surprise some readers, the authors even explain how to cook rice on a sheet pan. Sheet-pan dishes are known for being efficient with time and crowd friendly, and this book makes more than good on that promise.

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Starred review from February 19, 2024
Lemoine (Make it Japanese) and Washington Post food editor Massov join forces in this inspiring collection to extol the sheet pan as a versatile “kitchen superhero.” The 106 inventive recipes range from traditional oven-baked fare (roasted chicken with vegetables and dijon mustard) to creative translations, such as oven ratatouille with eggs and an “exceedingly simple” chicken “stir-fry” with greens and bell peppers. While quick sheet pan chili is similar to a stovetop recipe, the addition of amber ale, brewed coffee, and cocoa powder intrigues. Flavor experiments also show up in chaat masala “nachos”; curry gratin dauphinois, which combines curry and cream in a potato gratin; and gochujang steak fajitas with kimchi, onions, and peppers. For easy weekday meals, there’s fish and chips with a Ritz cracker coating, homemade Shake ’n Bake, and “quesadilla for a crowd” (which promises to be a hit with “hangry kids”). Lively intros explain the inspiration behind each recipe: butterscotch saltine or matzo brittle is based on a treat from Massov’s sixth grade teacher, while the Japanese oven burgers with cabbage salad are inspired by Lemoine’s mother. A fennel and citrus salad that’s “more of a framework than a recipe” and “quickles” (quick pickles) are among a handful of tasty side recipes. Home cooks interested in exploring and expanding their sheet pan repertoire will find this invaluable.