The Essential Asian Cookbook

The Essential Cookbook

by Jane Bowring (Editor), Jane Price (Editor)

The Essential Asian Cookbook offers hints and notes on unusual ingredients, while step-by-step photographs guide the reader through many tricky culinary techniques. Included is a comprehensive pictorial guide to essential equipment with detailed instructions on the best ways to use and maintain them. Preparation pages with step-by-step photographs and easy-to-follow instructions explain different methods that make this book perfect for cooks of all ages and abilities. Beautifully photographed glossaries show unusual ingredients and food varieties with their common and not-so-common names. Snippets of history related to the dishes add interest while colorful double-page features provide a wealth of information on buying, storing and preparing some of the more unusual ingredients. Over 500 full-color photographs are featured.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Reference, Nonfiction, Food, Asia, Culinary

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Betsy Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have actually owned this book twice. It is a great sampling of Asia's delicacies.

[Amanda Ching · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thinking of getting this book for my own. It's a nice sampling of flavours from many Asian cuisines, including the standards of Chinese, Japanese and Thai. But there's also sections on Laos, Korea, and Burma, plus a few more. It has a few special sections on things like breads (naan!, satays, yum cha, pickles, currys, and raitas. I have to admit that I have a fondness for any cookbook that show me how to make an Asian dessert that I wouldn't mind trying (I am a notorious Chinese dessert hater.)!

What I liked most about this recipe book was the pictures. They aren't stingy with the pictures. There's a picture of EVERYTHING, but, for the most part, they don't take up half the page. The recipes flow into one another, so there's no blank space. It's an economical use of pages while managing to cram little tidbits of info in there.

I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find that I can plan a whole party menu from one book. But next party I am making Prawn Toasts, Chili Spare ribs, summer rolls, fish cakes, soba noodles, samosas, and sweet wontons, all things I have made before. But these recipes seem to explain better, and I'm eager to attempt anew.

OM NOM NOM NOM.

EDIT: Just bought used on amazon! WOOT!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein großartiges Buch, das einen riesen Überblick über die asiatische Küche gibt - geordnet nach LÄndern und mit kleinen Ausflügen in Spezialthemen wie: Chutneys, Reis, asiatisches Obst, etc.
Viele leckere Rezepte, wunderbare Fotos.
Das einzige Manko dieses Buches besteht darin, dass es wirklich ein Kochbuch ist, das nicht alltäglich verwendet werden kann. Die Zutaten und die Dauer des Kochens sowie der Schwierigkeitsgrad führen dazu, dass es leider viel öfter im Regal steht als es sollte.

[Adelya · Rating 5 out of 5]

For non-Asian chef it's a very useful book. I have it for years and use it a lot. As mentioned there is a huge choice of everything. Ingredients are measured in convenient units. Illustrated extensively and the results are very tasty indeed. Info about calories and nutrition is available as well as extra tips about Asian food.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Cookbook Ever! Not only does it have dedicated sections for over 10 Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, etc), but a great run down/glossary of the main ingredients, spices and tools utilized in Asian recipes.

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! One of the best cookbooks I've come across. I'm reviewing this stricly on how the food turns out.

[Benjamin Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty diverse selection of asian cuisine, including India, Thailand, China, Japan, and lesser known cuisines, like Cambodia and Malaysia.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites. A must have if you are hooked on Asian flavors. Everything I have made from this book has been great.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my go to cookbooks.