Chat Mingkwan

A fantastic book that contains more than just recipes. Chat Mingkwan takes the reader through an exploration of Thai food culture and give valuable insights into what goes into making Thai food distinctive, what its heritage is, and where it is today. This is a good book if you are new to Thai cooking because the author outlines Thai ingredients that may be new to 'Western' kitchens, including suggestions on substitutes or what ingredients you really should keep as the originals only. What is more, I found out that the staple condiment of my childhood, Maggi Sauce, is actually used in Thai cooking!

While the title refers to vegetarian recipes, these are actually vegan, which is great for our household. The recipes are well written and the book is well laid out. Each recipe includes an introductory paragraph or two telling you something about the food, which is a nice touch. If ever you needed encouragement to make your own curry pastes or to whip up an authentic Tom Yum this is the book for you.… (altro)