From Bangkok to Bali in 30 Minutes: 165 Fast and Easy Recipes with the Lush, Tropical Flavors of Southeast Asia and the South Seas Islands

In this tour through such countries as Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, the authors present recipes perfect for a hot summer. Home cooks will be pleased to see the many recipes, including the familiar standbys that make Southeast Asian cuisine so popular: Rendang-Style Beef Curry, for example, and Thai-Style Stir-Fried Rice Noodles, as well as instructions for creating popular condiments, such as sweet vegetable pickles and Sweet Hot Thai Chilli Sauce. The Laursens (Theresa is a food writer and cooking teacher; Byron is a freelance writer) offer subtle twists on such recipes as Cambodian Steamed Mussels with Pineapple and Thai Basil; Pan-seared Tuna Steaks Au Poivre; and Chicken and Fennel with Thai Green Curry and Basil. Less certain to appeal are recipes with a Western spin, such as the Philly-Style Vietnamese Hoagies with BBQ Pork and the Bangkok-to-Bali Burgers with Grilled Onions. Rounding out these heat-inspired recipes are beverages (Vietnamese-Style Iced Coffee; Lychee Bellinis), appetizers (Spicy Stir-Fried Cashews; Fried Spring Rolls Filippino Style) and salads (Seared Scallops and Fresh Orange Salad with Mint Leaves and Crisp-Fried Shallots). The result is a mixed bag. While the sheer number of dishes may overwhelm some readers, those looking to expand their regional cooking repertoire will find much of what they need in these easy-to-follow recipes. (June)