Asian Tofu: Discover the Best, Make Your Own, and Cook It at Home

The focus of this volume is specific but very deep. Nguyen (Into the Vietnamese Kitchen) knows her tofu, and she shares its history, a comprehensive guide to its variations, and a homemade tofu tutorial. And for cooks who don’t aspire to DIY bean curd, this single-subject book offers 75 surprisingly diverse recipes featuring tofu as a star ingredient. Flavor-packed entries include spiced tofu and vegetable fritters; soft tofu and seafood hot pot; tofu and vegetables in coconut milk; and spicy lemongrass tofu salad. Just because it’s all about tofu doesn’t mean it’s vegetarian; while there are certainly meatless and vegan options, the tofu steak burgers, for example, are topped with bacon. Tofu-centric desserts, such as cashew and cardamom fudge and tofu tiramisu are surprisingly tempting. Fans of Asian flavors who want to dig into a versatile ingredient will appreciate Nguyen’s thorough effort. (Feb.)