Simply Vietnamese Cooking: 135 Delicious Recipes

Prolific cookbook author McDermott (Simply Vegetarian Thai Cooking) acquired her expertise on Asian food and cultures in the years she lived in Thailand as a Peace Corp volunteer and during extensive travels throughout the region. Her enthusiasm, knowledge of, and passion for Vietnamese food is evident throughout the book. People who have a penchant for the distinctive flavors of Asian food will love the array of fragrant and pungent fresh herbs used, as well as the subtle tastes of meat and fish simmered briefly in fish sauce and sugar, or the sweet taste of sticky rice and unsweetened coconut milk. Recipes are quick and easy, simple to follow and require little cooking time. Many dishes can be made in less than half an hour, and the results are absolutely outstanding. Her recipe for cabbage stir-fried with eggs, enhanced with a hint of fish sauce, creates a delectable dish in a matter of minutes. The stir-fried beef marinated in oyster sauce, onions, garlic and sugar combined with rice noodles is a dish worthy of the best Asian restaurants. Ingredients required can be found in most grocery stores, and the recipes need only standard cooking equipment found in most North American kitchens. Photos are sparse but beautiful. (Sept.)