Harumi's Japanese Cooking: More than 75 Authentic and Contemporary Recipes from Japan's Most Popular Cooking Expert

The publisher calls Kurihara "Japan's Martha Stewart" because of her numerous bestselling cookbooks, her lifestyle magazine and line of kitchenware, but judging by the overall simplicity of these recipes—and that Kurihara is "not interested in decorating [her] food for the sake of it"—that comparison is questionable. The recipes in this volume are divided into basic categories: appetizers, soups and noodles, rice, tofu, seafood, chicken and egg, beef and pork, sushi, vegetables, and desserts and drinks. They range from extremely accessible, such as Beef on Rice and Chicken with Red and Green Peppers, to more intimidating, such as Shrimp and Squid Tempura. But even the more involved entries are doable thanks to Kurihara's encouraging and straightforward (if not always elegant, thanks to an occasionally awkward translation) prose. She covers traditional Japanese favorites like Okonomiyaki Hiroshima fu (Japanese-Style Savory Pancake) and more contemporary takes with international influences, like Tofu with Basil and Gorgonzola Dressing, which she describes as "a rather Italian way to serve up tofu." Throughout, the emphasis on eating mindfully, varying ingredients and keeping portions small (especially for dessert) means that this is a healthful cookbook that doesn't try too hard to be one. Photos. (Apr. 4)