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The Complete Asian Cookbook (1976)

by Charmaine Solomon

Other authors: Nina Harris (Author), Deborah Solomon (Author)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
5271346,433 (4.32)5
Spices, imaginatively used, are the outstanding feature of Indian and Pakistani cookery-subtle or pungent, hot or mild, there is something to suit every palate. This is a completely revised and updated edition of Charmaine Solomon's influential and iconic The Complete Asian Cookbook. Instantly heralded as a classic when it was first published in 1976, The Complete Asian Cookbook covers 800 classic and contemporary dishes from fifteen countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, The Philippines, China, Korea and Japan). Written with the home cook in mind, Charmaine's recipes are straightforward, simple to follow and work every time. Recipe and chapter introductions give valuable information about how local dishes are prepared and served, while the comprehensive glossary explains unfamiliar ingredients (which are steadily more commonplace in supermarkets today). The Complete Asian Cookbook is a book that belongs in the kitchens of every household.… (more)
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» See also 5 mentions

English (12)  Dutch (1)  All languages (13)
Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)
One of three cookbooks that we would take with us, if we had to move and could only take a few. Wonderful recipes accompanied by photos that help to explain what the dish is supposed to look like. ( )
  scjenkins55 | Sep 22, 2022 |
Down Australia way this has been the definitive general text since long before I started cooking.

Like anything that does so much not all of it is going to work. I was disappointed to find the laksa recipe nowhere near as good as my favourite restaurant versions. It's true, it was one of my early sorties into cooking, but still....

Her Sri Lankan section is wonderful - not surprising since she is herself Sri Lankan, though since she moved to Australia in 1959, we may be forgiven for thinking of her as a local.

There are other sections of her book that I don't use, but may be excellent. I simply have enough good specialist books in the area, thinking now of Indian food in particular.

As an example of what she does so well, try this:

Sri Lankan chicken curry.

1.5 kg chicken pieces (NOT breasts!!!)
3 tablespoons ghee or oil
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
sprig of fresh curry leaves
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons paprika (optional)
2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
6 cardamom pods, bruised
1 stick cinnamon
1 stalk lemon grass
250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup thick coconut milk
lime juice (optional)

Directions

Cut chicken into curry pieces. Heat ghee or oil and on low heat fry fenugreek seeds and curry leaves until they start to brown. Add onion, garlic and ginger and fry gently until onions are soft and golden. Add turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin, fennel, salt and vinegar. If the curry isn't quite red enough, add the paprika because while it isn't used in Sri Lanka, using enough chilli to give the required colour would mean a curry too hot for most people. Stir well, add chicken and turn the pieces in the mixture. Add tomatoes, whole spices and lemon grass. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Add coconut milk, cook uncovered for a further few minutes, then remove from heat and stir in a squeeze of lime juice if desired. Serve with rice and accompaniments.

Yum. ( )
  bringbackbooks | Jun 16, 2020 |
These observations pertain only to the Hardie Grant recent revised hard cover edition of this book. (The paperback edition does not suffer from this, it had a different publisher.)

It sucks. It fucking sucks.

I already have a sore head from looking at it today. Why? Because they have used a weird font to introduce the recipes; it looks cute and Asiany, which is no doubt that the 'book stylist' (Lord save us from stylists) thought would look good, but the only important thing to a font is that it is fucking readable.

I'm cross.

( )
  bringbackbooks | Jun 16, 2020 |
Down Australia way this has been the definitive general text since long before I started cooking.

Like anything that does so much not all of it is going to work. I was disappointed to find the laksa recipe nowhere near as good as my favourite restaurant versions. It's true, it was one of my early sorties into cooking, but still....

Her Sri Lankan section is wonderful - not surprising since she is herself Sri Lankan, though since she moved to Australia in 1959, we may be forgiven for thinking of her as a local.

There are other sections of her book that I don't use, but may be excellent. I simply have enough good specialist books in the area, thinking now of Indian food in particular.

As an example of what she does so well, try this:

Sri Lankan chicken curry.

1.5 kg chicken pieces (NOT breasts!!!)
3 tablespoons ghee or oil
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
sprig of fresh curry leaves
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons paprika (optional)
2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
6 cardamom pods, bruised
1 stick cinnamon
1 stalk lemon grass
250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup thick coconut milk
lime juice (optional)

Directions

Cut chicken into curry pieces. Heat ghee or oil and on low heat fry fenugreek seeds and curry leaves until they start to brown. Add onion, garlic and ginger and fry gently until onions are soft and golden. Add turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin, fennel, salt and vinegar. If the curry isn't quite red enough, add the paprika because while it isn't used in Sri Lanka, using enough chilli to give the required colour would mean a curry too hot for most people. Stir well, add chicken and turn the pieces in the mixture. Add tomatoes, whole spices and lemon grass. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Add coconut milk, cook uncovered for a further few minutes, then remove from heat and stir in a squeeze of lime juice if desired. Serve with rice and accompaniments.

Yum. ( )
  bringbackbooks | Jun 16, 2020 |
Down Australia way this has been the definitive general text since long before I started cooking.

Like anything that does so much not all of it is going to work. I was disappointed to find the laksa recipe nowhere near as good as my favourite restaurant versions. It's true, it was one of my early sorties into cooking, but still....

Her Sri Lankan section is wonderful - not surprising since she is herself Sri Lankan, though since she moved to Australia in 1959, we may be forgiven for thinking of her as a local.

There are other sections of her book that I don't use, but may be excellent. I simply have enough good specialist books in the area, thinking now of Indian food in particular.

As an example of what she does so well, try this:

Sri Lankan chicken curry.

1.5 kg chicken pieces (NOT breasts!!!)
3 tablespoons ghee or oil
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
sprig of fresh curry leaves
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons paprika (optional)
2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
6 cardamom pods, bruised
1 stick cinnamon
1 stalk lemon grass
250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup thick coconut milk
lime juice (optional)

Directions

Cut chicken into curry pieces. Heat ghee or oil and on low heat fry fenugreek seeds and curry leaves until they start to brown. Add onion, garlic and ginger and fry gently until onions are soft and golden. Add turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin, fennel, salt and vinegar. If the curry isn't quite red enough, add the paprika because while it isn't used in Sri Lanka, using enough chilli to give the required colour would mean a curry too hot for most people. Stir well, add chicken and turn the pieces in the mixture. Add tomatoes, whole spices and lemon grass. Cover and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Add coconut milk, cook uncovered for a further few minutes, then remove from heat and stir in a squeeze of lime juice if desired. Serve with rice and accompaniments.

Yum. ( )
  bringbackbooks | Jun 16, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (12 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Solomon, CharmaineAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Harris, NinaAuthorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Solomon, DeborahAuthorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
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To Reuben who married me before I learned to cook.
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PREFACE
Good Cooking is one of the creative arts.....

INTRODUCTION
Just as France has its robust country fare as well as its subtle haute cuisine, so too does Asia have a range of culinary delights that can be simple, complex, delicious, fiery, mild, tantalising - and compulsive!
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Spices, imaginatively used, are the outstanding feature of Indian and Pakistani cookery-subtle or pungent, hot or mild, there is something to suit every palate. This is a completely revised and updated edition of Charmaine Solomon's influential and iconic The Complete Asian Cookbook. Instantly heralded as a classic when it was first published in 1976, The Complete Asian Cookbook covers 800 classic and contemporary dishes from fifteen countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, The Philippines, China, Korea and Japan). Written with the home cook in mind, Charmaine's recipes are straightforward, simple to follow and work every time. Recipe and chapter introductions give valuable information about how local dishes are prepared and served, while the comprehensive glossary explains unfamiliar ingredients (which are steadily more commonplace in supermarkets today). The Complete Asian Cookbook is a book that belongs in the kitchens of every household.

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