It is hard for me to say when Jet Tila became such a pivotal part of my life. I remember watching Alton Brown’s Cutthroat Kitchen and seeing him featured there. I also watched the episode of Iron Chef America where he lost to Chef Morimoto.
I think my obsession with Jet Tila came from the fact that I took a chance on his cookbook.
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For my wedding, I was gifted Jet Tila’s 101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die: Discover a New World of Flavors in Authentic Recipes cookbook. This is the only cookbook I go to for Asian cuisine. It hasn’t failed me yet!
My family is obsessed with Thai food, so I took it upon myself to learn the ins and outs of Thai cuisine. Who better to learn from than Jet Tila?
Finally, he has released a new cookbook that covers exclusively Thai food – his specialty!
101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die: The Essential Recipes, Techniques, and Ingredients of Thailand is perfect for any Thai food lover. This cookbook is a true deep-dive into Thai cuisine from the master.
As it states in the title, there are 101 amazing Thai recipes in this cookbook. Here’s a list of examples:
- Chicken Pad See Ew
- Crispy Sticky Tamarind Noodles
- Spicy Basil Stir-Fry
- Sweet Coconut Milk Cakes
- Grilled Pork Sticks (Moo Ping)
- Thai Braised Beef Short Ribs
- Crispy Rice Salad
Like his previous cookbook, everything is clear and concise. You will be surprised at how few ingredients it takes to make authentic and tasty Thai food.
Most of his recipes have a “Pro-Tip” section. This is where he provides solutions to things that might be more advanced. For example, buying a roast duck from a butcher instead of doing it yourself.
The list of chapters in this cookbook are:
- Soups and Curries: Bowls of Yum
- Noodles for Long Life
- Kin Khao: Have You Eaten Rice Today?
- Chicken and Duck: Flavorful Fowl
- Beef and Pork: Time for Meat
- Seafood: Ocean and River Treasures
- Apps and Small Plates to Share
- Salads and Umami Veggies
- Plant-Based Thai
- Kanom Wan: Sweet Thai Life
- Sauces, Dips, and Condiments
I am excited to try his plant-based recipes. That’s a bonus!
Jet Tila is a chill guy and the way he approaches cooking is much the same. I appreciate how laid-back and uncomplicated everything is! I can’t wait to add 101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die: The Essential Recipes, Techniques, and Ingredients of Thailand to my repertoire of cookbooks.
Have you experimented with Thai cooking before? What have your experiences been?
~Kaiti
