Southeast Asian cuisine is delicious. I love the sweet, spicy, tangy foods from these countries! Every country has something special to offer. Some cuisine I have never tried before. What I am excited about most are the cooking techniques I can bring into my kitchen.
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I know there’s a lot of Southeast Asian cuisines most of us haven’t tried. For instance, Cambodian, Malaysian, Indonesian, etc. Luckily, there have been more cookbooks coming out that showcase lesser-known dishes!
Under Coconut Skies: Feasts & Stories from the Philippines
Yasmin Newman
I have a good friend who is Filipino and I love learning about her heritage. She enjoys sharing her Filipino dishes and stories with me. This prompted me to go looking for a local Filipino restaurant. To my surprise, there are hardly any nearby. I guess that means I have to make Filipino cuisine at home!
In the Under Coconut Skies: Feasts & Stories from the Philippines cookbook, Yasmin Newman shares recipes from all over the Philippines. That is over 7000 islands!
This cookbook genuinely feels like you are taking a tour with a friend. The photos, food, and stories are very near and dear to Yasmin’s heart.
This cookbook has four distinct chapters:
- Stirring the Senses
- Daily Traditions
- Natural Beauty
- Memories
The introduction is very lengthy, but it covers all the basics of Filipino food. There will be new ingredients and techniques shown in the Under Coconut Skies: Feasts & Stories from the Philippines cookbook that is brand new to most of us.
Next, we learn about the different kinds of meals common in the Philippines. Did you know that there are five meals in a day in the Philippines? This includes morning and midday snacks! Sign me up!
We can enjoy Filipino cuisine while learning about its history and culture with this cookbook.
Filipinx: Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora
Angela Dimayuga
If you’re looking for another Filipino cookbook, check out Filipinx: Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora by Angela Dimayuga. Angela Dimayuga is an upcoming culinary star who is known for her work in Mission Chinese Food New York. Her parents were both born in the Philippines.
This cookbook offers a unique perspective. Filipinx: Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora share 100 personal recipes. These are dishes that many Filipino immigrants grew up eating in the United States. Not a lot of people know how much Filipino cuisine has changed because of the many outside influences that affected their dishes. I love that we get some insight into the history!
The photography is gorgeous. Everything is bright and vibrant! I need the Filipinx: Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora cookbook in my life!
These dishes are approachable and easy. You will find many of these ingredients in your local grocery store. My jaw practically dropped when I saw recipes for pastillas de ube, garlic fried rice, and sweet cured fried pork! I enjoy that Angela puts a contemporary spin on a lot of her recipes.
You’ll get a taste of the Philippines with this cookbook and more.
Sambal Shiok: The Malaysian Cookbook
Mandy Yin
I own one Malaysian cookbook. The only reason why I bought it was that it is bright pink! Every recipe we have tried from it has been very tasty. My only gripe is that a lot of the recipes are Americanized. I want something more authentic. This is why I am excited for Sambal Shiok: The Malaysian Cookbook by Mandy Yin.
Mandy runs Sambal Shiok Laksa Bar in London. She is regularly featured in the national press.
Her cookbook features 90 recipes that she has grown up with and developed herself. You will find many of these dishes in her restaurant if you went to London today.
Malaysian flavors are similar to a combination of Chinese and Indian cuisine put together. If you want to become more familiar with this kind of cuisine, Mandy is the perfect guide.
Some of the dishes she provides in Sambal Shiok: The Malaysian Cookbook are:
- Curry Laksa
- Malaysian Fried Chicken
- Black Pepper Lamb Soup
- Soy-Braised Egg Tofu
- Tamarind Shrimp
Mandy Yin has provided recipes that can be made during weekdays, large dinners, and holiday celebrations. She wants to expose as many people as possible to Malaysian food!
If I haven’t sold you yet, the full-colored illustrations throughout the book will make your mouth water. I am excited to implement Malaysian food into my weekly meal repertoire!
The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook: Beloved Recipes from the Family Behind the Purest Fish Sauce
Founder of the Red Boat Fish Sauce: Cuong Pham (Author) and Tien Nguyen (Author) + Diep Tran (Author)
I would have never guessed that an Apple engineer would step away into the restaurant business, but Cuong Pham did exactly that. Cuong Pham wanted to recreate the flavors of his childhood in Saigon. None of the other brands cut it, so he created his own.
Now he gives us The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook: Beloved Recipes from the Family Behind the Purest Fish Sauce that utilizes his fish sauce. Thankfully, most of the dishes are Vietnamese!
There are 100 scrumptious recipes throughout this cookbook!
I am eager to try e Bún Chà and Sugarcane Shrimp. The Quick Red Boat Bacon is a great recipe to heighten your dish! Bacon is pretty tasty by itself, so I am intrigued about how to make it even better.
The chapters are divided into these categories:
- Breakfast
- Appetizers and Snacks
- Salads and Vegetables
- Kho
- Seafood
- Pork, Chicken, and Beef
- Feasts and Celebrations
- Sweets and Drinks
- Pickles, Sauces, Condiments, and Master Stocks
I am a little apprehensive of the “Sweet and Drinks” chapter using fish sauce… Hopefully, it isn’t what I am thinking!
All of these cookbooks look fabulous. I am having a hard time deciding which one I want first!
Which one looks the most interesting to you?
~Kaiti
