Asian Noodles: Deliciously Simple Dishes To Twirl, Slurp, And Savor [Hardcover]

Nina Simonds (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 15, 1997

For great food that is fast, cheap, and healthy, nothing fills the bill like noodles.Nina Simonds, one of America's most popular authorities on Asian cuisine, shows that the most satisfying and delicious noodle dishes are fun and fabulous to make at home. Tired of spaghetti and ravioli? Try soba, somen, ramen, or rice noodles instead. The 75 recipes for fragrant noodle soups, salads, starters, sides and complete suppers will thrill noodle nuts and novices alike. Cool and refreshing Cold Soba Noodles, soul-warming Ginger Sesame Chicken Noodles, and light and airy Lemon Broccoli Noodles are just a few of Nina's intensely flavorful dishes that are good enough to eat every night. "Asian Noodles" has a trove of useful and well-organized charts and tips on using the recipes, types of noodles, and how to prepare, use, or substitute the noodles--all designed to make any noodle novice an expert in no time.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Udon, ramen, pho, pad thai -- there's a seemingly endless array of Asian noodle dishes that have found a very comfortable niche in Western foodie culture. And for good reason: they're nutritious, inexpensive, and darn tasty. Now Nina Simonds, Chinese scholar and author of China Express and Classic Chinese Cuisine, shows how to make them beautiful as well.

From the Publisher

For great food that is fast, cheap, and healthy, nothing fills the bill like noodles.

Nina Simonds, one of America's most popular authorities on Asian cuisine, shows that the most satisfying and delicious noodle dishes are fun and fabulous to make at home. Tired of spaghetti and ravioli? Try soba, somen, ramen, or rice noodles instead. The 75 recipes for fragrant noodle soups, salads, starters, sides and complete suppers will thrill noodle nuts and novices alike. Cool and refreshing Cold Soba Noodles, soul-warming Ginger Sesame Chicken Noodles, and light and airy Lemon Broccoli Noodles are just a few of Nina's intensely flavorful dishes that are good enough to eat every night.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hearst Books; 1st edition (January 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688131344
• ISBN-13: 978-0688131340
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #685,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Simonds Convert April 18, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

When I first bought the book, I was a little put off by the degree to which she Americanized her recipes. She rhapsodizes about being transported back to various exotic locales by the spices and flavors of her "scrumptious," "spunky" and "sassy" dishes (all mildly irritating descriptive terms she repeats frequently) and yet provides seemingly inauthentic substitutions for many of her ingredients. However, after having used several of the recipes (with substitutions), I am a convert. The recipes are quick and easy and have some reasonably authentic flavors. If you are looking for authentic Asian cuisine, this is not the cookbook for you. If you are looking for quick, flavorful meals and are a bit bewildered by the astonishing variety of Asian noodles, this is an excellent book. The instructions are clear, the recipes are excellent and the pictures are beautiful.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, quick-cook cookbook December 5, 2000

By Daniel Iwerks

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's not the exact thing you'd get in an Asian restaurant, but who cares? These are great, very simple recipes. You'll need some of the Asian cooking basics (fish sauce, chili sauce, rice vinegar) and occasionally a few more exotic things, but, if you're cooking Asian, you've probably got most of these things in your cupboard already.

My wife and I absolutely love Asian cooking but we both work full-time, so it's sometime hard to find the time to cook good stuff. This cookbook is full of wonderful, flavorful recipes that don't take too long to make.

The sauces section in the back of the book is more than worth having this. We make the sauces, keep them in the fridge, and just put them over rice for lunch or dinner. Great, great stuff.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my favorite cookbook January 20, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

We moved away from NY and my favorite noodle place to the midwest (no noodle place). I saw this cookbook and immediately had pangs of nostalgia. I got it more for sentimental reasons than in hopes that I would use it much. I sat down to read it and learned a ton about noodles, and realized that I could do this. I use is all the time. Great, easy recipes. I read a review that complained about the pad thai, but I love it. Every pad thai is different; has its own personality. This one may not be the one you are used to, but it has a ton of character. I love visiting my (one) local asian store to stock up on noodles and ingredients. Get this book! I wow my dinner guests and always get requests for recipes. A great gift.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Healthy, healthy, fast, fast, fast! December 7, 1999

By The Burtts

Format:Hardcover

The recipes in this book are 'tres facile' (VERY EASY) and very fast! My experience with these recipes is that it takes more time to read the recipe than prepare it! Excellent for working parents on the go. The recipes are healthy and delicious. I gave a book to each of my friends who enjoy cooking (and eating).

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yum!! January 12, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I'll bet these noodle dishes would make good leftovers, but my husband and I have never failed to clean our plates when we've made a meal from Asian Noodles. The recipes are relatively simple, yet full of flavor and surprisingly diverse for a cookbook based around a single ingredient. This book in now a weeknight favorite or anytime when we want a good dinner but don't have a lot of time to cook.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A winning noodle! December 15, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I love this cookbook! Noodle basics and Using the Noodles provide an excellent background in the selection and preparation of the huge variety of Asian noodles available. The recipes are well written, easy to follow and the results are excellent! Once you master basics of her sauces, it's very easy to improvise and make delicious meals with just about anything you have in the refrigerator.
Favorites dishes include: Chicken Noodle Satay, Seafood Hot Pot, Grilled Pork with Rice Stick Noodles, Curried Coconut Shrimp on Rice Noodles, Spicy Beef Janataboon. Least favorite: Pad Thai.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, excellent, excellent! July 31, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is the only cookbook I own in which none of the recipes have disappointed me! Every recipe is delicious, easy to prepare and the book itself is presented beautifully. If you love noodles, this book is an absolute must buy!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, well photographed, great food... February 18, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I purchased this book several years ago for the sheer pleasure of viewing the lush photography. In addition to this attribute, the recipes are simple, well written and delicious. I am fortunate to live very close to Boston's Chinatown, so have access to several Asian grocers, but have found almost every ingredient called for in this book in a traditional grocery.

Originally from the mid-west, where this type of cuisine is unheard of or done badly, this was my introduction to cooking in the Asian style. I continue to come back to this book again and again. I second the opinion of a previous reviewer regarding the sauce and marinade section at the end. Fabulous.

If you are interested in created delicious, simple Asian dishes, and are unfamiliar with the cuisine, this is an excellent choice.