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Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art [Hardcover]

Shizuo Tsuji , M.F.K. Fisher , Mary Sutherland
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)


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Book Description

November 15, 1980
Japanese food continues to grow in popularity in the United States. Yet enjoyment of Japanese cooking is still largely limited to an occasional night out at a Japanese restaurant, and for far too long it has been assumed that this food is difficult to make in one's own kitchen. Actually, Japanese cooking is surprisingly simple. Raw ingredients should be glistening fresh and of the best quality, and flavors, however elaborate, are built up from just two basic seasonings - dashi, an easily made, delicate stock, and shoyu, naturally brewed Japanese soy sauce.

This cookbook is much more than an accumulation of recipes. In his preface, the author (whom Craig Claiborne calls "a sort of Renaissance man of Japanese and world gastronomy") discusses the essence of Japanese cooking, with its emphasis on simplicity, a balance of textures, colors, and flavors, seasonal freshness, and beauty of presentation. The expertise of the staff of the professional cooking school headed by the author is evident throughout the book.

After introducing ingredients and utensils, the 20 chapters of Part One are made up of lessons presenting all the basic Japanese cooking methods and principal types of prepared foods-grilling, simmering, steaming, noodles, sushi, pickles, and so on-with accompanying basic model recipes. Part Two consists of 130 carefully selected recipes. These range from simple dishes for daily fare to well-chosen challenges for the adventurous cook. Together with the 90-odd recipes included in Part One, these enable the cook to build up a repertory, dish by dish, from the basic everyday "soup and three" formula to a gala banquet.

Whether preparing a snack for oneself or something special for friends, readers will find themselves reaching for this volume. Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art is a sourcebook of cooking concepts and recipes from one of the world's outstanding culinary traditions.

Over 220 recipes 510 sketches 16 color pages chart of North American and Japanese fish extensive list of shops in North America where ingredients can be purchased calorie and weight chart of typical Japanese foods metric conversion tables.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Easily the most comprehensive and exhaustive look at Japanese cuisine available, this groundbreaking classic marks its quarter-century anniversary in a revised edition with a new foreword by Gourmet editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl and a new preface by the late Tsuji's son, Yoshiki Tsuji. Part cookbook, part philosophical treatise, this highly acclaimed collection offers a wealth of insight for amateurs and experts alike. Every technique associated with Japanese food is described step by step in great detail, along with illustrations to guide the reader through everything from filleting fish or cleaning an octopus to rolling omelets. Sections on the Japanese meal, ingredients and selecting and cutting fish, chicken and vegetables offer great insight into the culture as well as the food. The recipe section of the book is divided by cooking method rather than food type, including grilled and pan-fried, steamed, simmered and deep-fried. Dishes range from the simple, Pan-Broiled Salmon, to the more complex, Nagasaki-Style Braised Pork, and many dishes are vegetarian. Sushi and sashimi are covered in depth, as are knives, the proper way to slice the fish, and decorative presentations. A complete guide to Japanese cooking, this collection is must-have for anyone interested in Japanese food or culture. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A wonderful book ... encyclopedic and easy to follow." -- Bedford Times

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 518 pages
  • Publisher: Kodansha USA; 1st edition (November 15, 1980)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0870113992
  • ISBN-13: 978-0870113994
  • Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.4 x 1.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #556,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
121 of 122 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars At its worst, it is impressive July 27, 2002
Format:Hardcover
This is not just a great Japanese cookbook. It is a great cookbook in general. Not content to merely compile a series of recipes, Shizuo Tsuji adds descriptions of cooking techniques unique to Japanese food, insight into Japanese culture, and more importantly he imparts valuable knowledge on how to understand and appreciate Japanese cuisine.

He divides the book into two parts. The first part begins with a discussion on how meals are prepared and composed. Then he explains ingredients, tools, and techniques that are frequently used in the book. He ends part one with recipes that are intended to be a basic introduction to various types of Japanese food (each "type" employs different methods of preparation and cooking, such as frying, steaming, etc.) The recipes are traditional Japanese meals that you would encounter if you went to Japan.

Part two is all recipes, again divided into the same types that part one is divided into. However, these are slightly more complex and they build on the techniques learned in part one.

This is a book that can be used by beginners or more advanced cooks. It is definitely a useful reference for all those who love Japanese food and would like to know how to make it and how to enjoy it authentically.

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61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, entertaining, and a must-have January 18, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been searching a long time for a comprehensive book on Japanese cooking because I grew up with a mother who was a fantastic cook. Unfortunately, she never used recipes or measuring devices, so I have been struggling to duplicate the many delicious dishes of my childhood to no avail. This book is the answer to my quest. The recipes are very authentic, and the author talks about the history of the various recipes and cooking techniques. This enhances the enjoyment of the beautiful cuisine. I feel like I am back home in Mom's kitchen!
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75 of 79 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a book for beginners... December 26, 2001
Format:Hardcover
If you love Japanese food, this is the book for you. More then simply a list of recipes, it really does describe Japanese cooking as an art form. Unfortunately, if you are a newcomer to Japanese cooking as I myself am, the book is not particularly useful in the kitchen. First of all, the book sacrifices ease for authenticity. This means that many of the dishes require ingredients or tools that aren't readily available at the local supermarket. However, if you want to really learn how authentic Japanese food is prepared, look no further.
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35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars UNDERSTANDING Japanese food September 1, 1996
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
While there are certainly recipes in this book, the author
does not barrage you with hundreds of impossible to
replicate dishes. Instead, this is the book to read if you
wish to undersdand what Japanese food is and is not, and
how to bring Japanese home cooking into your own home.
This is a book to read, cover to cover, not one to pick
up for the purpose of grabbing a couple of recipes.
Of all the cookbooks I own, this is the first
international cookbook that really gave me an
understanding of WHAT it was that I was preparing.
And that is more important than any recipe
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best cookbooks I own. June 7, 2006
Format:Hardcover
A great cookbooks is not merely a set of recipes but a treatise on the art of cookery. A Simple Art is, quite simply, a great cookbook--equal to anything written by Julia Child, Paula Wolfert, Alice Waters, and so on. I consider it as indispensible as anything in my cookbook collection, even reference works by Harold McGee and the like. And I don't even cook Japanese food!

The first half of the book is mainly partitioned into chapters by cooking technique: a chapter on steaming, on simmering, on grilling, and so forth. Each chapter begins with a very thorough essay on the equipment you need and the dos and don'ts of the technique. The quality of advice here is rarely equalled by any other cookbook.

There's a spectacular chapter on scaling, gutting, and fileting fish, and dressing chicken. There are elaborate diagrams for four fileting techniques for both roundfish and flatfish. I have seen no other book on fish cookery (as comprehensive as Mark Bittman's and Alan Davidson's books are) that can compare to this book's thoroughness in fish prep. It's not just cutting, but there are dozens of techniques, from various methods of salting to blanching that I've seen nowhere else. Many ingredients in the book beyond fish are treated with similar thoroughness. The chapter on grilling has over a dozen techniques on how to skewer ingredients!

One of the most impressive aspects of the book is it's obsession with presentation. This is the only book I own that elaborates a systematic approach to dressing the plate. Recipes are not just concluded with an afterthought of "this dish looks great garnished with X". Rather, the text addresses each ingredient and the cooking technique concerning the how's and why's of presentation.
... Read more ›
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Real Japanese Food May 2, 2000
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
We have used this book for years. Even in rural Oklahoma most of the recipies are possible with a little help from mail order and trips to Tulsa. Last year for the first time in many years I had two business trips to Japan. That was a real sanity check for this book - and yes it tells you how to do the real thing. At one lunch when we were eating cold udon noodles in a basket I looked at my Japanese hosts and said quite honestly - "you know I make this exact thing at home." They were amazed, but because of this book it is true. This should be everyone's first book on Japanese cooking.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars A good cook book
This is my second favorite Japanese cookbook, after The Japanese Kitchen (Non). There is certainly plenty of overlap between the 2 books, yet they are unique enough to warrant... Read more
Published 29 days ago by ut158
5.0 out of 5 stars Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art
I picked up the book "Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art". It has a lot of very good info in it. Was glad that I got it.
Published 3 months ago by Victoria
5.0 out of 5 stars easy to follow
because the book is organized by cooking techniques, one can easily prepare a course meal.
even explains the rules for proper serving order by cooking techniques. Read more
Published 5 months ago by itssoocold
4.0 out of 5 stars Japanese Cooking
Loved it, loved it, loved it! You have to know a little about Japanese products so if you don't why are you considering buying it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Japan
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, Authentic Japanese Cookery
This has been the cookbook that I have reached for over the years when I want to cook a Japanese dish. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Kenzo Toga
5.0 out of 5 stars The real thing
I bought this book and started to cook from it way before my first trip to Japan. When finally in Japan, I got to surprise my various hosts and friends by recognizing the different... Read more
Published 13 months ago by I. Florea
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Book
I like cooking. I like cookbooks. I like collecting cookbooks. This isn't just a cookbook. This is a bible. Not only does it have recipes, it's a how to book. Kitchen tools? Yes. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Haru-chii
5.0 out of 5 stars Warning!
OK, this is a great book. I can't really add to the other positive reviews here. One warning though. Read more
Published 13 months ago by totoropop
2.0 out of 5 stars disappointment
this book is a very good japanese cooking book,but.... I expected a totally different book,when I ordered.It has only two pages with pictures!The rest is text. Read more
Published 13 months ago by gilamonster
5.0 out of 5 stars worth it!
If you like Japanese cooking or even the culture then this is the book for you. You really wont be disappointed.
Published 14 months ago by wolf
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