Asian grandmothers, whether of Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, or Indian descent; are the keepers of the cultural, and culinary, flame. Their mastery of delicious home-cooked dishes and comfort food makes them the ideal source for this cookbook. Author Pat Tanumihardja has assembled 130 tantalizing dishes from real Chinese fried rice to the classic Filipino Chicken Adobo to the ultimate Japanese comfort dish Oyako donburi. This is hearty food, brightly flavored, equally good to look at and eat. Flavors range from soy and ginger to hot chiles, fragrant curries, and tart vinegars. The author has translated all of the recipes to work in modern home kitchens. Many of them have been handed down from mother to daughter for generations without written recipes, and some appear in tested and written form for the first time. An exhaustive Asian Pantry glossary explains the ingredients, from the many kinds of rice and curries to unfamiliar but flavorful vegetables.
The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"If you missed out sitting by your grandmother’s stove, or your family ethnicity doesn’t happen to match the food you know you were born to eat, Patricia Tanumihardja’s book goes a long way toward addressing that need. "a charming book." --The Boston Herald
Encompassing Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Indian grandmothers, The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian Kitchens by Patricia Tanumihardja (Sasquatch, Oct.) features 130 recipes the author culled from Asian grandmas. The author, a food writer who unfortunately never knew her grandmothers, was nonetheless drawn to writing about Asian grandmothers' recipes, finding that grandmas tend to be keepers of the cultural--and culinary--flame. "In Asian cultures, you tend to have three generations living under one roof," Tanumihardja says. Grandmothers play a role of "passing on the culture and roots to their grandchildren." None of them cook with recipes, Tanumihardja found. "It was a pinch of this a dash of that." Although the women Tanumihardja talked to use flavors ranging from ginger to hot chilies, curries and vinegars, their food tends to be hearty and vibrantly flavored. And soy sauce seems to be ubiquitous. --Publishers Weekly, August 31, 2009
A new book deliciously weaves together generations-old recipes--and the stories of the women who cook them--in The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian Kitchens (Sasquatch Books, 2009). Patricia Tanumihardja, an Indonesian Chinese with her own memories of Asian cooking, has documented a number of family recipes--many of them in print for the first time ever--complete with insider tips from the grandmothers she cooked with. The book also features profiles of the women, highlighting the history behind each dish and revealing how cooking factors into the lives of Asian American families. --Asiasociety.org, September, 2009
Hundreds of exotic ingredients star in the 130-plus recipes in Patricia Tanumihardja's The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian Kitchens released Oct. 1. Tanumihardja gathered the food formulas from mothers, aunts, sisters, and grandmothers for the dishes that hail from Japan to India. Through a little investigative work and careful testing, Tanumihardja keeps the instruction simple. The result: a litany of innovative family meals and pieces of history that would make grandma, whatever her ethnic background, proud. --Monterey County Weekly, October 1, 2009
Encompassing Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Indian grandmothers, The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian Kitchens by Patricia Tanumihardja (Sasquatch, Oct.) features 130 recipes the author culled from Asian grandmas. The author, a food writer who unfortunately never knew her grandmothers, was nonetheless drawn to writing about Asian grandmothers' recipes, finding that grandmas tend to be keepers of the cultural--and culinary--flame. "In Asian cultures, you tend to have three generations living under one roof," Tanumihardja says. Grandmothers play a role of "passing on the culture and roots to their grandchildren." None of them cook with recipes, Tanumihardja found. "It was a pinch of this a dash of that." Although the women Tanumihardja talked to use flavors ranging from ginger to hot chilies, curries and vinegars, their food tends to be hearty and vibrantly flavored. And soy sauce seems to be ubiquitous. --Publishers Weekly, August 31, 2009
A new book deliciously weaves together generations-old recipes--and the stories of the women who cook them--in The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian Kitchens (Sasquatch Books, 2009). Patricia Tanumihardja, an Indonesian Chinese with her own memories of Asian cooking, has documented a number of family recipes--many of them in print for the first time ever--complete with insider tips from the grandmothers she cooked with. The book also features profiles of the women, highlighting the history behind each dish and revealing how cooking factors into the lives of Asian American families. --Asiasociety.org, September, 2009
Hundreds of exotic ingredients star in the 130-plus recipes in Patricia Tanumihardja's The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian Kitchens released Oct. 1. Tanumihardja gathered the food formulas from mothers, aunts, sisters, and grandmothers for the dishes that hail from Japan to India. Through a little investigative work and careful testing, Tanumihardja keeps the instruction simple. The result: a litany of innovative family meals and pieces of history that would make grandma, whatever her ethnic background, proud. --Monterey County Weekly, October 1, 2009
From the Inside Flap
The kitchen goddess is definitely the Asian American grandmother. She is the glue that holds the family together; the keeper of cultural and culinary tradition; the source of all things delicious, pungent, salty, and satisfying. Pull up a chair at the kitchen table and pick up some chopsticks--grandmothers who cook Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Thai, and Indian cuisine are in the kitchen stirring up culinary delights for you. What's your favorite? Crispy Shrimp Rolls or Shiu Mai or a satisfying bowl of Nepalese Nine-Bean Soup?
To compile the recipes for this gratifyingly expansive cookbook, author Patricia Tanumihardja (whose grandmother hailed from Indonesia) served as cultural historian, recipe transcriber, and surrogate granddaughter. How else could she garner the recipes for such dishes as Water Spinach with Shrimp Paste and Chilies, Pan- Fried Tofu Simmered in Sweet Miso Sauce, or Grandma Yangja's Cabbage Kimchi? These are the authentic dishes you don't necessarily find in restaurants: Steamed Meatballs with Tangerine Peel, Gingered Oxtail Stew, 1-2-3-4-5 Sticky Spareribs, and Clay Pot Lemongrass-Steamed Fish. And if you believe that the noodle was invented by an Asian grandmother, you are ready for a bowl of Pancit (Filipino Fried Noodles) or Ohn No Khauk Swe (Chicken Coconut Noodle Soup). This beautiful culinary tour of Asian American kitchens makes many cultural stops, with a panoply of flavors and a bountiful menu of dishes along the way. So even if you aren't fortunate enough to have an Asian grandmother yourself, double happiness can be yours by sharing and enjoying these enduring recipes.
To compile the recipes for this gratifyingly expansive cookbook, author Patricia Tanumihardja (whose grandmother hailed from Indonesia) served as cultural historian, recipe transcriber, and surrogate granddaughter. How else could she garner the recipes for such dishes as Water Spinach with Shrimp Paste and Chilies, Pan- Fried Tofu Simmered in Sweet Miso Sauce, or Grandma Yangja's Cabbage Kimchi? These are the authentic dishes you don't necessarily find in restaurants: Steamed Meatballs with Tangerine Peel, Gingered Oxtail Stew, 1-2-3-4-5 Sticky Spareribs, and Clay Pot Lemongrass-Steamed Fish. And if you believe that the noodle was invented by an Asian grandmother, you are ready for a bowl of Pancit (Filipino Fried Noodles) or Ohn No Khauk Swe (Chicken Coconut Noodle Soup). This beautiful culinary tour of Asian American kitchens makes many cultural stops, with a panoply of flavors and a bountiful menu of dishes along the way. So even if you aren't fortunate enough to have an Asian grandmother yourself, double happiness can be yours by sharing and enjoying these enduring recipes.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Francis Law
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Patricia did a really good job in creating this cookbook with not just beautiful images but also the recipes are taste-proof (meaning that the dishes in this book has been cooked and for sure been worth the word - yummy!!! to be placed in the book!) This is indeed a great find as there is a lot of recipes and I know some of you out there prefer images, however this book is going to cook your way into your stomach. Do not be afraid to get one as this is on my top favorite cookbooks to choose from when cooking for friends!
Most of the dishes in here has been a long-time favorite, and I am licking my lips just typing about the it... heehee
A book not only has history of flavor, but also a mixed of wonderful imagination of taste!
Hope you will enjoy the book as much as I do and not be afraid to try try try!
Cheers :))
Most of the dishes in here has been a long-time favorite, and I am licking my lips just typing about the it... heehee
A book not only has history of flavor, but also a mixed of wonderful imagination of taste!
Hope you will enjoy the book as much as I do and not be afraid to try try try!
Cheers :))
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For those of us who didn't grow up near our grandmothers or weren't lucky enough to grow up eating Asian American food - Ms. Tanumihardja brings us into the kitchens and cultures of so many amazing women. The recipes span the entire Asian Pacific region and Ms. Tanumihardja has taken the time to transcribe the recipes into easily understood and replicated instructions that clearly walk you through each step of making a dish. It's almost as if each grandmother is in the kitchen with you telling you all of her cooking secrets.
She also includes beautiful and informative photographs and descriptions of ingredients for all of the cuisines covered. She clearly illustrates the uses and differences of each variety of noodle, various vegetables, all of the sauces, etc. But she is also aware of that some ingredients can be hard to come by, and so helpfully lists acceptable substitutions where possible. As good as all of the recipes are though, I found the stories by and about the grandmothers just as interesting and at times moving.
I have a lot of Asian cookbooks but this one is my new favorite because of how much information it conveys about so many different cuisines, all from really interesting and amazing Asian-American grandmothers. This book is a perfect gift for yourself, or for anyone who wants to learn how to cook better Asian meals. I only wish this book had come out years ago because it has replaced most of my other Asian cookbooks. Buy this book, you will be glad you did.
She also includes beautiful and informative photographs and descriptions of ingredients for all of the cuisines covered. She clearly illustrates the uses and differences of each variety of noodle, various vegetables, all of the sauces, etc. But she is also aware of that some ingredients can be hard to come by, and so helpfully lists acceptable substitutions where possible. As good as all of the recipes are though, I found the stories by and about the grandmothers just as interesting and at times moving.
I have a lot of Asian cookbooks but this one is my new favorite because of how much information it conveys about so many different cuisines, all from really interesting and amazing Asian-American grandmothers. This book is a perfect gift for yourself, or for anyone who wants to learn how to cook better Asian meals. I only wish this book had come out years ago because it has replaced most of my other Asian cookbooks. Buy this book, you will be glad you did.
26 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By D. Labrum
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian American KitchensThis one book replaced three others ( I gave them away)it has the very best selections of Asian recipes I have ever seen. The recipes are explained so even a novice cook can prepare them. I love to cook and collect a wide selection of cookbooks for me to replace three books with this one is unusual . The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook is so complete you won't need another Asian cookbook.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook
Gave this as a gift to my niece and she absolutely loved it. She loves dim sum and this will get her on her way to making her own.
Published 3 months ago by jojo
4.0 out of 5 stars
a non-asian grandson
I love the details and the histories behind most of the dishes, we've made two of the soups already and only had the book 3 weeks. Only wish there were more photos of the food. Read more
Published 4 months ago by James B. Felix
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good tastes, clear directions
There are some excellent recipes that are new to me and some for dishes that I already make. For the latter, I think I will stick to my old friends just out of loyalty and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Elizabeth Sato
5.0 out of 5 stars
very well put together book
first and foremost i love myself some Asian food. some good friends of mine schooled me on the food and the various blends and textures. Read more
Published 12 months ago by A customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite cookbook
I love Asian food, but not cookbooks full of restaurant-type dishes. This has delicious and practical recipes from various Asian regions (with some American assimilation... Read more
Published 16 months ago by T. Brooks
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yum!
Awesome cookbook!
Tons of recipes from all over Asia that use really unique ingredients. I've loved all the recipes I've tried out so far and I really like the 'profile... Read more
Tons of recipes from all over Asia that use really unique ingredients. I've loved all the recipes I've tried out so far and I really like the 'profile... Read more
Published on May 13, 2011 by Parresa
5.0 out of 5 stars
A favorite!
A recent trip to Asia left me craving authentic Asian food once I returned home. What better time than now to give this cookbook a whirl, after it had been collecting dust on my... Read more
Published on March 22, 2011 by M. Gee
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't waste your money
Recipes are easy to follow but not very tasty. Have made several recipes thinking there has to be one good one and still have yet to find it!
Published on February 5, 2011 by Kathy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
This is a great book! I bought it for my fiance after hearing about it on NPR. While I don't cook myself, everything he has made me from it has been delicious. Read more
Published on September 2, 2010 by AOB512
4.0 out of 5 stars
Liked the book
The book is great. The only thing that I wish it had was a Table of Contents with the list of all the dishes in alpha order or by type (main dish, dessert, etc.)
Published on August 24, 2010 by Reader from Virginia
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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