Secrets from a Healthy Asian Kitchen (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Compestine (Cooking with Green Tea) delivers another health-oriented book specializing in Asian cuisine and culture. Heavily emphasizing the Chinese belief in balance, Compestine applies the concept to food, which she divides into cool (yin) and hot (yang) foods with neutral foods in between. After starting with an Asian food pyramid to show the balance of a healthy diet, she offers the "Six Key Ingredients to a Healthy Asian Kitchen," which include the staples of ginger, soy and ginseng. Each ingredient is discussed in all its permutations before going on to "Cooking Basics," which contains sections on cooking equipment, methods and other ingredients. Her recipes begin with the basics, flavorful sauces, some aromatic like the Spicy Sesame Sauce, some cool as with the Yogurt-Mint Sauce and ideal accompaniment to spicy or grilled dishes. Finger foods are not forgotten and include the traditional Fresh Spring Rolls, which are given a healthy twist by using dried rice paper wrappers. She then offers Western salads with Asian influence, such as the Spinach Salad with Avocado and Tofu. The salads lead into "Meals in a Wok," where she explains the technique of stir-frying. Filled with tips, variations, cultural notes and anecdotes the book is well-thought-out, accentuating health and applying it to a popular cuisine.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

The Asian diet has long been touted as one of the most healthful in the world, and in this new collection, Ying Chang Compestine skillfully incorporates key ingredients that are the hallmark of the Asian food pyramid. These foods not only enhance flavor but also promote health.

From ginseng and soy to garlic and green tea, home cooks can create colorful and creative meals that pack a powerful health benefit.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 307 pages
• Publisher: Avery (July 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583331271
• ISBN-13: 978-1583331279
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #418,656 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a reader from the Midwest and a lover of cooking, July 18, 2002

By A Customer

I was so happy to discover another cookbook by Ying Chang Compestine. It's such a pleasure to find a healthy cookbook that isn't just filled with generic, tasteless fare. In Secrets from a Healthy Asian Kitchen, Ms. Compestine tickles the taste buds with straight-forward dishes such as her delicious Shrimp Noodle Salad and her Ginger-Mushroom Sauce (which I found added nice contrasting flavors to Salmon on a bed of somen noodles)

I had as much fun reading the sidebars as I did the recipes! Who'd have thought ginseng was good for hair, patience (and therefore marriage worthiness) could be measured by awaiting sinking tea leaves, and that fish heads and tails should be reserved for your guests of honor - if they're Chinese!!! Bravo Ms. Compestine!