Simple Thai Food - by Leela Punyaratabandhu (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Thai takeout meets authentic, regional flavors in this collection of 100 recipes for easy, economical, and accessible Thai classics--from the rising star behind the blog She Simmers.

Who can say no to a delicious plate of Pad Thai with Shrimp; a fresh, tangy Green Papaya Salad; golden Fried Spring Rolls; or a rich, savory Pork Toast with Cucumber Relish? Thai food is not only one of the most vibrant, wonderfully varied cuisines in the world, it also happens to be one of the tastiest, and a favorite among American eaters.

The good news is, with the right ingredients and a few basic tools and techniques, authentic Thai food is easily within reach of home cooks. Take it from Leela Punyaratabandhu, a Bangkok native and author of the popular Thai cooking blog She Simmers. In her much-anticipated debut cookbook, Leela shares her favorite recipes for classic Thai fare, including beloved family recipes, popular street food specialties, and iconic dishes from Thai restaurant menus around the world.

All of Leela's recipes have been tested and tweaked to ensure that even the busiest cook can prepare them at home. With chapters on key ingredients and tools, base recipes, one-plate meals, classic rice accompaniments, and even Thai sweets, Simple Thai Food is a complete primer for anyone who wants to give Thai cooking a try. By the end of the book, you'll be whipping up tom yam soup and duck red curry that will put your local takeout joint to shame. But perhaps more importantly, you'll discover an exciting new world of Thai flavors and dishes--including Stir-Fried Chicken with Chile Jam, Leaf-Wrapped Salad Bites, and Crispy Wings with Three-Flavored Sauce--that will open your eyes to all the wonderful possibilities that real Thai cooking has to offer.

Review Quotes

Best Book of 2014, NPR
Best Cookbook of 2014, The Globe and Mail
Best Cookbooks of 2014--Serious Eats

"Simple Thai Food is just what folks need: a simple, easy-to-follow cookbook on a delicious cuisine (and one of my favorites!) that most people aren't used to making at home. With clear, friendly instructions and valuable tips and techniques, Leela unlocks the flavors and seasonings of real Thai cooking--spicy salads, coconut-rich soups, blazing bowls of curry, and the fiery, flavorful condiments that go alongside. Thanks to Leela, I'm excited to create these authentic Thai dishes in my own kitchen!"
--David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen

"In this compendium of favorite Thai dishes, Leela has managed to make the recipes accessible and straightforward for a home cook, and to keep them very true to what a modern Thai cook (in Thailand as well as in the West) would recognize as 'authentic.' She does offer substitutions when ingredients are more difficult to find, but they never skew far from what a Thai mom would use in her own kitchen. Leela even sneaks in a few dishes that you might not find in your local Thai restaurant, but will probably become your favorites!"
--Andy Ricker, chef/owner of the Pok Pok restaurants and author of Pok Pok

"Leela has crafted an authoritative, opinionated, and thoroughly down-to-earth collection of traditional Thai recipes, written especially for cooks who weren't lucky enough to be born in Thailand. All the basics are here, beautifully organized, from curry paste to coconut milk and beyond."
--David Tanis, author of One Good Dish

"Simple Thai Food is a beautiful snapshot of Leela's effort to stay connected to her Bangkok roots through food, and a wonderfully practical guide for those of us who want to create authentic Thai flavors at home."
--James Oseland, editor-in-chief of Saveur and author of Cradle of Flavor

"Leela re-creates her beloved taste memories, and then invites us in--offering tools, inspiration, and fresh context in equal measure. You will want these recipes for so many reasons--the craft, joy, deliciousness, backstory--and you will want (and come close to experiencing) Leela herself at your table, imparting her fine intelligence and warmth."
--Mollie Katzen, author of The Moosewood Cookbook and The Heart of the Plate

About the Author

Leela Punyaratabandhu grew up in a traditional Thai home in the heart of Bangkok where cooking was taken very seriously. She created the cooking blog She Simmers, which in 2012 was voted "Best Regional Cuisine" blog by Saveur. Her writing has appeared in CNN Travel, a website on Asian travel destinations by CNN International, and the award-winning food website Serious Eats, among others. Leela divides her time between Chicago and Bangkok.