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Welcome to “Cookbook of the Week.” This can be a sequence the place I spotlight cookbooks which might be distinctive, straightforward to make use of, or simply particular to me. Whereas discovering a selected recipe on-line serves a fast function, flipping by means of a very wonderful cookbook has a magic all its personal.
Once I go searching for cookbooks to function for this column, I want to go to an actual bookstore. I wish to flip by means of the ebook and see what the aim is, if it’s straightforward to make use of or complicated, and if it’ll be helpful to you all—this takes some shopping. However there may be the uncommon cookbook that I virtually instantly tuck underneath my arm as a result of I do know in my bones that it’s coming residence with me.
This week’s cookbook is The Easy Artwork of Rice. It solely took a couple of page-flips for me to assume fondly of my residence and household, and some extra to pique my starvation. A cookbook that appreciates this grain as a lot as I do belongs in my kitchen, and possibly in yours too.
A bit in regards to the ebook
The Easy Artwork of Rice, written by chef JJ Johnson together with graphic novelist Danica Novgorodoff, was revealed in 2023. The cookbook begins off with a little bit of historical past and housekeeping—primary rice cooking methods, easy methods to retailer rice, and data on frequent varieties of rice—earlier than diving into about 100 rice-centric recipes complemented by lovely illustrations.
The duvet of the cookbook says “Recipes from all over the world for the center of your desk,” and it’s straightforward to see that intention displayed in every part of this cookbook. Every chapter comprises a wide range of rice dishes from totally different international locations and cultures, like Filipino garlic rice Sinangág, Ghanaian Waakye, or Cuban Black Beans and Rice, and sometimes a dish named after a beloved member of the family who clearly makes that heart-warming dish higher than anybody else, like Nice-auntie Lane’s Curry Rice.
That is greater than a group of rice recipes. It’s a considerate, loving ode to rice, and its position in nourishing communities all through human historical past. Additional, it’s a private account the place rice is a conduit for love and care.
An excellent cookbook for a broad palate
I’ve bother not being apparent generally, so I needed to cease myself earlier than I wrote “a great cookbook for rice lovers.” I do assume it’s necessary that this ebook get into the arms of rice lovers, nevertheless if that individual doesn’t get pleasure from all kinds of flavors then they could solely flip by means of to the “Cooking a primary pot of rice” part and historical past components. (These are actually nice sections too.)
JJ Johnson could have you cooking your rice with coconut milk, lime juice, tomatoes, crabs, hen livers, and raisins, so it definitely helps in case you welcome new taste combos. This cookbook is one thing I’ll constantly come again to as a result of there are such a lot of dishes from different cultures that I’m not acquainted with and excited to attempt. Whereas I’ve a fairly good concept about what Johnson has in retailer with the Thai curry dishes with jasmine rice, there are a variety of rice dishes that I’ve by no means tried, like these from the Gullah Geechee, Persian, and Israeli cultures. Get this ebook for the one that can be as excited to make Lebanese basmati rice as they’d be to make rice crêpes with Nutella.
The recipes you’ll be able to anticipate
Whereas having a broad palate may really feel intimidating, making these recipes requires no specialised talent set. Johnson has managed to maintain the recipes easy sufficient and the ingredient lists accessible sufficient the place I feel the common residence prepare dinner would achieve success meal after meal. After all rice is commonly your major ingredient, so when you have that then you definately’re properly in your approach to victory.
In reality, a few of the recipes are one-pot wonders or could be utterly made within the rice cooker—as in, throw all of the components into the rice cooker and press “begin,” just like the Geelrys recipe. As a reader, I really like this as a result of if one recipe is past my talent set, style choice, or consideration span, I do know that there are different recipes on this ebook that may work for me.
The dish I made this week
I’ve been craving herb-y mixtures this week. I blame the grim climate making me miss the greenery of summer season. The Herbed Shrimp with Cilantro Lime Rice seemed like the right treatment for my winter woes. At first, I used to be delay by the prolonged ingredient checklist, however quickly realized that there have been repeated components. The primary part was for the shrimp marinade and the cilantro lime rice merely displays these flavors. (Lesson: at all times learn the complete recipe earlier than giving up or plowing full steam forward.)
This recipe was one which Johnson modeled after the boxed cilantro lime rice his mother would make for him. Although I’ve by no means had that boxed rice, I might take this model any day. The shrimp marinade was a easy combination of chopped herbs, olive oil, lime zest and juice, and the rice will get a lightweight toast in butter earlier than you add the cooking water. After 20 minutes, the rice was completed and I pan-fried the shrimp for barely a minute earlier than serving. It felt like a reasonably glamorous lunch for the way fast and simple it was to make, and I stay up for extra recipes prefer it.
Tips on how to purchase it
The hardcover of The Easy Artwork of Rice is offered on-line, however in case you’re like me, then go have a great old school bookstore browse. In case your native bookstore would not have it on their cabinets, see if they will order it to their location. I am positive they will be completely satisfied to assist.
