Let's Cook Japanese Food!: Everyday Recipes for Authentic Dishes Kindle Edition

I just bought a copy of this book because I was so thoroughly pleased with it when I borrowed it from my local library. I spent a school year living in Japan with a host family and a mother that loved to cook. I watched her cook and loved eating her food, and the basics I did not gather from watching her were filled in by this book. The beginning of the book does a GREAT job of explaining how to use and buy ingredients and tools. The photos in the book are really helpful, so much that I wish there were a few more, especially of the finished products. As far as recipes are concerned, I have tried four or five of them and all but one tasted absolutely amazing on the first try. That's far better luck than I have had with translating recipes and attempting them.I am not sure I would recommend this book to people with absolutely no knowledge of Japanese food, but if you know Japanese food when you see it and want to learn some easy and good Japanese home cooking, this is a great tool.

The recipes work superbly without being unnecessarily complicated--try the eggplant with gingery chicken--, and if you spend any time reading cookbooks, as opposed to just executing a recipe, you'll find Kaneko's story delightful. I found the ingredients in the recipes to be just the right balance between authentic and what's readily available in most areas. It's no use to have a cookbook of such tempting recipes if you're not easily able to actually make them, is it ? From the comparisons I've made to other Japanese cookbooks, this is the most well-balanced one on the market. Highly recommended.I didn't understand the dashi comment in one of the reviews as Kaneko is clear that chicken broth is only a substitute when you can't find dashi (p156).

I bought this book after a positive review was written in the Oregonian's Food Day section. I enjoy Japanese food, but haven't had the nerve to try making it at home. Amy Kaneko's descriptive details helped me get over the fear of trying it myself. The meal I chose was simple to prepare, and the ingredients were fairly easy to find. (Note to anyone else about to try this - mirin, or sweet sake, wasn't with the sakes in the wine department, but next to rice vinegars in the Asian food section - it's not a drinking sake.) I was very pleased with the results - a much more complex flavor than the simple preparation would have led me to expect.The only negatives about this book are that vegetarians will be a little surprised to see how much pork and chicken winds up in the 'vegetable' section of the book, and that there is no dessert section.

Thrilled to receive a copy of the book. The recipes are easy to follow and the pictures are lovely. This makes Japanese cooking approachable and when I made 2 of the recipes for a family dinner they are asking for more! Which I will gladly deliver. Will be purchasing more and sending for gifts! Pefect for foodies and food lovers who you think already have everything ... they need this!

Learned to make poke at home with this book, absolutely love the approach to this concept. Am so glad to have found a well-rounded Japanese-inspired cookbook that simplifies some traditional, satisfying meals that have been carefully adapted to suit an American palate as well. I LOVE traditional Japanese food, but this makes it easy to replicate at home for someone who didn’t grow up surrounded by it culturally.

Purchased this book a few months back and I have to say I really like it. So far I've made a few of the dishes and they have all been quite tasty. I definitely don't purchase miso soup from the restaurant anymore since I can make it on my own now :) The only issues I've had with the book were with the pictures. I wish there were more of them. It seems that you can go pages at a time without seeing any pictures of how the dishes look. Personally I believe that when you're learning how to cook something new you really should have some reference as to what the dish should look like.

Love this book. I have cooked many recipies and they remind me of the food I had on multiple trips to Japan.

I reference this more than any cookbook. This covers the basic recipes of well-known Japanese foods and some lesser known family recipes as well. The author includes some Japanese culinary vocabulary, background for each dish, and her cultural experiences related to them. The recipes are clearly written and formatted. Images illustrate how the more complicated or ambiguous sounding dishes should appear when finished. The front and book covers have flaps that you can use as bookmarks that I find handy.

This smile and yet detailed cookbook will bring us lots of great meals ahead! Plus all the explanations is helpful as well.

Thanks