Cookbook: The Vegetarian Table: Thailand

The Vegetarian Table: Thailand

By Jacki Passmore
Photographs by Steven Rothfeld

Based on succulent noodles and rice, tangy sauces, crisp vegetables, and pungent herbs and spices, Thai food is an ideal choice for today's health-conscious cooks. The carefully, crafted recipes in The Vegetarian Table: Thailand make Thai flavor marvelously easy to achieve at home. From essentials like Cucumber Salad with Roasted Peanut Dressing to zesty curries, soups, stir-fries and more, The Vegetarian Table: Thailand offers an unbeatable collection of Thai recipes which sidestep meat without missing any favorites. Written by Jacki Passmore, who is respected in culinary circles around the globe for her knowledge of Asian food, The Vegetarian Table: Thailand deserves a central place in any kitchen where spice, adventure, and delicious vegetarian foods are welcome.

"I relish the pungent, herbaceous flavors that are unique to Thai cooking," writes Passmore, "and have been determined to achieve them in the recipes while devising totally vegetarian alternatives to the many seafood-based pantry staples. I have listed several significant vegetarian seasoning ingredients, or combinations of ingredients, to replace standard non-vegetarian products."

With more than 80 authentic and distinctive recipes, Passmore also provides invaluable tools for the newcomers to Thai cooking the vegetarian way. Chapters preceding the recipes include notes on preparing and cooking vegetarian Thai food, necessities for the Thai pantry, and a selection of basic recipes that include curry pastes, sauces, stocks, and garnishes. Passmore's introductory notes are a special treat, as she shares history, lore, and personal experience. Rothfeld's elegant color photographs reflect the luscious bounty and vivid palette of these wonderful recipes.

Jacki Passmore is author of more than twenty-five cookbooks including Asia: The Beautiful Cookbook. She lives in the U.S., Australia, and Asia, where she teaches, writes, and hosts gourmet food tours to Asian countries. Steven Rothfeld's photographs have appeared in Travel & Leisure, Bon Appetit, and Gourmet. He lives in Napa Valley, California.

The Vegetarian Table: Thailand
by Jacki Passmore
Chronicle Books, $24.95
160 pages; October 2, 1997
ISBN 0-8118-1214-6

Visit the Global Gourmet's Thailand page.