Tofu, Beans and Nuts

Rating:
Summary: Great Cookbook and Reference for Health "Nuts"
Review: For those who are looking to eat healthy, getting lots of protein from beans and nuts but not yet ready to give up meat all together, this is a great cookbook and reference.

At first glance, the book's title suggests a limited number of main ingredients. To my surprise there are a myriad of ingredients, all products of tofu, beans and nuts, some natural, some processed. For starters, there are tofu in different textures, deep-fried tofu, tofu thread, soft layered tofu sheet, tofu sheet (that's right, this and the soft layered are two different things,) tofu sticks, bean curd, wrapped gluten, wheel gluten, fried gluten... Well, you get the idea.

The recipes in this book are easy to follow and the English and Chinese help identify ingredients and spices, which make shopping for special items a breeze. A helpful feature of this book is the remarks that come with most recipes. They provide great tips for turning out delicious dishes.

Even a vegetarian can have a lot of fun with this book. Tofu With Dried Lily Flower, Braised Tomato with Tofu, Brown Tofu and my favorite Tofu Sheet with Bean Sprout Rolls, are all delicious without meat products. Stewed Green Soybean is a delicious and healthy snack bound to be loved by adults and kids alike, and it is so easy to make.

This book is also good for a novice cook. It contains details of cooking basics including cooking methods, cutting techniques, spices and sauces and the name of ingredients in Chinese and English. They are very helpful even for one who's been cooking for a long time.