Quick and easy cooking sometimes gets bad-mouthed by those who prefer their dinners to be slow-cooked and as authentic as possible. I won't rehash the quick aspect of the book, but in this case, the fact that the recipes are easy is a major selling point. Vietnamese food is not nearly as well known as other Asian cuisines are and rather than launching into what might be a complex and expensive task of producing completely authentic Vietnamese at home, it's a good idea to at least familiarize yourself with some of the flavors and dishes that are popular.
Quick & Easy Vietnamese: 75 Everyday Recipes presents this unique cuisine in a very accessible way, much as its counterpart does with Thai food. The recipes are easy to read and most are accompanied by tempting photos, all of which will make you realize who Vietnamese food is popular even before you taste it. Many of the more exotic ingredients called for, such as lemongrass in the Lemongrass Shrimp, will probably be available at your local grocery or specialty market, but the book also has a list of mail-order resources in the back that should help you find anything that your grocer doesn't carry.









