Flavors of the Southeast Asian Grill: Classic Recipes for Seafood and Meats Cooked over Charcoal [A Cookbook]

Ms. Leela Punya..etc… has done it again with her new book on grilling/smoking food Southeast Asia style. It’s a definite winner! Her first two books, “Simple Thai Food,” and “Bangkok” were glowing successes. Clearly, she has done a great deal of traveling and first-hand research throughout Southeast Asia to produce this new compendium of culinary cuisine, “Flavors of the Southeast Asian Grill.”Although this book is more densely packed with the materials and methodology of cooking with wood flame (or charcoal, or coconut husks, or burning hay), her unique sense of humor still shines through. For example she gives this advice to the readers: “To eat this dish, I recommend picking up the lemon grass stalk with your hand, and attacking it with your teeth, like a shark. . . . If this is too uncouth for your company, I’d lose the company.” I must agree.Don’t get bogged down in the discussion of grilling/smoking hardware at the beginning of the book. She later makes clear that all you really need is something to contain the fire and hold up a grilling rack. All else is optional. You don’t need a $500 stainless steel smoker/grill. Her description of the Thai farmer mounting a chicken on a wooden stake, covering it with a five-gallon pail, surrounding it with hay and setting it on fire is ample proof. Delicious hay-smoked chicken!I can’t wait for this Corona Virus quarantine to be over so I can go to a grocery store with actual things on the shelves and get started trying out these sumptuous recipes!

Very functional and easy to follow cookbook. The flavors of Southeast Asia are all here and most recipes are doable at home on regular backyard grills and tools. The photos are very informative and helpful.

Never have I purchased a cookbook and instantly felt the desire to make every single recipe. I have a BGE and want to use it everyday to grill all of the dishes in this cookbook. It makes Southeast Asian cooking accessible to an American audience.

Here I am in the middle of the shelter-in-place order of spring 2020 and I am wanting to grill and make recipes for which I don't have the ingredients. On my own, I'd simply substitute as I see fit and go on with my day. However, it isn't really fair for me to do it that way and then offer a review. I would like to begin by saying that this book is beautiful in it's photography and layout. Everything is well organized and there's temptation on almost every page.The book begins with some general, but important, knowledge on grilling. This even includes some specifics on setting up a proper cooking fire and setting up for smoking without a dedicated smoker. I appreciate that the author lays things out with some flexibility for your equipment. For the most part, if you have a grill, some grill tools, and kitchen basics; you are probably ready to grill with this book.After that, it's right into the recipes. As expected with most grilling books, the vegetarian options are few, but there are some. I think a vegetarian will also be able to translate and substitute some of the sauces and sides to work for eggplant, mushroom, or plant-based meat-like choices. I was most excited in the seafood section because there are two whole-fish recipes that I'm looking forward to trying. i will definitely be making the Herb-Filled Grilled Fish and Spicy Tamarind Dipping Sauce and I also want to try the Whole Smoked Fish. For those looking for meatier dishes, you will find plenty in the following sections of Poultry, Pork, or Beef & Lamb. The Grilled Chicken and Spicy Carrot Salad, Grilled Pork on Sticky Rice Buns, or Grilled Skirt Steaks with Spicy Roasted Tomato sauce all sound like they'll be great for a barbeque party.Overall, with sauces, sides, mains, and even a couple desserts; this adds a valuable 60+ recipes to the griller's bookshelf. I look forward to pulling this book down again and again. I've received a free copy of Flavors of the Southeast Asian Grill from Ten Speed Press in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you for the free book, Ten Speed Press!

Most people think of stir fry and braised saucy dishes when they think of Asian cuisine but some of the best Asian food comes off a smoky grill. My fondest memories come from the grilled items I would get walking the alleys of Southeast Asia. The Smoked Shrimp with fish sauce dipping sauce p30 sounds like a perfect meal to have while chatting and drinking beer with friends. I love the Spicy Carrot Salad p56 that accompanies the Grilled Chicken Recipe. It's a different take on the traditional Thai papaya salad with carrots being easier to chew. If you like chicken this cookbook has a bunch of delicious chicken recipes. In my opinion there's nothing better than char grilled chicken skin. Unless it's pork fat like the Roasted Pork Belly Roll on p112. The Grilled Pork Chops on p 117 has pineapple juice in the brine that adds flavor and also tenderizes the meat. I love the technique of brining and then applying an aromatic paste of lemongrass, shallots, and garlic. This one I'm making for sure! This cookbook is filled with delicious recipes. Grilled Skirt Steak p166, Phanaeng Curry Beef Skewers with kabocha squash p173, and Grilled Eggplant Salad p185 it all sounds and looks so good! The cooking technique is simple but the recipes incorporate so many flavors and aromatics that really pack a punch. I can't wait to eat my way through all of the recipes.Thank you Ten Speed Press. I've received a free copy in exchange for a free and unbiased review. This is my honest review.

We love our bbq sessions, but this has some great recipes - really easy to prep and healthy.

The author knows her stuff! I have cooked a couple of dishes already on my charcoal grill. The instructions are reasonably clear and the results have been amazing! "smoked' chicken with rice was a game changer!! If you like this kind of grilled Thai food, buy it!

First thing I am going to make is Pork Belly Burnt Ends Page 133.Leela's recipes from her previous Cookbooks are great and I am sure her new book will not disappoint!Congratulations on this new book!