Book Review: Buddha's Table

Thai cooking is known for being tasty, spicy, flavorful, colorful and fresh. Naturally, I was drawn to any style of cooking that could offer all of those things in one package.
Chat Mingkwan’s book Buddha’s Table: Thai Feasting Vegetarian Style immediately caught my attention with the beautiful photograph of Pad Thai with fresh mushrooms, bright peppers, delicate cilantro, bean sprouts and sharp lime slices piled atop spiced noodles on the cover. How could I resist.
My family once developed an affinity for the boxed version of Pad Thai at the discount store. It was not horrible, though certainly not inspirational. Minkkwan’s recipe requires attention to detail, but is well worth the work. He warns that too much moisture and not enough heat will make it mushy and, conversely, too not enough moisture and too much heat will make it tough.
It’s quick and uses many ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.
Some of the other recipes include Glass Noodle Salad, Sticky Rice and Mangoes, Vegetable Clay Pots, Sweet and Sour Vegetable Plate, Long Bean Wrapped Mushrooms and Gaenh Koa Pineapple Curry. There are a wide variety of dishes to satisfy a wide range of tastes.
Buddha’s Table has dozens of recipes, information about both the ingredients and the background of the food and vegetarian traditions.
Mingkwan’s writing style is friendly and has a quiet calm, like the knowledgeable friend who brings not only dinner, but pleasant conversation to your kitchen.
Even before you bring out the wok or mortar and pestle, Mingkwan gently introduces the ingredients that are unique to Thai cooking. He discusses the fresh fruits, vegetables and spices that are combined for the special flavors that are Thai. He even gives instructions on making your own tofu.
The chef even includes instructions for making Thai curry pastes and sauces that are the foundation for many of the dishes.
This is a fabulous book. There are few photographs, but the ones that are there are beautifully detailed and gorgeously staged.
Buddha’s Table is published by Book Publishing Company, which is a member of the Green Press Initiative. The book is printed with plant-based inks on partially recycled, chlorine free paper. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book have been promised to be donated to projects that promote the preservation of endangered wildlife.
It sells for $14.95