Classic Japanese Cookbooks?

[NickeeCoco]

Ok. First things first. I'm a home cook with no formal training, though I do have friends who are chefs and I have gleaned tips and techniques from them over the years. I'd like to think of myself as an advanced home cook, as I'm not deterred by complicated or advanced techniques, and use recipes that require that sort of thing regularly.

So, most of my cooking has been European. What I'd like to start learning about (and experimenting [! one of my favourite things] in the kitchen) is Japanese cooking. Apart from marinating tofu, and making miso soup I don't really know much about cooking this style of food. I'm looking for an informative Japanese cookbook that will not only teach me the basics of the cuisine, but lead me to advanced recipes as well. Something that deals with classic Japanese dishes. Not fusion. Not modern. Just something that is the equivalent of Le Cordon Bleu Complete Cook, but for Japanese cuisine, not French. I'm not afraid to get messy and debone things, butcher things (I recently went to a five course dinner where a butcher taught us how to butcher a pig as we ate), etc.

What I look for in a cookbook:

1. Pictures of every dish.
2. Glossary of terms.
3. Technique appendix with picture steps.

My favourite cookbooks (as in the ones with the most dog ears, splashes and broken spines) so you have an idea of the types of things I like:

1. Le Cordon Bleu Complete Cook - eds. Kim Rowney, Jane Price
2. The New Regional Italian Cookbook - Reinhardt Hess, Cornelia Schinharl, Sabine Salzer
3. The Philospher's Kitchen: Recipes from Ancient Greece and Rome for the Modern Cook - Francine Segan
4. The Opera Lover's Cookbook - Francine Segan
5. Entertaining with Wine: A Cookbook for Wine Lovers - Ruth Ellen Church
6. Larousse on Cooking - Trans. Zachary R. Townshend

Thank you for any suggestions you may have!

 

[salt and pepper]

I just enjoy most Japanese cooking, the ingredients and flavors from sushi to steak. Here is a book I think you may enjoy.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Try this website: About Just Hungry | JustHungry . Maki is a great teacher. Think of it as an Online Cookbook.

 

[NickeeCoco]

Well, I went on to AbeBooks ordered that book above, along with The Joy of Japanese Cooking by Kuwako Takahashi, and Food of Japan by Shirley Booth. We'll see how it goes.

 

[NickeeCoco]

Try this website: About Just Hungry | JustHungry . Maki is a great teacher. Think of it as an Online Cookbook.

I will. I do prefer cookbooks, though, 'cos I don't mind if I splash something on them. As a rule, I do not like electronics in my kitchen. I don't want to be held responsible! But I'll take a look, thank you.

 

[puffin3]

I have one called 'cookingclass japanese' Step by step to perfect results.
It's put out by: 'The Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks'.
It very well presented. Lots of great photos. Very clear concise recipes.
It's the book on the right side of the Amazon site.Amazon.com: cookingclass japanese women's weekly: Books

 

[NickeeCoco]

I have one called 'cookingclass japanese' Step by step to perfect results.
It's put out by: 'The Australian Women's Weekly Cookbooks'.
It very well presented. Lots of great photos. Very clear concise recipes.
It's the book on the right side of the Amazon site.Amazon.com: cookingclass japanese women's weekly: Books

Just ordered that one too. Though, I got it for a grand total (including shipping) of $5.75 on AbeBooks rather than Amazon's $179.54. I mean really, what are these sellers thinking?

 

[puffin3]

Just ordered that one too. Though, I got it for a grand total (including shipping) for $5.75 on AbeBooks rather than Amazon's $179.54. I mean really, what are these sellers thinking?

Ya. I have no idea what the sellers are thinking.
I bought my edition about 15 years ago for about $20 CN.
The ISBN number is 186396187-9.
On the back cover the UK price is 5.99.
Anyway I hope you enjoy the book.

 

[powerplantop]

This is the Japanesse cookbook that I use the most: http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Homestyle-Cooking-Tokiko-Suzuki/dp/4889960368

This book is great for learning basic tequniques and that deliver good results.

If your serious and have the time for making pickles get this book: http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Easy-Ts...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433777027&sr=1-1

 

[NickeeCoco]

This is the Japanesse cookbook that I use the most: http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Homestyle-Cooking-Tokiko-Suzuki/dp/4889960368

This book is great for learning basic tequniques and that deliver good results.

If your serious and have the time for making pickles get this book: http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Easy-Ts...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433777027&sr=1-1

Awesome. Add those to my shopping cart as well. Thanks! The mailman is going to hate me.

 

[powerplantop]

Awesome. Add those to my shopping cart as well. Thanks! The mailman is going to hate me.

Your welcome! They are small books so no problem for the mailman.

 

[GotGarlic]

Nickee, you're a bad influence. I just ordered the two books PPO recommended

 

[powerplantop]

Nickee, you're a bad influence. I just ordered the two books PPO recommended

The circle continues!!!

 

[NickeeCoco]

Your welcome! They are small books so no problem for the mailman.

I already ordered five other books today. That's now seven.

Nickee, you're a bad influence. I just ordered the two books PPO recommended

Hehe.

 

[NickeeCoco]

Just wanted to update. I've received a few of the books I ordered, but four still have to arrive.

The Japanese Kitchen by Kimiko Barber is really awesome. Not only does it have recipes, but it discusses the history of food in Japan, and for every ingredient that a western person might look at and think, "huh?" there's a full page explaining what its history, how it grows/where its habitat is, appearance and taste, buying and storing, health benefits and culinary uses. I really like it thus far. I haven't tried anything out of it yet, because I actually want to read it from beginning to end to get a fuller understanding of what I'm getting myself into.

Thank you salt and pepper for suggesting it.