Quote:Vietnamese food is popular and unique for good reasons. When you taste the strong sauces and fresh herbs in these dishes, you'll understand why. Vietnam's different regions each have their own special flavors, but they all share a great mix of sour, sweet, spicy, and aromatic tastes. Like other Asian foods, Vietnamese cooking uses both sweet and salty, warming and cooling, and fermented and fresh ingredients.

The north of Vietnam has Chinese-style foods like noodle soups and stir-fries. Central Vietnam's food is more like its neighbors Cambodia and Thailand. In the south, where it's tropical, you'll find lots of herbs, fruits, and rice fields. Southern dishes often use more sugar, even in savory foods.

French colonization also left its mark on Vietnamese cuisine. For example, the famous banh mi sandwich uses French baguettes, but with Vietnamese fillings like fish patties, grilled pork, cilantro, and sardines.

This cookbook teaches you how to use key Vietnamese ingredients like fish sauce, fresh herbs, and rice. You'll learn to make classics like pho soup, spring rolls, and banh xeo pancakes. There are recipes for all times of day, from breakfast to dessert. You'll find out how to make Vietnamese coffee, hearty stews, tasty seafood dishes, and sweet treats like sesame balls.

These recipes are easy to follow and use ingredients you can find in most grocery stores. Whether you're new to Vietnamese food or have enjoyed it for years, this cookbook will help you bring authentic flavors to your own kitchen.