Best Southeast Asian Cooking, Food & Wine Books of 2025

Simply Korean: Easy Recipes for Korean Favorites That Anyone Can Make is a must-have book for those who want to explore Korean cuisine. Written by professional chef Aaron Huh, the book provides simplified techniques and minimal ingredients to make mouth-watering dishes such as bulgogi, kimchi, and tteokbokki. The book also includes an introduction to Korean cuisine, essential ingredients, and preparation methods, as well as easy-to-remember formulas for Korean sauces. With this book, anyone can make restaurant-quality Korean meals at home. Overall, Simply Korean is a fantastic resource for those who want to learn how to cook Korean cuisine with ease.

On the Curry Trail: Chasing the Flavor That Seduced the World is an enlightening journey across the globe to explore the origins of curry and the signature, essential curries of each region. With 50 recipes, the book delves into the story of curry, embracing the many interpretations and definitions of this beloved dish. From history and lore to anecdotes and familial remembrances, Raghavan Iyer's book makes the flavors of these scintillating curries accessible to the everyday home cook. Overall, this is a must-have for every home cook who loves Indian cuisine and wants to explore the world of curry in depth.

The book "101 Thai Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die" by Jet Tila and Tad Weyland Fukumoto is a must-have for anyone looking to explore the rich culinary traditions of Thailand. With authentic, accessible, and mouthwatering recipes, this cookbook covers everything from tantalizing classics to popular street foods and unsung heroes spanning the regions. Jet Tila, a James Beard-nominated chef, brings his Thai heritage to the forefront with an exciting collection of plant-based takes on popular dishes. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for home cooks looking to master the gold standard for authentic Thai cuisine.

Mooncakes & Milk Bread is a comprehensive cookbook by Kristina Cho, featuring sweet and savory recipes inspired by Chinese bakeries. The book covers classic recipes with fresh and uncomplicated interpretations for modern bakers, including baked buns, steamed buns, Chinese breads, cookies, cakes, dumplings, breakfast dishes, and drinks. Cho also provides tips and tricks for perfecting each recipe, making this book ideal for both beginners and experienced bakers. The book has been named one of the 10 Best Cookbooks of 2021 by San Francisco Chronicle and is highly recommended for all home bakers and anyone who enjoys Chinese food.

Indian-Ish: Recipes and Antics from a Modern American Family is a delightful cookbook that celebrates the fusion of Indian and American cuisine. Written by food writer Priya Krishna, the book features her mother's "Indian-ish" recipes that are easy to make and packed with flavor. The book also includes funny and relatable stories about the Krishna family, accompanied by original illustrations. With a foreword from Padma Lakshmi, this cookbook is a must-have for those who love to cook and want to explore a new culinary world.

First Generation: Recipes from My Taiwanese-American Home [A Cookbook] is a stunning exploration of identity through food. Frankie Gaw presents 80 deeply personal recipes inspired by his multicultural experience growing up as a first-generation Taiwanese American in the Midwest. With step-by-step photography and detailed hand-drawn illustrations, the author teaches readers how to master bao, dumplings, scallion pancakes, and much more. This cookbook is a tribute to Taiwanese home cooking and a testament to the flavors of suburban America melded with the ingredients and techniques of Gaw's parents' upbringing. Overall, this book is a beautiful celebration of food and culture that will leave readers inspired to try new flavor combinations and explore their own culinary roots.

East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing [American Measurements] is a must-have cookbook for anyone who loves Southeast Asian cooking or wants to eat more delicious meat-free food. Meera Sodha's collection features brand-new recipes from a wide range of Asian cuisines, taking you on a culinary journey from India to Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan, by way of China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The recipes are easy to make and bursting with exciting flavors, including sweet potato momos, salted miso brownies, and a no-churn Vietnamese coffee ice cream. This cookbook is a collaboration between Sodha and the East Asian and South East Asian home cooks and gourmet chefs who inspired her along the way, making it a unique and exceptional volume.

I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cook is a 2019 James Beard Award Finalist and a Best Cookbook of the Year according to The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and more. The book explores the unique and captivating cuisine of the Philippines, which reflects the influence and ingredients of various cultures that came to the islands. The book is filled with riotously bold and bright photographs that make it feel like a classic kamayan dinner. This cookbook is not only a guide on how to cook like a Filipino, but it is also a guide through the Philippines, its history, and its culture. A deeply researched and important work, I Am a Filipino is a brilliant cookbook that doubles as an important work of cultural scholarship.

The Indonesian Table by Petty Pandean-Elliott is a celebration of the rich and diverse cuisine of Indonesia. The book features 150 much-loved recipes that showcase the country's iconic dishes such as sambal, satay, nasi goreng, and beef rendang, as well as lesser-known regional dishes and traditional desserts. Petty's personal stories and stunning images of recipes and local culture add a personal touch to the book. The accessible recipes have been adapted for home cooks, making it easy to recreate authentic Indonesian flavors in your own kitchen. The Indonesian Table is a must-have for anyone interested in exploring the vibrant and delicious cuisine of Indonesia.

The Pepper Thai Cookbook is a collection of 80 stir-fried, saucy, sweet-and-tangy recipes from Pepper Teigen, the mom who taught Chrissy Teigen how to cook. The book includes traditional Thai dishes, such as khao tod crispy rice salad and tom zapp hot and sour soup, as well as playful twists on classics, like Pad Thai Brussels Sprouts. Pepper also shares stories about her life, making the book feel personal and relatable. Overall, this cookbook is a must-have for anyone who loves Thai food or wants to try something new in the kitchen.