Japanese Soups: 66 Nourishing Broths, Stews and Hotpots

Food writer Iwasaki makes a strong English-language debut with this wonderful collection of Japanese soup recipes. She begins with a rundown of the benefits of soup (among other things, it is “gentle on the body” and easy to make) before providing detailed instructions for making several types of dashi, or stock, from scratch. Soups run the gamut from a hearty peanut miso soup with pork and vegetables to a simple turnip soup garnished with citrus zest. To soothe late-night cravings after a night on the town, mountain yam and okra soup can be made in 20 minutes (and is filled with antioxidants). And there’s a Japanese twist on a classic Thai tom yum soup, which includes soy sauce, shrimp, and ginger. In addition to recipes, Iwasaki sprinkles tips throughout, like using in-season vegetables for optimal flavor and garnishing and finishing dishes with attention paid to both appearance and flavor. This will be a great resource for home cooks looking to expand their repertoires. (Feb.)