The Latest Cookbooks – August 2024

Not Just Jam

By Matthew Evans – Murdoch Books, RRP$45

When you live off the land, by the seasons, you will inevitably end up with a surplus and as Matthew says, this glut is a gift. It allows you to store food, preserve and keep it for leaner times.

This book is an ode to Fat Pig Farm’s seasonal surplus, overwhelmed by ripe fruit, mountains of crops and a desire to make incredibly tasty condiments.
You don’t need to have an orchard or flourishing vegetable garden, if you love bold flavours and cooking then a trip to a farmers’ market or produce stall will suffice.

Chapters include preserving basics, jams, jellies, conserves, pickles and relishes, sauces, curds and butters, cordials and syrups and dried and candied and pastes. With a unique twist on some favourites – such as Pear and Cardamom Jam, Nun’s Sauce (a spicy garlic anchovy sauce), Mushroom Ketchup, Spiced Rhubarb Squash and Quince Comfits – use this book as your starting point and create your own variations.

Thai Home Cooking

By Orathay Souksisavanh – Murdoch Books, RRP$55

Born in Thailand, Orathay moved to Paris as a child with her family and later studied
at the world-renowned culinary school, the Ferrandi School. The author of several books, this one is a glorious exploration into her native cooking.

Learn the Thai art of folding with step-by- step instructions for classic snacks such as Po Pia (fried rolls) and Karipap (curry puffs). It’s got the famous basics – Pad Thai, Tom Yum Soup and Som Tum – plus a range of other seafood, vegetable and meat dishes. It’s beautifully presented and the recipes combine the perfect harmony of sweet, sour, hot and salty flavours.

With in-depth descriptions on pantry staples including sauces and their uses, this book is an excellent gift for those who are just starting their cooking journey or the newly wed or new-to-flatting with a penchant for Asian flavours.

Pocha

By Su Scott – Hardie Grant, RRP$49.99

The first ever cookbook on Korean pocha culture by Korean-born, London-based food writer Su Scott is a vibrant exploration of this comforting food from a country that has perfected late-night eating and drinking culture.

Pocha translates as ‘covered wagon’ and is a tented or tarpaulin-covered stall serving up cheap and unfussy Korean food. In this book, Su covers 80 delicious and playful recipes taking you on a journey through the narrow streets of Seoul. From Corn Dogs and Fried Chicken, Seoul-style Bulgogi to Kimchi Pancakes and Perilla Oil Noodles, the recipes are a taste sensation.

Su Scott won the Best Readers’ Recipe category at the prestigious Observer Food Monthly Awards for her Kimchi Jjigae, which launched her career as a sought-after food writer and recipe developer. Waitrose Food magazine described her as a rising star of the food world and showcased her recipes under the title ‘Home Comfort’. This is her second book, following the success of Rice Table.