I did not realise how much of this book would hinge on non-vegetarian dishes although I should have guessed. It was interesting but I did not read the whole thing in the time I had access to the book. I would defintely recommend it to those with more adventurous eating habits

Traditional recipes from different Asian cuisines, presented in a very easy to follow manner, but thus lacking a personal touch from the chef.

I loved the chapters on different ingredients and how they differ from region to region.

The introduction as nice, but it felt a tad bit too long and I think it would've been nicer to spread the "memoir" part throughout the book. It was also a bit too repetitive for my liking.

Well, if people thought Asian cooking was quick… This does eventually get to the point, but boy, the two introductions were definitely in the way, and as for the two pages of family and holiday photos… After that it's a lengthy discussion of rice – to be authentic we have to be mindful not only of how to cook it (the Filipino way is the finger method, and a one-to-one ratio, apparently) but of course what rice to use in the first place. Then it's soy sauces, noodles, vinegars, knives – if I tell you the first recipe page is p54 – well past the 20% mark – you get some indication of how long you have to wait on first approach to find what you came here for.

And even then things are divisive – this is the first cookbook I've seen with a flipping QR code to go with every dish. Oh, and bold-font headings for every main stage of the recipe. Apart from that it does the usual thing – offer a few words as to what to expect, tell you times and body count, and the typical ingredients and recipe list. The dishes can be as simple as chicken adobo, as routine as sweet and sour chicken, or as needful of a specialist store as anything involving milkfish. They may be as satisfying as beef bulgogi – whereupon you see a list of sides to have with it, and no recipes at all for them. I guess that's another QR code.

In one way this should have been ideal for me – I am able to follow a recipe very well, I have some idea of more exotic ingredients but don't want them all hanging over me. But at the same time I was always going to lose – this covers a mahoosive corner of the world. If you took one of the Chinese dishes here to grandmas in opposite corners of that place they'd end up very different. This is a snapshot of the continent – all of the countries get a fair portion of the pages (about half the word count of the introductions, then) so we can have no hope for a deep dive into anyone's cuisine.

But, this certainly serves a purpose. This is a colourful and inviting way in to cooking Asian, with no unique techniques and few utterly weird ingredients (also, the closing chunk involves a lot of optional substitutions for those without specialist grocers). This is only what you'd get from an Asian buffet (and if anything this has even more spring rolls), but as a taster, a teaser course into the real home-cooked thing, this is going to be satisfying to follow, and very satisfying to eat.

I love my Asian food and thought this would teach me a lot about distinguished recipes. It can't, (a) from the initial verbiage, and (b) from the range of the continent. But now you know this is an Asian Cooking 101 and nothing more in-depth, and if that's what you want, I'd certainly jump in. For that purpose this is still a delicious four stars.

"... this 220+ page collection brings together over 75 easy-to-follow recipes across Filipino, Cantonese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisines. With detailed instructions, ingredient guides, and personal stories, Maricel Gentile invites readers into her kitchen to experience the richness of Asian culinary tradition—made simple for every home cook."

This is a really handy cookbook for anyone looking to expand their cooking into Asian flavours-be it Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and more!

The instructions are clear and each area is given its own chapter. There's lots of information on cooking tools and ingredients, which definitely helps cut down anxiety about going into unfamiliar cooking territory. Lots of nice photographs help round out this very helpful cookbook!

I received a free ebook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The dedication at the beginning of this book is so sweet and the inclusion of all the family photos in the introduction are such a sweet and loving touch giving us the family feel of these recipes. The introduction and part 1 of the book was a bit long but I’m glad that there was an Asian Cuisine Fundamentals and Shopping and Stocking Your Pantry section as a newbie to some of the asian cuisines and ingredients (especially fish sauces and types of vinegar) so I didn’t get so confused when I looked at the recipes. I liked that both the English and correct language name for the dish for each recipe were provided and personally I love the way in which the recipe is broken up as it’s best for how I work (and I often change other recipes to look similar). There are some great food photos throughout the book that show just how appetising they are and made me want to try them even more and it was great that some recipes had QR codes provided too.

A great book that is not only a cookbook but a bit of a memoir as well. I loved reading about the family and different styles of food cooked and eaten by this family and so many others. Great information about ingredients, ways of cooking and boy did the photos make me hungry. Great recipes and plenty of new ones for me to try out. Enjoyed it and will enjoy trying some of the recipes in this book. YUM!

Thank you NetGalley and Maricel's Media | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a fantastic collection of recipes!
Well done to the author. I have at last found a recipe book that represents Asia in equal proportions and offers Filipino, Cantonese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean Recipes for Every Day from all corners of the continent.
I have tried Lo mein noodles which was delicious and healthy and I’m looking forward to trying out more.
The introduction to the book gives insights into the authors family history which I enjoyed and the following section outlining basic ingredients was really useful.
I shall be purchasing a hardback copy of this.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publishing house for the pre release galley copy to review.

This cookbook makes Asian cooking very accessible. I really appreciate how Maricel explains the importance of certain ingredients to give each dish its authentic taste.

Each recipe is accompanied by a QR code. I was hoping for quick videos but they just take you to the recipe online.

Overall, it’s a great pick if you want to try Asian cooking without feeling overwhelmed.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Simple collection of recipes grouped by region. Thoughtful commentary for each section as well as each recipe. The author is obviously a culinary instructor and has a lot of information to share. The recipes themselves are well written with simple directions that any home cook could follow. Although they mostly consist of what Americans would think of as appetizers, there are enough variations to create meals. The photography that accompanies some of the recipes is beautiful and captures each dish as it would look at a local restaurant.

The introduction was a trip through the author's culinary education. I found it a tad bit long, but it's undeniable that she feels deeply connected to her roots. I'll even keep a few of them recipes to try

Maricel's Simply Asian Cookbook focuses on easy to follow asian recipes. The cookbook is personal with family stories and photographs. The cookbook is broken down really well for the ingredients and making the recipes.

The Cookbook includes 3 parts. Part 1 includes preface, introduction, asian cuisine fundamentals, and how to use this cookbook effectively. Part 2 includes Filipino Cuisine, Cantonese Cuisine , Japanese Cuisine, Thai Cuisine, Vietnamese Cuisine, and Korean Cuisine
Part 3 includes shopping and stocking your pantry and begin your journey.

Each recipe has a recipe blurb, prep time, cook time, servings, ingredients, and directions. The recipe have a QR link for recipe tips. The recipes are easy to follow and concise.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Asian food, but have previously cooked mostly Indian so I was excited to try the recipes in this book.

Maricel doesn't disappoint, she includes plenty of background information about ingredients, as well as about the different regions the recipes come from. There are personal comments added too, adding flavour to the book. A lovely recipe book, great enticing photos of the food and clear step by step cooking instructions, This is a wonderful introduction to the different Asian cuisines that I can't wait to cook more from!

This book does exactly what the title promises: it provides simple, delicious recipes from Asian cuisine.
I haven't managed to cook any of it yet, but I'll do that soon.
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to try their hand at cooking Asian dishes but isn't quite sure where to start.

I've always loved Asian food—it’s flavorful, comforting, and wonderfully diverse. But when it came to cooking it myself, I’ll admit, I was intimidated. The ingredients, techniques, and layers of flavor felt a little out of my league.

That’s why I’m so glad I picked up this cookbook. It breaks everything down in such a simple, approachable way. From the different types of rice to the many varieties of soy sauce, the author explains it all without making it feel overwhelming. With each chapter, my confidence grew, and suddenly, I wasn’t just reading recipes—I was actually excited to try them.

What made this cookbook even more special was the personal touch. The author shares stories about her own family and how her Asian heritage shaped their time together around the table. It added warmth and meaning, making the book feel like more than just a guide—it felt like an invitation into her world.

If you’ve ever wanted to cook Asian food at home but felt unsure where to start, I highly recommend this cookbook. It gave me the push I needed, and now I can’t wait to keep exploring new dishes!

A huge thanks to NetGalley, the author & the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

Most of us don’t know the difference between Japanese, Filipino, Chinese or other Asian dishes. We all know they are delicious, and can learn to make some dishes that are easy to make, as well as learn about the different ingredients used in each cuisine in an excellent cookbook, Maricel's Simply Asian Cookbook, by Maricel Gentile, who is a chef from the Philippines, but is an expert on several Asian cuisines.

This cookbook includes dozens of mouthwatering recipes that will appeal to most people, and the book is divided into chapters that reflect the food from Philippines, China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. The author includes dishes from each of these countries, as well as a primer on types of rice and noodles used in each country, and equipment as well as ingredients needed to make easy, authentic dishes at home. The recipes are written in the traditional way with notes and comments on top, followed by a list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions. Both beginning and advanced cooks will easily duplicate these recipes at home.

Of course, to make a good cookbook, it’s absolutely necessary to include beautiful, professional photographs. This one makes the dishes irresistible, and readers will find their “must make this week” queue will grow every time the book is opened. Gentile has also included information and photos of her family which make the book more personal and interesting.

All told, this book is one that will be used often. The author has a cute personality which is reflected in the prose of the cookbook, and anyone who likes good Asian cuisine will want to pick up a copy.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Simply Asian is a warm, welcoming invitation into the world of Asian home cooking, with approachable recipes that make complex flavors feel easy and fun. Maricel Gentile’s passion shines through every dish, making this a great pick for anyone curious about cooking across cultures without feeling overwhelmed. I really enjoyed learning about the different types of cuisines and the sometimes subtly different ingredients that work together to create something totally distinct.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I loved the pictures and stories behind the food and the different Asian cultures explored in this cookbook. The food looks and sounds yummy and it all sounds like things I could make with a little stop at the Asian grocery store and following the easy recipes.

Love this cookbook and the option that it give for different Asian cuisine plus love that it had some of my favorite Filipino food as I am learning to cook more recipe and master them like how my mom can make them. Will be my go to when I am ready to try something new

This cookbook serves as an incredible intro to so many different Asian cuisines. If you’re looking to branch out into the cuisines of many different regions/cultures, then I can’t recommend this book enough. I made several of the recipes from each chapter and was far from disappointed, and the family loved them as well. I also really enjoyed Maricel’s stories relating to the foods of the various regions, it gave such a personal touch and really served to show her connection to the recipes. 10/10

3.5-4 stars
I liked this cookbook to an extent. Like a lot of cookbooks now, there is a section in the beginning that is like a biography of the author- personally I find this way too distracting to include in cookbooks and will skip over these parts generally or automatically stop looking at it. After this section, there was some details about oils, noodles, rice, etc, each culture will use in their recipes. Then it finally moves into the recipes where they are sectioned off and includes a good variety of recipes from main dishes, sides,etc. The instructions seem easy to follow and I like how there are photos to see what the recipe will somewhat look like when finished- I am more likely to use a recipe if I see a photo and it looks good versus just what I am making. Many of these recipes I plan on trying since I have been looking for good recipes or other ways to make it.

The one thing that I really liked was at the end there was a section the included some of the ingredients and what you could use as substitutes if you do not have or can't find it. This was a huge plus in my opinion especially for Asian dishes.
This would rate higher for me if the first part wasn't so long and in depth. Although some like to read about the author, I think they should not be so focused on in a cookbook.

A cook book which is what it says - simple (straightforward, tasty) recipes from a gamut of Asian cuisines - Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Thai and so on. Easy to follow, mostly easily found ingredients, delicious looking photographs and excellent descriptions of the sometimes subtle differences between the cuisines. A very good start to broad 'Asian cookery'.