Your Asian Veggie Patch: A guide to growing and cooking delicious Asian vegetables, herbs and fruits by Connie Cao is a delightful book that opens up a new world of Asian produce for gardeners of all skill levels, guiding readers through a horticultural and culinary journey of discovery in a fun, friendly and informative way. Offering both practical growing advice and inspiring ideas for the kitchen, it’s an enjoyable read that’s hard to put down for any curious gardener or food enthusiast.
From the outset, Connie Cao’s passion for gardening and her deep knowledge of Asian food plants shine through. The book is written in an accessible and friendly style that’s effortless to read, while also being very comprehensive and detailed, striking a nice balance indeed. The comprehensive guidance is complemented by stunning photographs of plants, gardens, and prepared dishes, which not only illustrate the subject matter but also showcase the author’s creative eye and culinary artistry.
In her introduction, Connie invites readers to think of her as their “Asian best friend,” guiding them through the cultivation and preparation of her favorite plants. This tone of warmth and familiarity permeates the entire book, creating a unique sense of connection and trust. Her advice is clearly rooted in extensive first-hand experience, and her intimate knowledge of each plant—its growth habits, cultural significance, and culinary potential—is both impressive and inspiring.
This book is more than just a gardening or cookbook—it’s a celebration of cultural diversity, inviting readers to explore a rich world of gardening and cooking that is deeply rewarding and educational. Whether you’re looking to grow Asian vegetables and herbs, expand your knowledge of these plants, or enhance your culinary repertoire, Your Asian Veggie Patch offers something special. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves gardening, cooking, or learning about new cultures.
A Review of Contents
The book is thoughtfully organised into two primary sections, making it both accessible and practical for readers of all skill levels.
The first part serves as a gardening essentials guide, covering foundational topics such as climate considerations, plant types and families, sunlight requirements, soil, container gardening, plant nutrition, watering, lots of practical step-by-step growing information such as seed raising and growing from seedlings, an introduction to permaculture (ecological gardening) principles, organic gardening tips for pest control, and gardening in small spaces. This section culminates in practical advice on harvesting and cooking, offering a seamless transition from garden to kitchen. It’s an excellent primer for beginners, yet comprehensive enough to provide valuable insights for experienced gardeners as well.
The second part delves into profiles of over 50 plants, categorised into cool-season, warm-season, and year-round vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Each detailed plant profile contains comprehensive information and expert guidance on growing, harvesting, storing, and cooking. In addition to this, the profiles begin with important facts about the plant, such as taste, differences from other similar Asian plants, names of available varieties and their attributes – all information drawn from extensive experience and familiarity.
The book’s layout is highly intuitive, with clear headings, concise descriptions, and visually appealing photography that enhances understanding. The structured format makes it easy to navigate, whether you’re seeking gardening advice or inspiration for recipes. Readers can approach the book as a comprehensive guide to be read cover-to-cover or as a reference to explore individual sections as needed. This book is an excellent addition to any gardener’s collection, and is highly recommended.
For additional information, here’s the publisher’s description of the book:
“Grow, cook and enjoy delicious Asian vegetables, herbs and fruits – from garden to plate – wherever you live with permaculture gardener Connie Cao.
Your Asian Veggie Patch is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to growing and cooking Asian vegetables, herbs and fruits at home. Permaculture gardener Connie Cao guides you though a curated selection of more than 40 cool-season and warm-season annuals and perennials (from amaranth greens, bok choy and daikon to loofah, pandan and yuzu), meaning it’s easy to find produce that will thrive in your garden and climate.
Then, make the most of your abundant harvest with 50 fresh home-style recipes inspired by Connie’s Chinese heritage: think edamame and pickled mustard greens, stir-fried Shanghai rice cakes, pork and chive dumplings, Chinese pumpkin cakes and winter melon tea.
Featuring photography and illustrations both beautiful and informative, Your Asian Veggie Patch has everything you need to get your garden flourishing and your mouth watering.”
Book Details
- Publisher : Murdoch Books (1 October 2024)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1761500244
- ISBN-13 : 978-1761500244
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