Dac Biet: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook

by Nini Nguyen

A collection of contemporary, extra special Vietnamese recipes, from beloved classics like Hanoi-Style Vermicelli with Grilled Pork and three variations of Phở, to dishes with a New Orleans twist, like Southeast Asian Jambalaya and Sticky Fried Shrimp Bánh Mì—from Top Chef contestant and acclaimed chef, Nini Nguyen

In Vietnamese culture, to be dac biet is to be special and luxurious, or, as chef and cooking instructor Nini Nguyen puts it, it means adding something a little extra, like salty caviar on top of squid stuffed pork, a surprise note of ginger and lime in a dipping sauce, or sautéing shaking beef in farm fresh butter for a creamy, delectable experience. Born and raised in New Orleans by Vietnamese immigrants, here Nini gives us recipes that fuse the best of Vietnamese and New Orleans cooking and clear directions on how to prepare and arrange them, making for a flavorful, unforgettable experience that proves that being a little extra is accessible and just right.

Dac Biet includes 100 delicious and vibrant recipes that celebrate the essential flavors of Vietnam—salty, sour, bitter, spicy, and sweet—and the bright and perfectly balanced dishes they create. Here are recipes

*Charbroiled Oysters in Chili Butter * Viet-Cajun Seafood Boil * Phở with Everything * Crispy Fish Sauce Caramel Chicken Wings * Broken Rice with Pork Chops and Eggs * Crispy Noodles Covered in a Saucy Stir Fry * BBQ Pork Ribs Glazed with Roasted Nước Mắm Sauce* Coconut Crispy Rice Crepes * and many more

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

368 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book I would turn to if I wanted to make a restaurant favorite at home. It's daunting; the recipes have long lists of ingredients and some are new to me or hard to get in southern Maine. But it's inspiring: the pictures are bright and inviting, the stories interspersed with the recipes are endearing, and the food looks and sounds great. An aspirational cookbook.

[Kate]

I thought this was a really solid Vietnamese cookbook, although I still prefer the simplicity of An Chua. Made some of the vegetable sides, the blackened curry fish, ginger-braised chicken, and be the beef chow fun bookmarked but haven’t made yet.

[Don Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique blend of Nawlins Cajun and Vietnamese flavors in a wonderfully illustrated cookbook.