Di An: The Salty, Sour, Sweet and Spicy Flavors of Vietnamese Cooking with TwayDaBae

by Tue Nguyen

Discover and enjoy the delicious, vibrant flavors of Vietnamese cuisine with these authentic and modern recipes perfect for every home cook from social media star and acclaimed chef Tue Nguyen a.k.a. @TwayDaBae.

Popular social media super-chef Tue Nguyen (better known to many as @TwayDaBae) moved to the US with her family from Vietnam at the age of eight. When she realized she wanted to pursue a career in food, her parents didn’t support her choice, despite her mother being a wonderful cook and the inspiration behind many of Tue’s recipes. Still, Tue went to culinary school to pursue her dreams. Since then, she’s been featured in major publications like People, and her new restaurant, Didi in West Hollywood, has been covered by the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, The Infatuation, Eater, and more.

Tue honors food and culture in everything she does, and Di An exemplifies that with its authentic salty, sour, sweet, and spicy recipes, many of which have been simplified for modern cooks. You’ll still find the bold flavors of lemongrass, garlic, shallots, chili peppers, and of course, fish sauce, but presented in a way that even beginner home cooks will be able to cook and enjoy at home. Just like Tue’s content for her growing legions of Instagram and TikTok fans, her cookbook is an invitation to share the love she has for her recipes
Shaking Beef Braised Catfish Lemongrass Chili Oil Noodles Fish Sauce Wings Bo Kho “Birria” Tacos Bitter Melon Soup Spicy Beef Noodles Pho And more!
In addition to delicious recipes, you’ll find tips and tricks on entertaining, making the perfect essential sauces and condiments, and so much more to elevate even the most beginner home chef’s cooking.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Asian American

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Mai H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I asked my mom for a cà ri gà recipe and she gave me one for Thai red curry instead, I came here. LFG

[Jessica Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've followed Tue like a lot of people on social media and have watched her gain popularity. It's so exciting to see her progress and representation of the Vietnamese culture.

Overall the cookbook is beautiful, with many dishes that I have learned to cook with my mom (only with more precise measurements since parents cook from the heart haha). My sister in law who is Mexican often has trouble trying to cook Vietnamese food because of that method so I knew I had to get her and myself copies of this cookbook.

The photos with English and Vietnamese names for herbs is one of my favorite aspects. It really helps people (including myself) identify herbs that aren't common at American stores. There are also tips and tricks that are helping as well.

My only drawback is that not every recipe has a photo. Some have multiple and others have none. Having at least one photo to show what the dish is supposed to look like helps a great deal so because some are missing it feels unbalanced.

Overall a good book!

[Darlene Messenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern take on traditional Vietnamese dishes. Lots of spice and heat in the dishes. It made me hungry but not being able to have any hot spice in my meals I didn’t find any way I could alter the dishes to accommodate myself. Enjoyable read with anecdotal experience by author.

[BingeReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook offers a nice mix of traditional Vietnamese recipes like Bánh Xèo and Beef Pho, along with some interesting fusion options like Pandan Cinnamon Scrolls and Avocado Mousse. I tried the viral fried rice and grilled pork chops, and both turned out well—simple to make and tasty. The recipes are generally easy to follow, though I do wish there were more images, especially for some unusual dishes. Overall, a solid collection for anyone wanting to try their hand at Vietnamese cooking with a twist.