This is a book that comes at you excitedly and blaring at full volume, all bright colours, big flavours and high-octane attitude. It teeters on the edge of too-muchness, you might think at first. But give me enthusiastic fervour over cool detachment any day. There’s real generosity of spirit behind it – and I’m not just saying that because of the size of the portions! While it may be slightly beside the point, I do love the title: it just strikes a chord, plus it makes me smile. More pertinently, the "easy East Asian recipes with a twist" that Tsang offers to get you out of your exhausted rut are as reassuringly do-able as they are enlivening; and in “My Store Cupboard” Tsang lists the heavy-hitters you need (none of them inaccessible or abstruse) to make them, and which provide mega impact with minimum effort. Yes, it’s a maximalist approach, but one that’s embraced so whole heartedly. Let me give you some examples of what this means in terms of dishes. My shortlist of recipes would have to include his Creamy Gochujang Prawn Noodles; Sesame Ginger Salmon Claypot Rice; Herby Lime Steak and Pickled Onions; Carbonara Instant Noodles; Kimchi Egg Ribbon Udon Soup; Firecracker Rice; Spicy Sesame Green Salad; Triple Garlic Crispy Chicken with Green Rice and Sauce; Crispy Garlic Pork Belly Bites; and Kimchi Pork Belly. It also most definitely includes the fiery, cheesy Volcano Chilli Chicken, which is the recipe I’m rather excited to be sharing with you today!
Long Day? Cook This: Easy East Asian Recipes With a Twist by Justin Tsang (Ebury Press, £26).
Photography by Sam A Harris.
