Thai Cooking Companion
By Ekarin Yusuksomboon and Intukarn Gajaseni Sirisant
This book shows that good things do come in small packages. Although it lacks the full-page colour photographs of more expensive books, it's packed with information, and is one of the first volumes I turn to when looking for Thai recipes. I especially like the section on ingredients, which includes a picture with each item and gives the English and Thai name, plus a brief explanation. The index could be expanded, though - it would be convenient if dishes were grouped by main ingredient, rather than by the Thai name.
The recipes provided include butter-baked squid, marinated grilled beef with northeastern-style spicy sauce, prawns and bamboo in coconut soup, southern-style rice salad, spicy cucumber salad with salted crab, steamed fish in banana leaves, deep-fried fish with chilli sauce and minced pork omelette with rice.
