Simply Hot Pots: A Complete Course in Japanese Nabemono and Other Asian One-Pot Meals (Volume 4) (Simply ..., 4) Hardcover – February 5, 2019

I'm sure this is a very informative book, but I have been cooking very seriously for 50 years, and the recipes use so many ingredients, and are so complicated..I have yet to try even one. I find it hard to believe that the average Japanese family enjoys this type of fare on a regular basis.I'm in Hawaii with a huge Japanese population, and many of the ingredients are not available here. Maybe ethnic markets in major cities would have them.The book has taken a place among my 250+ others, and I doubt will be looked at again.I gave it 5 stars because it is well written, nicely photographed, and appears to be very comprehensive, but unless you have access to lots of these ingredients and wish to take a lot of prep time....forget it.

In the first week of receiving this amazing cookbook we made 3 recipes and they were all really good and tasty. We have 4 teenagers in our house and it’s so hard to find a meal that everyone likes we have a very short list and we are so over it.So when we can make a recipe that everyone will like it’s pretty much like a miracle.It was so fun to do the shabu-shabu with the kids not only they all loved it but we had a really fun time at dinner. From my daughter, Coco: “It was so much fun to make and it was the best thing ever!” This is coming from a super picker eater.I would highly recommend this cookbook. The recipes are so good and easy to follow. It was also really fun to go to an Asian grocery store.

What is there to say? The girlfriend and I went out to Shabuya (hot pot place) and discovered a new cuisine. As we are trying to loose weight and get healthier, this is a great way to cook healthier and cheaper. Nothing comes out of the pot that you didn't put in there. Really fun... and full of good information

Amazing recipes that are worth the time to make, but do take time to make. Most recipes are really 2 to 3 mini recipes, and depending on where you live getting the right ingredients may be difficult.But every one we've made is a winner so far!

Returned - not what I wanted

(I received a digital ARC of this book free from NetGalley in return for an honest review)Simply Hot Pots, the new offering from Amy Kimoto-Kahn, author of Simply Ramen, is a cookbook for anyone who wants to implement an easy, delicious set of staple meals into their family diet.Kimoto-Kahn presents her relationship with the food she makes as something that naturally flows from her upbringing and her family background. In her introduction, she explains how her association with her mother's tight-knit group of Japanese-American women, The Dames, gave her an introduction to dinner parties and the deep social roots of eating food together. She lays out recipes in the book that are connected to her society and her heritage--family recipes, recipes from friends, and recipes inspired by those she loves (she mentions that her Beef Brisket disk is inspired by her Jewish mother-in-law.)The author walks us through each step of hot pot cooking, or nabemono, a traditional Asian style of cooking which she describes as not only a complete meal in a single dish, but it is also delicious, affordable, and simple to make comfort food. She begins with helping you choose a donabe (clay pot) and telling you tips on how to cure it, or choosing an alternative to an earthenware pot altogether. She then has a helpful list of all the equipment she uses, and that you may need, for a successful hot pot dinner.Recipes you will find in this book are often accompanied by beautiful photos which, at least in my case, were enough to make me want to start making hot pot meals tonight. There are many different types of broths and sauces you can make, most which include some animal products, but some which are vegetarian or vegan. I imagine that some of the others could be tweaked to make them vegetarian-friendly as well. There are sections for each type of protein you could want, whether pork, beef, poultry, or seafood, and--once again--a spattering of vegetarian options. Despite the name of the book, there's a little more than "simply" hot pots here, too--there are several side dishes and a few desserts (the photos for which made my mouth water!)I am very much looking forward to nabemono in my own home after reading Simply Hot Pots!

3 1/2 starsAmy Kimoto-Kahn’s Simply Hot Pots is a beautifully photographed cookbook that describes the Japanese style of cooking known as nabemono, which is essentially cooking with a base and adding a variety of ingredients to a simmering hot pot at your table. This looks like a great communal feast or a fun get-together opportunity.Kimoto-Kahn provides a background, telling the story of her parents and her mother’s group, The Dames who were known for their elaborate dinner parties, and this is the way she learned to cook.The recipes try to incorporate many styles of Asian cooking from Mongolia to Thai and obviously Japanese. I love the sound of the Thai curry and the Mongolia hot pot, which is spicy and includes cardamom (yum), star anise, and ginger. Despite the fact that the author says no other broth than chicken bone should be used, this might be one I would love to play with to make vegetarian.My excitement for Simply Hot Pots waned when I saw that vegetarians and vegans aren’t really considered. Of the five vegetable recipes, several include a broth that is not vegetarian, and Kimoto-Kahn doesn’t really provide any substitution suggestions, which I find so very helpful in other cookbooks because the chef knows what flavor they are going for.With that said, the recipes are simple, the ingredients enticing, and I think this style of cooking would be such fun as well as tasty.I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.