Recipes from My Vietnamese Kitchen: Authentic food to awaken the senses & feed the soul

Recipes from My Vietnamese Kitchen is a collection of recipes passed down through Uyen Luu’s family.

Uyen was born in Saigon and spent her childhood there before leaving Vietnam in the aftermath of the war. She regularly travels back there to visit family and pick up more classic and modern recipes for dishes found in the homes and on the streets of Vietnam. The recipes in the book tell a story—about Uyen’s family and the culture of food in Vietnam. In essence, the food of her country aims to strike the perfect balance between sweet, sour, salty, bitter, hot, and umami, and to cater to any occasion and time of day, every mood and ailment. Uyen describes some of the most commonly used produce and guides you through chapters such as Breakfast, Soups, Snacks, Noodles, Lunch & Dinner, and Sweets, weaving in tales of etiquette, personal history, and tradition, providing evocative photos of her travels throughout. Popular recipes include pho soup, banh mi baguettes, and summer rolls.

Discover the vibrant flavours, family traditions and comforting dishes of Vietnam through a beautifully presented collection of recipes from chef and food writer Uyen Luu.

Recipes from My Vietnamese Kitchen is a celebration of Vietnamese food as both a culinary tradition and a way of connecting with family, culture and memories. Uyen Luu draws on recipes passed down through her family as well as dishes discovered during her visits to Vietnam, bringing together the flavours and food traditions of homes and street kitchens. The book explores the distinctive balance of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, hot and umami that characterises Vietnamese cooking.

The recipes are organised across a range of occasions and styles of eating, including breakfast, soups, snacks, noodles, lunch and dinner, and sweets. Readers can discover Vietnamese favourites such as pho, banh mi baguettes and fresh summer rolls alongside other classic and modern dishes. The recipes are accompanied by guidance on commonly used ingredients, helping readers become more familiar with the flavours and produce that form the foundation of Vietnamese cuisine.

More than a collection of recipes, the book weaves food together with stories of family, etiquette, personal history and Vietnamese culture. Uyen Luu's memories of growing up in Saigon and her continued connection with Vietnam give the recipes a personal dimension, while photographs from her travels add a visual sense of place and atmosphere.

The result is a warm and evocative cookbook that invites readers to recreate authentic Vietnamese dishes while gaining a deeper appreciation of the traditions and stories behind them. It offers both practical inspiration for cooking and an engaging introduction to the culture expressed through Vietnam's diverse food heritage.