Donabe : Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking

A Donabe is a Japanese clay pot used in cooking. It is extremely versatile, being used as a rice cooker, a steaming vessel, a smoker, and a slow-cooker similar to a modern day Crock pot. They have been used for hundreds of years in Japanese homes and restaurants. Not surprisingly, there are not many English language books that discuss the donabe or it's usage. Becoming an instant authority on the subject, is Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking by Naoko Takei Moore and Kyle Connaughton.

With luxurious photography and precision writing, Donabe presents a beautiful text that is rich with information. A discussion of the six styles of donabe pots and six types of recipes that accompany them is entertaining and educational. I appreciate reading about the history of the pots. The recipe selections are excellent as well, offering cuisine that is simple, rich, and promises to be delicious. A real donabe is not required for the dishes, you can get by with other vessels, however the finished product may lack the beauty and sophistication that the clay pot brings to the table.

My attempt of the recipe for Chicken Hot Pot turned out fabulously. It was an exquisite take on chicken soup, deep with soul-warming flavors. Some preparations require ingredients that may not be easily sourced at the local supermarket, even in the ubiquitous "Asian food section." Also, you can adapt other recipes to the donabe, do not be limited by the traditional Japanese recipes. I used it to slow cook pork ribs in a delicious BBQ sauce.

Donabe is a wonderful book, full of delicious cuisine and dramatic photography. This is certain to be a resource for me for a long time. Luckily, my wife perused my copy, and thought it a wonderful idea to give us a new donabe for our anniversary gift to ourselves. I can't wait to employ it in a number of dishes.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.