Coconut & Sambal

As seen in The New York Times * Food & Wine * Eater * Forbes * Travel + Leisure * Saveur * Epicurious *
Bon Appetit * Food52 * The Strategist * Chowhound * The New York Times Book Review * The Boston Globe * many more!

Be transported to the bountiful islands of Indonesia by this collection of fragrant, colorful and mouth-watering recipes.

Tells the story of the food, both through memories and evocative explanations, as it introduces us to the flavours and feel of the Indonesian kitchen, and explains not only how to cook the food, but how to eat it. It's impossible to read it without being both inspired and very hungry!--Nigella Lawson

Start with Lara's fragrant chicken soup, do lots of exploring on the way whilst dousing everything with spoonfuls of sambal, and end with her coconut and pandan sponge cake. --Yotam Ottolenghi

Coconut & Sambal reveals the secrets behind authentic Indonesian cookery. With more than 80 traditional and vibrant recipes that have been passed down through the generations, you will discover dishes such as Nasi goreng, Beef rendang, Chilli prawn satay and Pandan cake, alongside a variety of recipes for sambals: fragrant, spicy relishes that are undoubtedly the heart and soul of every meal.

Lara Lee uses simple techniques and easily accessible ingredients throughout Coconut and Sambal, interweaving the recipes with beguiling tales of island life and gorgeous travel photography that shines a light on the magnificent, little-known cuisine of Indonesia.

What are you waiting for? Travel the beautiful islands of Indonesia and taste the different regions through these recipes.

An absolute delight -- the kind of book that inspires meals with every reading. - The New York Times Book Review

Lara Lee writes that an overflowing generosity is central to Indonesian culture; meals are shared freely between neighbors and friends. This generosity fills the pages of Coconut & Sambal, each recipe heightening the sense that as a reader, you've been let in on something special . . . a gorgeous document that sets in stone food traditions passed down through generations, as well as some she's created herself. You'll want to dedicate an evening to turning the pages of this book, planning out feasts of green chile braised duck, Balinese roasted pork belly, and perhaps some sticky ginger toffee pudding to top it all off. - Eater, The Best Fall Cookbooks of 2020

As gorgeous as it is useful, and it'll have you getting in the kitchen to make beef rendang or caramelized shallot sambal or a multi-layered, appealingly mint green pandan cake. - Food & Wine

Lee brings an intimate knowledge of Indonesian cuisine to this stunningly photographed debut collection of recipes gathered from the author's Indonesian grandmother and from cooks Lee met traveling through the island nation. . . This sumptuous collection is perfect for home cooks and armchair travelers alike. - Publishers Weekly

Memories and mentorship take Lara Lee on an intriguing journey into Indonesia's food. This piece of paradise, made up of 17,000 islands, is definitely where I would go to discover new tantalizing flavours. I would start with Lara's fragrant chicken soup (soto ayam), do lots of exploring on the way whilst dousing everything with spoonfuls of sambal, and end with her coconut and pandan sponge cake (kue pandan dan kelapa) - Yotam Ottolenghi

It's a book that tells the story of the food, both through memories and evocative explanations, as it introduces us to the flavours and feel of the Indonesian kitchen, and explains not only how to cook the food, but how to eat it. It's impossible to read it without being both inspired and very hungry! - Nigella Lawson

Coconut and Sambal is as colourful as Lee's grandmother's kitchen, with both the food and photography offering an escape to the fishing villages of the Maluku islands, the food markets in Ubud and the street food stands of Jakarta. - Caterer

Alive with the fabulous flavours of Indonesia. - Western Morning News

Her anecdotes are food for the soul, as are the recipes. This book is a gem. - Delicious

An excellent primer on an overlooked cuisine. . . Lee thoroughly describes traditional techniques, along with sensible shortcuts and alternatives while instructing on the many influences on Indonesian cookery. Alongside each recipe is its country of origin, spice level, cooking how-to, and sometimes Lee's personal reflections. Notably, many recipes include vegetarian or vegan variations, and beautiful photographs accompany most dishes. - Library Journal

[Lee] journeys across the country, learning from both experts and home cooks along the way, paying particularly beautiful homage to her Indonesian grandmother 'Popo, ' a onetime baker who lived with Lee's family in Sydney. It's a celebration of a cuisine I don't know very much about -- Indonesian -- and Lee's voice and style make it look so enticing. - Cup of Jo

A vibrant and expansive collection of tempting recipes. . . Each section of this volume shines. . . Lee's writing is similarly multi-faceted, balancing charming anecdotes and clear cooking instructions to accommodate cooks with varied resources and dietary restrictions. Personal and palate-pleasing, the recipes of Coconut & Sambal are surely a delight to cook. - Shelf Awareness, starred review