NPR's Book of the Day

New cookbooks from Sarah Ahn and Roy Choi take different approaches to Korean cuisine

May 2, 2025
Join Sarah Ahn, co-author of 'Umma' and social media manager at America's Test Kitchen, and Roy Choi, famed for his Korean-Mexican fusion, as they explore Korean cuisine's evolution. Ahn shares her journey of preserving cultural identity through family recipes, while Choi champions a vegetable-centric approach, even crafting unique breakfast burritos. They discuss the rich history of kimchi and the heartfelt connections recipes foster across generations, blending tradition with innovation in the culinary world.
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ANECDOTE

Roy Choi's Health Journey

  • Roy Choi overcame an addiction to junk food and large portions.
  • He shifted focus to making exciting, vegetable-forward cooking accessible to all.
INSIGHT

Vegetables Deserve Respect

  • Vegetables should have bold, exciting flavors to compete with meat dishes.
  • Roy Choi wants vegetable dishes to be "punk rock" and unapologetically flavorful.
ADVICE

Elevate Vegetables With Dips

  • Make raw vegetables exciting with diverse, flavorful dips.
  • Avoid bland options like plain ranch; use spicy, garlicky, and funky dips to rebrand vegetables.
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