Hetty Lui McKinnon (To Asia, with Love; Neighborhood) is known for bright, plant-based dishes, and Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds offers an abundance of brilliant recipes as well as brief but thoughtful essays on family, grieving, rituals, and, of course, the 22 vegetables featured in this collection. McKinnon brings a global perspective rooted in Chinese culture and the flavors of her family into every page of this beautifully photographed (by the author herself) and well-written cookbook and memoir, the narrative of which centers on the unexpected death of her father when she was 15. In the author's note, McKinnon explains: "Some may see this as a book about loss, but I see it as a story about life, an exploration of love, human resilience and unbreakable family bonds."
The book is divided into sections organized around a single vegetable, each with a brief essay. When introducing Asian greens, McKinnon compares choy sum to kale, writing that it "brings a tapestry of more considered, bitter-earth flavors, along with a robust sturdiness." The recipes are easy to follow, often relying on familiar pantry goods to create unexpected twists on basic ideas. Helpful header notes provide welcome suggestions, and potential substitutions are listed at the close of many recipes. The book also offers a robust index, organized by ingredients. For fans of McKinnon's work or those just discovering her, Tenderheart is sure to delight with mouthwatering dishes and beautiful reflections on the many legacies that can be found around a dining table. --Sara Beth West, freelance reviewer and librarian