While there are many different ways to steam food, using a bamboo steamer is our preferred method for steaming just about anything! In this article, we provide step-by-step instructions on how to use a bamboo steamer, so you can start taking advantage of this useful cooking tool! What is a Bamboo Steamer? Bamboo steamers consist […]
How to Make Duck Sauce
This homemade duck sauce recipe is fresh, preservative-free, and you can customize it to your own tastes. Best of all, it’s made with real ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup, and much more flavor than those little packets! Chinese duck sauce, hot mustard, a bowl of crispy fried noodles, and a pot of hot tea […]
How to Make Sticky Rice (Foolproof Method!)
Sticky rice is a versatile ingredient used in many forms of Asian cooking. In addition to many savory dishes you may be familiar with, like zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) or shumai, sticky rice (also called sweet rice or glutinous rice) is also used in dessert recipes. Our family loves sticky rice. Near or far, we […]
Easy Rough Puff Pastry
This easy rough puff pastry made from scratch is buttery, flaky and so delicious that after your first batch, you’ll be thinking of countless ways to use it. Your homemade puff pastry will have a richer, more buttery flavor that will beat store-bought puff pastry any day, and you won’t have to worry about eating […]
How to Steam Food: 3 Ways to Set Up a Steamer
Steaming food is just as important in Asian cooking as baking or roasting is in Western cooking. Chinese and other Asian cuisines feature steamed vegetables and proteins, but also steamed buns and breads, dumplings, and even desserts. Knowing how to steam food, therefore, is a crucial skill in any Asian kitchen. But while the idea […]
Start Your Chinese Pantry with 10 Essential Ingredients
Whether folks out there are beginners in the kitchen or experienced home cooks looking to try their hand at Chinese cooking, the single most common question we get here on the blog concerns substitutions––mostly for the *seemingly* less common Chinese ingredients. What’s a substitute for Shaoxing wine? Will it taste the same without dark soy […]
How to Season a Wok and Daily Wok Care
If you have read our post, “What is the best wok to buy?” you now know that our personal preference here at The Woks of Life is a classic carbon steel wok, and you may have even gone out and purchased one. While we think carbon steel is the best all-around wok, it’s important to know […]
What is the Best Wok to Buy?
If you’re short on time, scroll down to the FAQ section of this post for condensed answers to all your questions about choosing the best wok for your kitchen! If you’re new to Chinese cooking, you’ve probably asked yourself: What is the best wok to buy? Well, we’re here to help you with a guide […]
