In some parts of China, Braised Ti Pang is a must-have dish for Chinese New Year feasts. It’s said that it brings luck and stability! Just look at the dish’s presentation––it’s a masterpiece and a heavy hitter (硬菜, yìngcài). Even if it doesn’t bring you luck, it will surely bring you admiration from friends and […]
Steak Stir Fry (Chow Steak Kow)
Steak Stir Fry, or Chow Steak Kow, as we used to call it at my parents’ restaurant, is not your standard beef stir-fry. Tender, rich ribeye or sirloin steak bites are cooked in a soy garlic sauce—with some American touches!—and served over a bed of crisp bok choy. What is Chow Steak Kow? For our […]
Stuffed Chinese Fried Gluten Balls
Today, we have a particularly special recipe: Stuffed Fried Gluten Balls. Ok, so it may not be the best sounding recipe in English, but rest-assured, this one is absolutely delicious. The whole family thought so! The balls’ round shape also represents family unity and completeness, which makes this a great new dish for your Chinese […]
Snow Fungus Soup with Pears
Snow Fungus Soup with Pears (bīngtáng yín’ěr dùn xuělí, 冰糖银耳炖雪梨) is a Chinese dessert soup usually served on special occasions like Chinese New Year. Snow fungus is more expensive than the more common black wood ear fungus, making it a prized treat! When you hear the word “soup,” your mind might first jump to something […]
Cantonese Poached Chicken (Bai Qie Ji)
Growing up, Cantonese Poached Chicken is one of those dishes that was always on the table at family dinners. It’s one of the best-loved chicken dishes in Chinese cuisine––Cantonese cuisine more specifically. NOTE: This recipe was originally published in 2014. We have since re-tested and updated it as of January 2020 with new photos, nutrition […]
Lion’s Head Meatballs
Chinese braised Lion’s Head Meatballs have long been a noticeable gap in our repertoire. But now that Chinese New Year is upon us again, and we’re heading into a new decade, we figured it was finally time to nail down and record this classic recipe! What Are Lion’s Head Meatballs? Lion’s Head Meatballs (狮子头 – […]
Chinese New Year Menus for All Skill Levels
It’s almost Chinese New Year! As the big day draws closer, it’s time to figure out what to plan for your Chinese New year menu and the big Chinese New Year’s dinner festivities. A big draw of Chinese New Year, aside from the delicious food, is of course, the dollar billz. Anyone married is traditionally […]
Ru Yi Cai (“As You Wish” Vegetables)
In anticipation of Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year on Jan 25th, we’re officially launching into our Chinese New Year recipes! Today, we’ll start with this leafy green dish, rú yì cài (如意菜), which loosely translates to “as you wish” vegetables. We have more very exciting “heavy-hitter (硬菜, yìng cài)” recipes planned for the […]
Vegan Mapo Tofu
Our Mapo Tofu recipe remains one of the most popular recipes we’ve posted on the blog to date. Indeed, mapo tofu is one of the most famous tofu recipes to have made it out of China. This spicy, delicious dish usually includes small amount of ground pork, but for this vegan version, we use chopped […]
Dairy-Free Cheesecake
Dairy-free cheesecake seems like an oxymoron, but we’ve figured out the formula! This version is a perfectly light, yet creamy cheesecake that serves as a great canvas for any fruit or chocolate toppings your heart desires. I have instructions in this recipe for how to top the cake with oranges and a delicious orange syrup, […]
Our Most Popular Recipes of 2019
It’s become a new tradition for us to look back on the year and take stock of our readers’ favorite recipes. As we say goodbye to the 2010s and close out decade that saw the founding of The Woks of Life (!!!), it feels particularly important to reflect on the food we ate, shared, and […]
Fantail Shrimp
Fantail shrimp is one of those retro dishes offered in every Chinese restaurant years ago. I even remember my father ordering fantail shrimp for us kids in the Cantonese restaurants we ate at in Chinatown. Like this timeless fantail shrimp recipe, the shrimp were large, and the batter was light! You may find, however, that […]
How to Make a Clear Broth
Just because a clear broth or stock looks almost as clear as water, trust me, it should be far from tasteless. We have already posted recipes for simple clear broths that can be used in recipes or consumed on their own, such as my chicken stock recipe, my pork & chicken stock, and Sarah’s Asian […]
Holiday Marshmallow Treats
We love marshmallow treats, and these holiday marshmallow treats have become our entry for this year’s local neighborhood cookie exchange! Our history with marshmallow treats goes way back. My mom made rice krispie treats all the time when I was a kid, and we made them for Sarah and Kaitlin when they were young. Kaitlin […]
Spicy Hunan Steamed Tofu & Mushrooms
Spicy Hunan Steamed Tofu and Mushrooms is made by caramelizing oyster mushrooms, scattering them on top of silky steamed tofu, and pouring over a sauce of pickled duo jiao chili peppers, ginger, scallions, and lots of white pepper. In short, it’s an incredibly flavorful, protein-filled, mushroom-meaty vegan dish that may just be better than its […]
Watercress Steamed Meatballs
Inspired by the Chinese meatballs you’ve seen at the Dim Sum restaurants in your local Chinatown, these watercress steamed meatballs incorporate super-healthy watercress and a classic Chinese meatball recipe. Make no mistake about it. As the name suggests, the star of these steamed meatballs is the watercress. Succulent beef with a light, bouncy texture combines with […]
30 Holiday Recipes
The holidays are fast approaching, and we’ve got 30 holiday recipes, new and old, savory and sweet. I think it was a rainy day over the summer when I first wondered what we should make this year for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But if you’re like most folks, you’re probably just getting ready to […]
Chinese Handmade Noodles
Nothing makes you feel quite so accomplished as slurping down a bowl of Chinese handmade noodles that you kneaded, rolled, and cut from scratch. These deliciously chewy, springy noodles can be served in soup or mixed with whatever tasty sauces and toppings you can dream up for a delicious meal. How to Make Chinese Noodles: […]
Cantonese Chicken Feet Soup
Cantonese Chicken Feet Soup is so classic, I feel like a fraud for not posting it sooner! Since it’s the season for soups, I hope you give this traditional recipe a try. It will warm you, and the collagen-rich broth is thought to improve the skin and slow aging! Yes, They Are Actual Chicken Feet […]
Baked White Pepper Chicken Wings
Salt and pepper are the foundation of all good things. In Chinese cooking, the “pepper” is usually white pepper, rather than your standard black pepper. These simple, perfectly crispy Baked White Pepper Chicken Wings let both flavors really shine. Add a beer, or maybe a big scoop of white rice, and you’ll be wondering how […]
Beef Chow Fun
Beef chow fun is a sleeping favorite among Chinese food lovers. The problem is, the traditional version isn’t widely available, and there aren’t many good recipes out there (until now!). What Is Beef Chow Fun? Beef chow fun is a Cantonese dish made from stir-frying beef, wide rice noodles (he fen or huo fun), scallions, ginger, […]
Laksa Noodle Soup
Laksa. DELICIOUS Laksa. I am VERY excited about this post, not least because I now have a tried and true laksa recipe documented on the blog that I can come back to again and again! What is Laksa? Laksa is spicy, fragrant noodle soup found across Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It consists […]
Easy Mandarin Pancakes
When it comes to cooking, it’s pretty clear that we’re big on tradition at The Woks of Life. But when we discover a quick and easy kitchen shortcut, we’re also eager to bring it to our readers’ attention! These mandarin pancakes, made with dumpling wrappers, are our latest discovery. What Are Mandarin Pancakes? Mandarin pancakes […]
Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon
Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon is a retro recipe that has graced Chinese restaurant menus going back to the 60s, before I was born. Similar to early Chinese American dishes like Egg Foo Young, Chop Suey, and Chicken Chow Mein, this recipe barely resembles anything you can find in China, but that doesn’t mean it’s not […]
Homemade Chili Bamboo Shoots
Chili Bamboo Shoots are a staple condiment/garnish/snack I’ve been eating all my life––from a jar. Until recently, that is! I have to say, now that I’ve gone homemade, I’m never going back to the jarred stuff! The Perfect Topping for Anything If you’ve ever found yourself short on time, but looking for lots of flavor […]
Cantonese Pork Soup with Carrots & Chinese Yam
This Cantonese Pork Soup with Carrots & Chinese Yam is a great example of a classic Cantonese soup, with a clean broth, rich flavor, and abundant health benefits. Trust me when I tell you, the Cantonese are very serious about their soup! Health Benefits of Cantonese Soups For Cantonese people, soups are wonderous tonics. There […]
Honey Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts
When fall rolls around, I tend to fall back on classic tried and true seasonal flavors—think maple syrup, sage, rosemary, bacon—but sometimes you want a little zing in your meal. Well, these Honey Sriracha Roasted Brussels Sprouts with chili oil definitely deliver! A New Kind of Brussels Sprouts Side Dish Most dishes featuring brussels sprouts––especially […]
Chicken Lo Mein
Chicken Lo Mein is a classic takeout dish we’ve all probably enjoyed. We find, however, that it’s getting harder than ever to get a good lo mein these days! Hence the need for this recipe. A Personal Takeout Favorite Growing up, having Chinese takeout for dinner was an uncommon occurrence. Usually, my mom or dad […]
Chinese Tofu Sheet Stir-Fry (千张肉丝)
This dish is one of our family favorites! Fresh tofu sheets are sliced and fried with strips of pork, garlic, and peppers to create a beautiful stir-fry (qiānzhang ròusī, 千张肉丝) that’s also a well-known homestyle dish from Hubei province. It’s very special to me! What is Hubei food like? Having spent some of my younger […]
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes (& Memories)
With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, we’re rounding up ALL of our family’s favorite Thanksgiving recipes shared on the blog over the years. In addition to hopefully inspiring your holiday menus, each of us also has a story to share about memorable Thanksgivings from days past, which we’ll add at the end. Let’s get started! […]
