We have many soup recipes on The Woks of Life that can be adapted for vegans and vegetarians. The only problem was, we never had a high quality Asian vegetable stock or Chinese vegetable stock recipe we could recommend. Most vegetable stock recipes were either Western/European-style stocks, and many of the Asian vegetable stock recipes […]
Easy Peking Duck with Mandarin Pancakes
Ever since we left Beijing to come back to the US, one of the things we really miss is the abundance and variety of the authentic foods China had to offer, including authentic Peking Duck. What Is Peking Duck? Peking duck (as it’s commonly known in the U.S.) is a famous, centuries-old dish hailing from […]
Grass Jelly Dessert
My earliest memory of grass jelly is from my Cantonese neighbor who lived above us way back when I lived in Shanghai. We all called her Ah–Mou, a respectful way to address an elderly woman in Cantonese. I still remember what she looked like, and the stainless steel plates of varying sizes that she used […]
Chinese Winter Melon Soup with Meatballs
Now that the air’s beginning to turn crisp, it’s time for us to share this Chinese Winter Melon Soup recipe with meatballs. Winter melons are grown in summer and harvested in late summer through early winter, making this a great summer/fall transition recipe! (Plus, who doesn’t love meatballs?) A Light, Nourishing Winter Melon Soup You […]
Baobing Chinese Shaved Ice
Chinese Shaved Ice, or baobing, is something I’ve only seen made the right way in China. On hot days in Beijing, when my parents and sister lived there for a 3-year stretch while I was in college, there was nothing better than a tower of fluffy, snow-like shaved ice with all the toppings. Sweet red adzuki beans […]
10 Traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Foods
The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here! It falls on September 13 this year. I hope you’re ready, but in case you’re not, we’re sharing 10 traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Foods served during this holiday! Mid-Autumn Festival Memories The Mid-Autumn Festival can get lost in the American mainstream, but it’s an important Chinese holiday, and one that […]
Pork Fried Rice
Pork fried rice is probably one of the most popular Chinese take-out dishes out there. Anything involving rice and pork is likely to be a winner with a Chinese audience (or any audience that loves Chinese food). In my parents’ restaurant, we used to serve pork fried rice as a side dish accompanying many other […]
Hunan Beef
You may have ordered Hunan Beef from your local takeout joint before. The Americanized version is pretty variable, depending on who’s making it. I once asked my father and other Chinese restaurant chefs—what’s the deal with Hunan Beef? Even they confessed to not know much about it other than the way that particular restaurant prepared […]
Mom’s Chicken Wontons
This post is sponsored by Knorr Chicken Powder. All thoughts and opinions are our own. Enjoy! Today, we’re sharing my grandma’s recipe for chicken wontons. I’ve had countless bowls of delicious wonton soup served up to me by both my grandma and my mom. It’s Chinese comfort food––or really comfort food, period. Growing up, there […]
Black Sticky Rice Mango Dessert
Over 5 years ago, we posted these two recipes for cold Asian dessert soups that have grown in popularity across Asia. Today, we’re posting a new recipe for one of my favorite dessert soups, made with mango, Thai black sticky rice, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, and shaved ice. It may sound like a strange […]
Chicken Larb
This chicken larb is packed with bright, delicious flavors and contrasting textures, and it takes just 30 minutes or less to make! Serve them in lettuce cups for a low carb option or with sticky rice. What Is Larb? Larb is a meat salad consisting of ground meat, herbs, chilies, fish sauce, lime juice, and […]
Chinese Cucumber Salad
This Chinese Cucumber Salad is simple and refreshing, with a mild garlic flavor balanced with the perfect amount of salt and rice vinegar. The secret is making a mild garlic oil in addition to a little bit of raw garlic! What’s Different About This Cucumber Salad? Chinese cucumber salads are hugely popular these days. Smashed, […]
Steamed Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Lao Gan Ma
We know how much readers love Lao Gan Ma (Godmother) sauces. But since we’ve already shown large dollops of it on noodles and rice, why not on a vegetable? Hence, this quick and easy Steamed Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Lao Gan Ma, so you can take down your favorite chili sauce with perhaps a little […]
How to Cook Tapioca Pearls
In recent years, tapioca pearls have become a favorite in bubble tea, shaved ice desserts, and sweet dessert soups across Asia and in Asian communities in the West. But what if you want to cook your own tapioca pearls at home? Some store-bought tapioca pearls can be cooked in a matter of minutes, but dried […]
Chinese Boiled Peanuts
Boiled peanuts are a popular snack in southern states like South Carolina and Georgia, but did you know that Chinese people also love boiled peanuts? What’s different about Chinese boiled peanuts? Like the boiled peanuts you might find down south at roadside stands and convenience stores, this boiled peanut recipe is easy––using fresh raw peanuts, […]
Poached Chicken with Ginger Scallion Sauce
This lovely summer is (almost) coming to an end. Before another summer leaves us behind, I want to squeeze in this super easy summer poached chicken recipe. It requires only 7 simple ingredients (chicken, ginger, scallions, light soy sauce, oil, sugar, and water) that you probably already have in your kitchen, and minimal time on […]
Salted Duck Eggs
You probably haven’t noticed, but salted duck egg yolks are all the rage right now in Chinese cooking, and we’ve done many, many months-long experiments and recipe tests at home to finally be able to share this recipe for the perfect salted duck eggs! Adding a Little Richness Traditionally, salted duck eggs are served with […]
Hawthorn Iced Tea
You’ve probably never tasted Hawthorn Iced Tea, but it’s easy to make, wonderfully refreshing, and has a unique tangy fruit flavor that goes great with any meal. Hawthorn is also prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its many health benefits! A Refreshing Berry Iced Tea If you’re an iced tea lover, you’re nearing the end […]
Marinated Roasted Beets
Beet season is in full swing, and at this time of year, you may be seeing them for cheap at your local grocery store. Or perhaps your CSA boxes are bursting with beets, and you’re not sure what to do with all of them! This recipe for marinated roasted beets is a delicious way to […]
Thai Green Papaya Salad
A good Thai green papaya salad is a must-order whenever I’m at a Thai restaurant, and increasingly, it’s becoming something that I make more often at home, because it’s easier than you think to make yourself! What is Papaya Salad? Papaya Salad is a dish originating in Southeast Asia, consisting of a spicy, sweet, tart […]
General Tso’s Chicken
Just about everyone has tried General Tso’s Chicken—deep-fried chicken pieces in a sweet, subtly spicy sauce with crunchy broccoli. We’ve perfected ours after many years in Chinese restaurant kitchens. What’s the Story Behind General Tso’s Chicken? General Tso’s Chicken was supposedly named after Zuo Zongtang, a military leader from Hunan province during the Qing Dynasty. […]
Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
Pho has long been one of my absolute favorite things to eat. There has been more than one occasion in which I have actually gotten in my car and driven over 45 minutes for the express purpose of indulging in good bowl of the stuff, which is why this pho recipe is sorely needed. Note: […]
Cashew Chicken
Cashew Chicken is a Chinese American dish you’ve probably seen on just about every Chinese takeout menu. Unlike another nutty stir-fry favorite, Kung Pao Chicken (which is cooked with chillies and roasted peanuts), cashew chicken (also called “chicken with cashew nuts”) has a simple, lightly sweet brown sauce, the perfect complement to roasted cashews. Developing […]
Pineapple Fried Rice
This Pineapple Fried Rice is a perfect balance of sweet and salty, and my complete admiration goes to the genius who thought of it! I never put fresh fruit in my savory recipes (desserts are a separate thing, of course), but this pairing of pineapple’s sweetness and ham’s saltiness is just delicious. Secrets for the […]
Vegetable Egg Rolls
Vegetable Egg Rolls are a welcome change over the classic egg rolls you get at your local Chinese restaurant or takeout joint. Whether you’re a vegetarian or meat lover, these veggie egg rolls make the perfect appetizer or crunchy snack to go with a drink! I have been making different versions of Chinese egg rolls […]
Instant Pot Ribs (Just 6 Ingredients!)
During the summer, we have a rotation of go-to, easy recipes for the grill, and these 6-ingredient Instant Pot Ribs are our latest discovery! Apple cider vinegar and your favorite bottled BBQ sauce do the legwork on flavor, the Instant Pot does the cooking (fast!), and a little TLC in the oven or on the […]
Chicken and Broccoli with Brown Sauce
Chicken and Broccoli with brown sauce is a popular Chinese takeout dish. This chicken and broccoli recipe will show you how to make it with a delicious Chinese brown sauce. Our recipe uses the same technique as Chinese restaurants. The broccoli is blanched, and the chicken is seared separately. The aromatics and sauce are cooked […]
Tomato Egg Drop Soup
Bowls of tomato egg drop soup are commonly seen on tables in Chinese households, especially in the summertime when tomatoes are plentiful. Tomatoes and eggs just go together, and many food cultures know it. Just think of Shakshuka in the Middle East, “Eggs in Purgatory” in Southern Italy, and another Chinese classic, stir-fried tomato and […]
Chicken Yakisoba
I’m particularly excited about this chicken yakisoba recipe, because it used to be one of my go-to’s at Japanese restaurants, before I discovered that I really like sushi. Every time I go to a Japanese restaurant now, I kind of stop and gaze wistfully at the yakisoba on the menu before ordering my usual rolls or […]
Creamy Sweet Corn Drink
An abundance of sweet and tender summer corn is hitting markets near you. You may be grilling it, buttering it, chopping it up for salads, or putting it in a seafood boil, but I usually like my corn steamed simply for its natural sweetness. For that exact reason, I want to let you in on […]
