a culinary genealogy
Below, view all our posts in chronological order, starting with the most recent. To browse recipes by category, course, or collection, visit our Recipe Index. Also be sure to check out our How-To section and Chinese Ingredients Glossary.
Steamed eggs with okra and soy sauce is an easy, tasty way to incorporate healthy okra into your meal—and it’s pretty too! Why We Grow Okra We grow okra every summer. I love the dependability of the yield from my okra plants. They reliably produce fruit non-stop until the first frost in fall. Not only
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This three cup tofu recipe is a plant-based version of the famous dish, Three Cup Chicken. Whether you’re vegetarian or not, it’s just plain delicious. What Does “Three Cup” Mean? The name “three cup chicken” refers to a ratio of 1 cup each of soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil. Considering that we rarely
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In this post, we’ll talk about how to freeze summer tomatoes at their peak of freshness to use in dishes later in the year. Rather than turning all your tomatoes into sauce, this method allows you to save tomatoes for a wide variety of cooked recipes! This is a PSA that my mom wanted me
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This spicy Okra Stir-Fry with Chicken is a healthy and delicious all-in-one meal, with okra, peppers, and silky velveted chicken. All you need is a bowl of your favorite rice, grains, or congee for a healthy and delicious lunch or dinner. While you may think you dislike okra because of its unique (and honestly…slightly slimy)
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This is our perfect tomato sandwich. Everyone has the way they like it, and this is ours! Crusty sourdough bread, thick heirloom tomato slices, plenty of mayonnaise, chives, and flaky salt to bring the best flavor out of those perfect summer tomatoes! Tomato Season Because this summer has been so hot, I’ve been quite desperate
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If you’re looking for an easy lunch or dinner, look no further than these mason jar meal prep cold noodles. You layer the ingredients—sauce on the bottom, followed by noodles, protein, veggies, and aromatics. When you’re ready to eat, simply shake and enjoy. No need to heat anything up or take out another bowl or
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This lightly sweet mung bean soup recipe is a summer staple in many Chinese families, thought to cool off the excess heat in the body. We’ve been making it for years and can’t believe it’s taken this long for us to blog it. Today, we’re adding it to our collection of Chinese dessert soups! What
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This avocado scallion pancake is my favorite way to eat a scallion pancake, full stop. It’s a delicious combination that makes a scallion pancake into something more substantial than just a snack. I use frozen scallion pancakes (sometimes homemade…but full disclosure—mostly store-bought), making this a go-to quick breakfast or lunch. Think of it as a
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We first published this Cantonese pan-fried noodles recipe in December 2013, a few months after we started The Woks of Life. Since then, it has become one of the all-time favorite recipes on the blog. In fact, the very FIRST post that launched our blog was a recipe for Simple, Spicy Stir-Fried Noodles. It too
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The crunch of cucumber and perfectly cooked shrimp make this Asian shrimp salad a refreshing summer dish, particularly if you like some fresh chili pepper heat! This recipe is great for this hot summer we have been having. In fact, I thought of it after reading comments from readers like you who aren’t too keen
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These tofu burgers are amped up with white button mushrooms and black beans for an easy and economical way to make veggie burgers at home! Many vegetarian burger recipes have you reaching for all manner of soy proteins. This one is easy and straightforward—extra firm tofu. An Easy and Hearty Veggie Burger Recipe These are
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Shanghai Fried Noodles, or Shànghǎi cū chǎomiàn (上海粗炒面) is a simple dish that only takes minutes to make. Thick wheat noodles are stir-fried with mushrooms, pork (or you could use dark meat chicken), and leafy greens, making a one-pan meal that everyone will enjoy! Note: This recipe was originally published on December 14, 2014. We
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This glazed salmon recipe is based on a traditional Chinese red cooked fish (hóngshāo yú)—specifically, my grandpa’s incredibly flavorful hóngshāo yú. While the dish is traditionally made with whole fish, like tilapia or snapper, I created this version for busy weeknights by using salmon fillets. The robust, tangy, sweet, and savory sauce, with lots of
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Learn how to toast sesame seeds—and how to tell when they’re done—without burning them! Toasted sesame seeds are a useful ingredient to have around, so make a big batch and keep it in the fridge for various recipes! Why Toast Your Own Sesame Seeds Why would you want to toast your own sesame seeds when
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On our recent trip to China, we went on a culinary journey to the city of Yangzhou (Jiangsu Province), the birthplace of the popular Yang Chow Fried Rice (sometimes spelled “Young Chow Fried Rice”). It is also the birthplace of Huaiyang Cuisine, one of the four original cuisines of China. In this Yangzhou Food Guide
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Once you learn how to make Chinese steamed eggs (蒸蛋), you’ll be making it all the time. Not only is it delicious and comforting, the recipe is so easy to remember, you’ll know it by heart. An Anytime Recipe If you find yourself short of one dish to serve for dinner, make some Chinese steamed
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During the summer, we always find ourselves reaching for the rainbow of produce coming out of our garden and local farms to make salads. Over the years, I’ve devised a few ways to make salads feel extra special and a bit festive. This fried corn recipe is one of them! I like to call this
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This braised winter melon recipe (红烧冬瓜 – hóngshāo dōngguā) is a simple, healthy, and delicious side dish that really highlights this subtle ingredient. Winter melons are generally in season in late summer or fall, though they are available in Asian markets year round! Braised Winter Melon Winter melon, also known as wax gourd or ash
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