Chinese Cooking How-Tos & Kitchen Tips - Omnivore's Cookbook

Essential Chinese Cooking Tools

Maggie Zhu — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 15:51:34 +0000

Cooking Chinese food does not require a ton of special kitchen tools, and you probably already have many of them. However, there are a few items that are quite important and they can make your cooking so much easier. Below are some of the essential Chinese cooking tools and appliances in my kitchen. I use ...

How to Cut Napa Cabbage

Maggie Zhu — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:14:50 +0000

Introducing 3 ways to cut napa cabbage, so you can create the best texture when you cook different dishes. Napa cabbage, also known as Chinese cabbage, is called Bai Cai (directly translates as “white cabbage”) in China. Compared to regular cabbage, napa cabbage is bigger and longer. The leaves have a white thick part that ...

How to Host a Vegetarian Hot Pot Party

Maggie Zhu — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 15:40:35 +0000

A thorough guide on how to host a fun and delicious vegetarian hot pot party at home. The post includes tips and instructions on how to prepare the food and includes a recipe at the end as guidance. You can replace any of the ingredients with ones you prefer. {Vegetarian, Vegan} The dinner table is ...

21 Homemade Chinese Takeout Dishes That Beat the Restaurant Version

Maggie Zhu — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:07:00 +0000

Chinese takeout dishes are always a treat, aren’t they? But waiting is the hardest part. Or if you don’t live in an area with a great Chinese restaurant, even takeout is out of the question. Instead of waiting for your order to be delivered or going to pick it up, why not learn how to ...

The Ultimate Guide to Making Douhua (Tofu Pudding)

Maggie Zhu — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 17:16:06 +0000

This ultimate guide to making tofu pudding (doubua / uncurdled soft tofu) explains how to use different coagulants and their results. The post includes recipes for using GLD, gypsum, gelatin, and agar agar and covers the methods and results using nigari and citrus. Look no further if you want to make the perfect tofu pudding ...

23 Vegan Chinese Recipes for Your Next Holiday Dinner Party

Maggie Zhu — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 14:28:42 +0000

Want to do something unique for your holiday gathering this year? Why not come together over vegan Chinese recipes that everyone can agree on? It will be perfect! When you’re tired of serving all the same old holiday things, vegan Chinese recipes will shake things up. Healthy, delicious, and exciting, these 23 vegan Chinese recipes ...

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Menu

Maggie Zhu — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 08:58:10 +0000

Mark your calendars! The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Finally, something to celebrate! A couple of years ago, I posted a Mid-Autumn Festival menu and I wanted to update it for this year. I think we all deserve something a little extra special, so you’ll find my original menu ...

Carbon Steel Pan Care – How to Clean, Store, and Cooking tips

Maggie Zhu — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 14:07:05 +0000

In the past two posts, I explained why a carbon steel pan is a great idea for making stir fries, and how to season your new carbon steel pan. In this post, I will teach you all the tips and tricks on carbon steel pan care, so your pan will last a lifetime and perform ...

How to Season a Carbon Steel Pan

Maggie Zhu — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 13:50:29 +0000

Introducing a very easy and foolproof way to season your new carbon steel pan, so it will become nonstick and last a lifetime. In my last post I laid out the benefits of a carbon steel pan and why I use it daily for Chinese cooking. Now that you’ve got your carbon steel pan, here ...

Why Carbon Steel Pan is the Best for Stir Fry

Maggie Zhu — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:46:39 +0000

If you’re looking for a great stir fry pan that performs well in a home kitchen, this is the place to start. Over the years I’ve cooked in different home kitchens using different stoves and equipment. After many experiments and comparisons, carbon steel pans have become one of my essential pieces of equipment, and it’s ...