Dried mushrooms are fantastic. Not only are they easy to store and keep for a long time, but you’ll also find an incredible variety in Asian supermarkets. In Chinese cooking, for example, they’re used all the time! A lot of you have asked me if there’s a special way to […]
What is kai lan? In Asia, it’s also called gai lan; around here you’ll more often hear “Chinese broccoli” or “Chinese kale.” So what is kai lan? It’s a variety of cabbage from southern China that doesn’t have the typical cabbage flavor… It’s closer to broccoli—hence the French name. It’s […]
Okra, often called gumbo, is a tropical flowering plant native to Ethiopia. Like many plants, the flower develops into a fruit, yet okra is usually eaten as a vegetable. It resembles a pod filled with seeds, a bit like a bean. The Lady Finger, as it is sometimes called because […]
What is choy sum? Choy sum, also known as “yu choy” or “yu choy sum”, is a leafy green from the cabbage family. In this article we simply call it Chinese cabbage, but the name “choy sum” literally means “vegetable heart”. It is one of many varieties of Chinese cabbage, […]
What are glass noodles? It’s a curious sight to see those long, transparent strands on a plate. Glass noodles—also called “cellophane noodles”—are true to their name: once cooked, they become as clear as glass. That said, most types of glass noodles aren’t transparent in their dried form. They look like […]
What foods are found in Caribbean cuisine? The Caribbean is an enormous melting pot of flavors. It blends local island ingredients with the ingredients and cooking techniques introduced by other cultures. The flavors that define Creole cooking draw on the culinary traditions of Africa, Asia, India, and Europe. Most of […]
With historical Dutch, Chinese and Arab influences, Indonesian cuisine is among the tastiest in the world – and for good reason. Its diversity stems from the fact that Indonesia comprises nearly 6,000 inhabited islands out of more than 18,000 in the world’s largest archipelago. Throughout history, these islands have drawn […]
What is winter melon? Known as “Vietnamese squash” or “Chinese watermelon“, the wax gourd is a creeping herbaceous plant grown mainly in East Asia, though it also thrives in Florida’s warm climate. Biologically speaking, it is a fruit, but it is cooked and eaten as a vegetable in Chinese and […]
Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or an experienced cook looking to get started with Chinese and Asian cooking, the most common question I get here on the site is about substitutions – mainly for the “seemingly” less common Asian ingredients. “What can I use instead of Shaoxing wine? […]
You may know tapioca from classic puddings, but this gluten-free starch, extracted from the cassava root, also works as a thickener in both sweet and savory dishes. Native to Brazil, the cassava plant, also called yucca, is now grown across South America and Africa, and tapioca made from it is […]
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