The Healthy Wok Chinese Cookbook: Fresh Recipes to Sizzle, Steam, and Stir-Fry Restaurant Favorites at Home

Like most folks lately, I am trying to get my family to eat more healthful meals. I gravitate toward anything that is richly flavorful so that my food is not a chore to eat. This book hits all the right notes. For the most part, all the ingredients were already in my pantry. If you are brand new to Chinese cooking, you might need to buy a few ingredients, but they are all pretty mainstream in most grocery stores. The book begins by teaching several combination sauces used throughout the book such as: All-purpose Stir-Fry Sauce, Sweet and Sour Sauce, Brown Sauce, and Basic Sambal (chile) Sauce. I especially like the array of vegetable and tofu dishes. However, there is also a very nice variety of proteins, dumplings, noodles, and rice. As some reviewers have noted, there could be more finished product photos. However, the existing photos are well arranged and mouthwatering. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. This book is simple yet eloquent. The recipes are quick to make and relatively easy to prepare. 5 stars for sure UPDATE 9/15/2023: I’ve updated this review to include a picture of the “Happy Family” recipe my family and I enjoyed. It is full of delicious veggies and was a great way to get my family to enjoy a very healthful meal. The flavors were on point and identical to what I grew up eating as a kid at the local Chinese restaurant. It calls for both chicken and shrimp, but I only had some chicken on hand… it was still amazing. That’s a neat thing about this dish, you use whatever you have on hand and it will still be awesome!

In just days since purchasing this book, my wok has become a central tool in my kitchen. Using the wok maintenance instructions, I managed to bring my wok back from its rusty grave. I've made several dishes so far - including takeout favorites like general tso's chicken - and they taste amazing! I'm particularly in love with the sauce recipes that add so much flavor to each meal. Not to mention, the recipes are quick and easy to prepare! The other day I felt too tired to cook, but then I remembered my wok was sitting on the stove, and I ended up cooking a chicken dish that was ready in minutes and so tasty and satisfying. I can't thank the author enough for creating this book. I particularly enjoy the personal anecdotes scattered throughout, which add such a lovely touch! 10/10 recommend!! You need this book!

This cookbook starts out, as most do with a descriptions of ingredients used, the types of woks available, and useful tools to have. The recipes use ingredients that are readily available in grocery stores or on-line, and the instructions for recipes are very easy to follow. Many of the recipes have the same names as those you would find on a Chinese restaurant menu, so this makes it a bit easier to try recipes you might like. I have found quite a few recipes we like, but you have to choose them by dish names you are familiar with or ingredients you know you like. Since this book contains no pictures of the finished dishes, you need to choose by dish name or ingredients. Even so, depending on your tastes, I don't think you would be disappointed with any of these recipes. Cooking a new cuisine is an adventure, and this book is a great start to start your adventure in Chinese cooking. For the beginner in Chinese cooking, the recipes in this book are so easy to follow and help to ensure your success in creating each dish that is much better than anything you could order from Chinese takeout. I hope this review was helpful for you.

Recipies are easy to follow. They're healthy, using very little oil. And delicious. They require minimal ingredients.

This cookbook is amazing! Starting with the basics and moving into the typical Chinese takeout dishes, it is the best! You wouldn't think that cooking plain old rice is something difficult, but I have never been able to do it! It always turns out too sticky or too crunchy, but following Chairmaine's instructions, my rice turned out perfectly the very first time! The Beef and Broccoli recipe was super simple, and even pleased my finicky teenagers! I love that these are truly healthy recipes, and that they are developed from her personal experience. The cooking tips are helpful too. When my husband made the Hot and Sour Soup and noticed the broth didn't seem as clear as the photo, we checked the recipe again. It turned out that Charmaine had explained how mixing the egg at a different speed produced different results! I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who want s to eat restaurant quality Chinese food, without the restaurant prices and without the unnecessary sodium, sugar and fat that restaurants use! Thanks to this cookbook, my wok has moved from my basement storage room back to its rightful place in the kitchen!

The book is ok, the recipes are ok but nothing to write home about.i made 13 different items and did not change anything.

I don’t leave reviews often, but this cookbook is wonderful. Everything tastes great and it’s so much healthier than take out! My favorite recipes so far are the ginger chicken (it is now a weekly staple) and the pork and veg stir fry/all purpose stir fry sauce. I love that there are recipes included for several sauces so that you know what’s going into them! A note for anyone considering buying it— you’ll need to go to an asian grocer or order some of the items online, however there are many recipes that you don’t need specific asian ingredients for or can make with easy substitutions.

Looking for your first Chinese wok cookbook? This one works nicely as an introduction for the beginning cook and maybe also for the experienced cook looking for some variations on a theme. It has a plethora of easy dishes using ingredients found in your own market (and a couple of exotic ones you can order from amazon). The healthy spin means stir fry alternatives to deep frying and 'light on the oil' alternatives to some Panda Express favorites. The recipes are easy to read and follow and contain an essential ingredient list and explanation. There are colorful and attractive illustrations. The two first chapters cover the basics of cooking Chinese at home with your own wok along with a guide to the necessary ingredients. This one, along with Diane Kuan's The Chinese Takeout Cookbook, would be the one I would give to a neophyte.

I gave this to my cooking lady and she makes amazing dishes!

I like this book, it makes cooking Asian food easier for me as a beginner and being on a diet the comparisons to home made and take away is very helpful

Good guide for Chinese cooking

Nothing special

The paper quality is poor. I do not know why so much time is given to soups. Many of the recipes require some pre-made sauces which involve home-made chicken stock, whilst also including Knorr chicken stock granules in some recipes.