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The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family: A Cookbook Hardcover – November 1, 2022

by Bill Leung (Author), Kaitlin Leung (Author), Judy Leung (Author),

4.8 1,393 ratings

Editors' pick Best Cookbooks, Food & Wine

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JAMES BEARD AWARD NOMINEE • NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER • IACP AWARD FINALIST • PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW • “The Woks of Life did something miraculous: It reconnected me to my love of Chinese food and showed me how simple it is to make my favorite dishes myself.”—KEVIN KWAN, author of Crazy Rich Asians

The family behind the acclaimed blog The Woks of Life shares 100 of their favorite home-cooked and restaurant-style Chinese recipes in ”a very special book” (J. Kenji López-Alt, author of The Food Lab and The Wok)

ONE OF THE TEN BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: San Francisco Chronicle, Simply Recipes
ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Food & Wine, NPR, Smithsonian Magazine, Delish, Epicurious

This is the story of a family as told through food. Judy, the mom, speaks to traditional Chinese dishes and cultural backstory. Bill, the dad, worked in his family’s Chinese restaurants and will walk you through how to make a glorious Cantonese Roast Duck. Daughters Sarah and Kaitlin have your vegetable-forward and one-dish recipes covered—put them all together and you have the first cookbook from the funny and poignant family behind the popular blog The Woks of Life.

In addition to recipes for Mini Char Siu Bao, Spicy Beef Biang Biang Noodles, Cantonese Pork Belly Fried Rice, and Salt-and-Pepper Fried Oyster Mushrooms, there are also helpful tips and tricks throughout, including an elaborate rundown of the Chinese pantry, explanations of essential tools (including the all-important wok), and insight on game-changing Chinese cooking secrets like how to “velvet” meat to make it extra tender and juicy.

Whether you’re new to Chinese cooking or if your pantry is always stocked with bean paste and chili oil, you’ll find lots of inspiration and trustworthy recipes that will become a part of your family story, too.

From the Publisher

A cookbook story of food and family: 100 restaurant-style Chinese recipes

Pork, Mushroom & Cabbage Dumplings

Edamame, Tofu & Pickled Mustard Greens Stir-Fry

Special Golden Fried Rice

“Mongolian” Beef

Shrimp with Lobster Sauce

Three-Cup Chicken

Photo of authors and a quote: This book reflects on the dishes woven into the fabric of our lives.

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The Woks of Life did something miraculous: It reconnected me to my love of Chinese food and showed me how simple it is to make my favorite dishes myself, something I never thought I’d be able to do. Beautifully and lovingly created by the Leung family, this fantastic cookbook should be in every home!”—Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians

“For years, Bill, Judy, Sarah, and Kaitlin have been my go-to source for recipes and techniques that have roots firmly planted in Chinese tradition but with a uniquely American experience and voice. Their intergenerational approach makes The Woks of Life unique in its ability to inspire and educate, with an eye toward practicality and usefulness. This is a very special book.”—J. Kenji López-Alt, author of The Food Lab and The Wok

“The Woks of Life blog has been one of my absolute favorites for years—these recipes are not only delicious, but they make me excited to try new dishes and flavors. The Leungs help home cooks by explaining everything from cooking tools to pantry staples, and even providing QR codes to reference techniques you may not be familiar with. I cannot wait to cook through this book with my family!”—Alex Snodgrass, New York Times bestselling author of The Defined Dish and The Comfortable Kitchen

“This book allows everyone to get in the kitchen and effortlessly start cooking well-researched and delicious recipes while enjoying the personalities and tastes of Judy, Bill, Sarah, and Kaitlin. The Woks of Life cookbook is a must for any food lover.”—Andrew Zimmern

“The Woks of Life is one of the first places I go when I need a recipe that I know will be as knowledgeable as it is usable. Having a whole book of recipes to cook through at last is such a gift—I cannot find a single recipe that doesn’t entice me to cancel all of my plans and spend my evening cooking instead.”—Deb Perelman, author of Smitten Kitchen Keepers

“The Leung family have been my go-to source when I want to make everything from fried rice and scallion pancakes to spicy chili wontons and sesame-slicked Shanghai noodles. I’m thrilled to have all their best recipes in one beautiful book!”—David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen & Drinking French

“The Woks of Life became a staple resource for our family when we moved away from home and embarked on re-creating the flavorful memories of our childhood.”—Lina and Mei Lum, Wing on Wo & Co

“I’ve been following The Woks of Life on Instagram for years, and I’m so excited for their first cookbook! Every recipe feels like an invitation to the table.”—Emma Christensen, Simply Recipes

“The Leung family shares their favorite restaurant-worthy, family-friendly, and forward-thinking Chinese recipes, plus tips on how to approach essential cooking tools and pantry items with confidence.”—Epicurious

“For years, home cooks have turned to food blog The Woks of Life as a trusted source of Chinese and Chinese-American recipes and cooking tips….here, just as they do online, the Leungs dive thoroughly into all the essential techniques, must-have tools and pantry staples that you’ll need.”—Vetted by Forbes

About the Author

Founded in 2013, The Woks of Life began as a quest to document one family’s history through food and has become the most popular online resource for Chinese cooking in English, recording generations of recipes for millions of home cooks. Bill, Judy, Sarah, and Kaitlin Leung have been featured on PBS and Magnolia Network, and online by the Food Network and Good Morning America. The family lives in New Jersey, where they cook, write, and photograph recipes together—and continue their eternal debate over what’s for dinner.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Meet the Family

Stuck with Each Other
Some say that between your previous life and the next life, you choose your family. Others say that you stay with the same people from lifetime to lifetime—in the same boat, but perhaps in slightly different seats.

In our family, it certainly feels like this isn’t our first rodeo. Bill and Judy meet, marry, and have daughters Sarah and Kaitlin—each personality seemingly carved in stone and each more strong willed than the last.

While most people find it easier to forge their own path in the world at least an arm’s length from their family, we’ve found ourselves doing just the opposite. Despite our aforementioned strong-willed personalities, we’re together a lot, spending inordinate amounts of time deliberating shrimp placement and the correct temperature for chili oil. It’s all in the name of The Woks of Life, a food blog we started in 2013 to document our family’s history through recipes—some from old-world Shanghai, others from a Chinese restaurant kitchen in the Catskills. Many were inspired by the streets of Flushing, Queens, and countless more were dreamt up in our home kitchen in a New Jersey suburb. Through food, we’ve preserved collective decades of experience, spanning parents, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and friends.

When someone asks us how we manage to pull it off, you can see in their eyes the mental flash of their own family dynamic, usually followed by a slow head shake of utter disbelief that anyone could take on such an endeavor with their parents, siblings, or kids. Recording your family’s heritage and history can be daunting. A few rough edges are inevitable—and trust us, we’ve had our fair share. But we also choose to work together in the same way that we might have chosen our family in the cosmic “before.”

Growing up, Judy would ask Sarah and Kaitlin: “Are you glad you chose us as your parents?” The answer is here, in this book, and also on The Woks of Life.

We’re all here. For our personal histories, for the web of memories and pathways that we share with so many around the world, and, yes . . . we’re here for the food.

How did we end up here?
Our family cares a lot about food. Like, a weird amount. It’s hard to say exactly when and why it’s gotten to the level that it has, but we’ll try to explain.

JUDY
Bill and I both come from immigrant families. He lived with his two sisters and their parents, Cantonese immigrants who came to the US in the 1940s and ’50s, in Liberty, New York. Liberty was one of many little upstate towns collectively known as the “Borscht Belt,” a popular summer destination for Jewish families from New York City that had its heyday from the 1920s to the 1960s. I lived just a stone’s throw away in Monticello, after leaving Shanghai with my family when I was sixteen.

For both Bill and me, food was a life raft that connected our families to where they came from. In Bill’s small town, penny pinching was just a way of life for a working family. As for me, back in China, we were downright poor, and money was still tight after we moved to America. Food became an everyday treasure that anchored our days, and we worked to maximize enjoyment and ensure that little went to waste. Nothing felt more like home than an afternoon spent making dozens of dumplings to stash away for future busy weekdays or preparing a special poached chicken for a night of mahjong with friends.

Bill learned to cook from his father and stepfather—both chefs—and his mother, an excellent home cook. Cooking was one of the most common jobs for immigrant Chinese men in those days, so learning how to prepare and enjoy food was a valuable skill. When Bill and I first started dating, we both helped run Sun Hing, his parents’ restaurant. Fast-forward through our early days as newlyweds in the late ’80s, and along came Sarah and Kaitlin, both before I turned twenty-six. With two American babies and me still improving my English, ready or not, parenthood was in full gear.

SARAH AND KAITLIN
With two parents who take food seriously and know how to enjoy it, dinner at our house has always been an all-hands-on-deck event. Building familiarity in the kitchen began with little tasks here and there—trimming vegetables, taste testing (rather, snagging bits of roast duck before it got to the table), and remembering to make the rice.

Then there were the little lessons we learned along the way, like how to reveal the tender chunks of fillet from a whole steamed fish, the finer points of sandwich construction (i.e., how to not end up with a giant wad of roast beef hanging from your teeth), and how to mix up a bowl of cold noodles with just spaghetti, soy sauce, and sesame oil. “What’s for dinner?” was the omnipresent question, and the dinner table was where we always came together.

Paging through cookbooks became our favorite hobby, and on weekends we played chef and sous chef and devoured old Iron Chef reruns (the original Japanese version). Soon, we were trying out new recipes for family parties and juggling mixing bowls and roasting pans on Thanksgiving.

Aside from being our favorite hobby, cooking became the medium that moderated the full spectrum of our family’s life. When we visited our grandparents, preparing an elaborate dinner was the activity that facilitated the exchange of gossip and questions about how school was going. For every family argument, there was the plate of dumplings to ruminate over. And to break through an icy cold shoulder between sisters, there was the begrudging snack break of instant noodles that made it hard to remember what we were mad about in the first place.

Those years were the build-up to the food fanatics that we now are. Little did we know that the eternal question, “What’s for dinner?” would become the only constant after our parents moved halfway across the globe.

BILL
Call it a shock when, in 2011, we suddenly found ourselves at different corners of the world. When a new work assignment came knocking at my company, Judy and I relocated to Beijing. We put our New Jersey house into hibernation, loaded our suitcases with bulk-size jars of peanut butter and two-pound bags of coffee beans (priorities!), and headed east. Kaitlin found herself navigating her freshman year of college solo in Philadelphia, and Sarah was starting her senior year of college in the Hudson Valley.

In China, Judy quickly became our translator, interpreter, and guide. She organized weekend trips to check out Xi’an night markets, old water villages just outside of Shanghai, the Harbin ice festival, and other destinations where we could discover new flavors outside our Shanghainese and Cantonese roots. It wasn’t long before we realized how little we had really explored the vast universe of Chinese cuisine.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarkson Potter (November 1, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593233891
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593233894
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.63 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.3 x 1.1 x 10.27 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Wok Cookery (Books)
- #3 in Chinese Cooking, Food & Wine
- #50 in Quick & Easy Cooking (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 1,393 ratings

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Kaitlin Leung
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Kaitlin Leung is a founder, recipe and content developer, and younger daughter of The Woks of Life.
Founded in 2013, The Woks of Life began as a quest to document one family’s history through food and has become the most popular online resource for Chinese cooking in English, recording generations of recipes for millions of home cooks. Parents Bill and Judy, older sister Sarah, and Kaitlin have been featured on PBS, the Food Network (digital), Magnolia Network, and Good Morning America (digital), as well as The New York Times, Eater, and many other publications.
Notoriously unable to follow a recipe (usually preferring to freestyle it), Kaitlin’s the family artist, chunky-sweater-obsessed knitter, and keeper of an unreasonably detailed knowledge bank of Korean pop music. The master of all things sauces and condiments on the blog (her chili oil is legendary) and steward of our drool-worthy Instagram account.
The family lives in New Jersey, where they cook, write, and photograph recipes together—and continue their eternal debate over what’s for dinner.
See more on the author's page
Sarah Leung
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Sarah Leung is a founder, recipe and content developer, photographer, and older daughter of The Woks of Life.
Founded in 2013, The Woks of Life began as a quest to document one family’s history through food and has become the most popular online resource for Chinese cooking in English, recording generations of recipes for millions of home cooks. Parents Bill and Judy, Sarah, and her younger sister Kaitlin have been featured on PBS, the Food Network (digital), Magnolia Network, and Good Morning America (digital), as well as The New York Times, Eater, and many other publications.
Born and raised in the Garden State, Sarah grew up on episodes of Ready Set Cook and Iron Chef. She's a writer, photographer, marketing professional, and daydreamer, with a penchant for Quick and Easy recipes that take less than 20 minutes to make. Like the rest of the family, she loves the outdoors and writing delightfully detailed posts about the Art of Cooking Outside.
The family lives in New Jersey, where they cook, write, and photograph recipes together—and continue their eternal debate over what’s for dinner.
See more on the author's page
Bill Leung
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Bill Leung is a founder, recipe and content developer, and dad of The Woks of Life.
Founded in 2013, The Woks of Life began as a quest to document one family’s history through food and has become the most popular online resource for Chinese cooking in English, recording generations of recipes for millions of home cooks. Bill and Judy, and daughters Sarah and Kaitlin have been featured on PBS, the Food Network (digital), Magnolia Network, and Good Morning America (digital), as well as The New York Times, Eater, and many other publications.
Bill grew up in upstate New York, working through high school and college in restaurants with his father, a chef. He rose from modest beginnings as a Burger King sandwich assembler to Holiday Inn busboy and line cook, to cooking at the family’s Chinese restaurant, while also learning the finer points of Cantonese cooking from his immigrant parents. He specializes in all things Cantonese and American Chinese takeout.
The family lives in New Jersey, where they cook, write, and photograph recipes together—and continue their eternal debate over what’s for dinner.
See more on the author's page
Judy Leung
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Judy Leung is a founder, recipe and content developer, and mother of The Woks of Life.
Founded in 2013, The Woks of Life began as a quest to document one family’s history through food and has become the most popular online resource for Chinese cooking in English, recording generations of recipes for millions of home cooks. Bill and Judy and their daughters Sarah and Kaitlin have been featured on PBS, the Food Network (digital), Magnolia Network, and Good Morning America (digital), as well as The New York Times, Eater, and many other publications.
Judy was born in Shanghai, and arrived in the U.S. at age 16. Pretty much a boss when it comes to languages, being fluent in both English and three separate Chinese dialects. And boy, can she fold a spring roll (the rest of the family's tend to just fall apart. It’s sad). Plus, she’s the only one in the family who’s actually good at reading Chinese, so she’s the family's professional menu-translator when they're eating their way through China.
The family lives in New Jersey, where they cook, write, and photograph recipes together—and continue their eternal debate over what’s for dinner.
See more on the author's page

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Customers find the recipes in this book authentic and delicious. They appreciate the clear instructions and simple, functional book. The pictures are beautiful and the photography is excellent. Readers appreciate the explanation of ingredients and substitutions for difficult-to-find ones. The stories about family life are wonderful and relatable. Overall, customers describe the book as an evocative cookbook of family history, shared memories, and authentic Chinese food.

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Recipes Book value Ease of follow Pictures Ingredient information Story telling Authenticity Book binding

187 customers mention "Recipes"180 positive7 negative

Customers find the recipes in the book authentic and delicious. They appreciate the variety of recipes and find it helpful for recreating Chinese dishes they loved growing up in Hong Kong. The book provides a list of essential cooking tools, pantry ingredients, and basic instructions for tenderizing meats. It's described as a wonderful, simple, and functional book that can be used in an American kitchen.

"...an amazing addition to your library and, hopefully, will be your go-to recipe book for those tempting dishes from your favorite restaurant for good..." Read more

"...The recipes are always well presented with the opportunity for classic Chinese ingredients or the ability to use more widely found ingredients...." Read more

"...Shortcut Dan Dan noodles (p.97) Quick chicken congee (p.134) Classic sesame chicken (p.162) Beef and broccoli (p. 184) "..." Read more

"...In other words, there is a balance of types of recipes. The quality of the book (pictures, stories, layout) is beautiful...." Read more

100 customers mention "Book value"100 positive0 negative

Customers find the book useful and worth buying. They appreciate the well-chosen, delicious recipes that are easy to make. The book is functional and a quality product.

"...This is truly an American success story of a family’s passion to hold on to one of the most defining parts of their culture – their food and..." Read more

"...Love the book and highly recommend!" Read more

"...The book is beautiful and reads like a good book on a cool evening. Give this book a try and visit their website, you won’t be disappointed...." Read more

"...Well thought-out, beautiful, comprehensive and inspiring: there are plenty of recipes for those with little experience and few traditional..." Read more

96 customers mention "Ease of follow"93 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's instructions clear and simple to follow. They appreciate the video tutorials for recipes like dumplings and egg rolls. The key techniques and QR codes are included. The authentic flavors are perfect for an average home kitchen. The book is well-thought-out, comprehensive, and inspiring for second-generation home cooks from the Chinese diaspora.

"...such a remarkable compendium of history and awesome recipes is the humble and inspiring story of the Leung Family who shares their family’s memories..." Read more

"...Steps are easy to understand and ingredients can be easily found at your local Asian market. Love the book and highly recommend!" Read more

"...The writing is friendly and engaging, and makes me feel like I suddenly have my very own Chinese family instructing me in how to cook! *..." Read more

"...Well thought-out, beautiful, comprehensive and inspiring: there are plenty of recipes for those with little experience and few traditional..." Read more

88 customers mention "Pictures"88 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pictures. They find the photography excellent, with step-by-step photos on how to create the recipes. The print quality and pictures are great.

"...There are tons of pictures with step-by-step photos on how to create the recipes. They never leave you in the dark...." Read more

"I love collecting beautiful cookbooks. The cover and pictures are vibrant, and while I haven’t read the authors stories in here, I can tell they are..." Read more

"...The book is beautiful and reads like a good book on a cool evening. Give this book a try and visit their website, you won’t be disappointed...." Read more

"...Not only are there photos of every dish, there are detailed photos of every step for some of the more challenging dishes, like Cantonese roast duck,..." Read more

56 customers mention "Ingredient information"56 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's ingredient information helpful. They appreciate the explanation of ingredients and substitutions for difficult-to-find ones. The book provides a wealth of dishes that tie them to their roots. Readers also like the boldfaced ingredients and headers of major sections.

"...They never leave you in the dark. There are sections for stocking your pantry with essentials, cooking techniques, and even how to season your Wok..." Read more

"...Steps are easy to understand and ingredients can be easily found at your local Asian market. Love the book and highly recommend!" Read more

"...opportunity for classic Chinese ingredients or the ability to use more widely found ingredients...." Read more

"* The recipes are easy to understand and follow, and necessary ingredients and tools are clearly explained...." Read more

48 customers mention "Story telling"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories in the book engaging and relatable. They appreciate the family history, heirloom stories, and fun details about their lives. The combination of easy recipes and great family background makes readers feel connected to the Leung family.

"...compendium of history and awesome recipes is the humble and inspiring story of the Leung Family who shares their family’s memories and their world..." Read more

"...Their mix of easy recipes with great family background and stories makes you feel as invested in their family as their food...." Read more

"...The authors include plenty of stories and helpful hints in their recipes, and the tone of the book is encouraging and cheerful...." Read more

"Amazing book and amazing family- i have tried several recipes out of the book AND THEY ALL WORK!..." Read more

28 customers mention "Authenticity"28 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the Chinese dishes in the book. They find it a great family cookbook with real Chinese food from Asia, not watered down. The physical copy is nice for them, as they like having the recipes and memories shared.

"...The recipes are always well presented with the opportunity for classic Chinese ingredients or the ability to use more widely found ingredients...." Read more

"...I learned how to cook following their recipes. It's pretty legit." Read more

"...Their writing is so down to earth, authentic and full of life. I enjoy the stories as much as the dishes...." Read more

"...Chinese cooking by providing a list of essential cooking tools, pantry ingredients and basic cooking techniques that you’ll use in your cooking..." Read more

12 customers mention "Book binding"3 positive9 negative

Customers are unhappy with the book binding. They mention the binding is falling apart, poor quality, and creased. Some also say the hardcover version will not last.

"The binding arrived torn along the spine before I even opened the book to read a recipe. Because of this, it is not a book I would give as a gift...." Read more

"Perfict quality except for the back binding has broken loose but it can be repaired easily. Very good quality book for being used...." Read more

"...I saw no issues with the book binding. Other observations: -..." Read more

"...with everyone else, there is a problem in the binding and my cookbook will not hold up. Still, 5 Stars for such a great resource" Read more

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TWC
A long-awaited cookbook that did not disappoint!
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022
Verified Purchase

I have been following The Woks of Life blog and website since 2017. I have downloaded many of their recipes and incorporated many of their ideas into my already huge library of Asian recipes. Whether a foodie, novice, home cook, fledgling chef, or even an older dog like me who has really learned some new tricks, this must-have book will make an amazing addition to your library and, hopefully, will be your go-to recipe book for those tempting dishes from your favorite restaurant for good Chinese food. It will definitely be mine. But wait! That is not all that this book has to offer! I have been cooking Asian food for more than 40 years and there are recipes that Nǎinai (grandma) made, like Steamed Pork Patty with Preserved Mustard Greens or Red Braised Pork Bell with Eggs or Cantonese Zongzi, usually prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival! Now if you have a yen for those dishes that you normally order in restaurants, I appreciate the de-mystifying of many of my favorites like Cantonese duck, Biang Biang noodles, and Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai. And, there are even Asian Deserts!! Heck, if I master some of my favorite dishes that I normally order in restaurants, I may never order out again!! If I do, I will be comparing them to mine!

Now on to the important structures of this book that make it so valuable for me – QR codes!!! Yes, there are QR codes to aid you in creating the recipes to perfection and always leaving room for your own creativity. There are tons of pictures with step-by-step photos on how to create the recipes. They never leave you in the dark. There are sections for stocking your pantry with essentials, cooking techniques, and even how to season your Wok to name a few! Where was this book 40 years ago?

What makes this book such a remarkable compendium of history and awesome recipes is the humble and inspiring story of the Leung Family who shares their family’s memories and their world with us. This is truly an American success story of a family’s passion to hold on to one of the most defining parts of their culture – their food and traditions. Well, I was and am inspired. I loved their Sesame Chicken recipe and tried it right away, as you can see from my picture. We plan to give this book as a gift to our other friends and family who are lovers of good Asian food. It is definitely a jump-start place for any cook and an education for any young person who is a lover of Asian culture and cuisine. I cannot wait for the next book. I am sure that there will be one. Thank you, Woks of Life, your family is now a part of my family.

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TWC

A long-awaited cookbook that did not disappoint!

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022
I have been following The Woks of Life blog and website since 2017. I have downloaded many of their recipes and incorporated many of their ideas into my already huge library of Asian recipes. Whether a foodie, novice, home cook, fledgling chef, or even an older dog like me who has really learned some new tricks, this must-have book will make an amazing addition to your library and, hopefully, will be your go-to recipe book for those tempting dishes from your favorite restaurant for good Chinese food. It will definitely be mine. But wait! That is not all that this book has to offer! I have been cooking Asian food for more than 40 years and there are recipes that Nǎinai (grandma) made, like Steamed Pork Patty with Preserved Mustard Greens or Red Braised Pork Bell with Eggs or Cantonese Zongzi, usually prepared for the Dragon Boat Festival! Now if you have a yen for those dishes that you normally order in restaurants, I appreciate the de-mystifying of many of my favorites like Cantonese duck, Biang Biang noodles, and Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai. And, there are even Asian Deserts!! Heck, if I master some of my favorite dishes that I normally order in restaurants, I may never order out again!! If I do, I will be comparing them to mine!

Now on to the important structures of this book that make it so valuable for me – QR codes!!! Yes, there are QR codes to aid you in creating the recipes to perfection and always leaving room for your own creativity. There are tons of pictures with step-by-step photos on how to create the recipes. They never leave you in the dark. There are sections for stocking your pantry with essentials, cooking techniques, and even how to season your Wok to name a few! Where was this book 40 years ago?

What makes this book such a remarkable compendium of history and awesome recipes is the humble and inspiring story of the Leung Family who shares their family’s memories and their world with us. This is truly an American success story of a family’s passion to hold on to one of the most defining parts of their culture – their food and traditions. Well, I was and am inspired. I loved their Sesame Chicken recipe and tried it right away, as you can see from my picture. We plan to give this book as a gift to our other friends and family who are lovers of good Asian food. It is definitely a jump-start place for any cook and an education for any young person who is a lover of Asian culture and cuisine. I cannot wait for the next book. I am sure that there will be one. Thank you, Woks of Life, your family is now a part of my family.

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Kelly P.
Delicious and beautiful cookbook
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
Verified Purchase
I love collecting beautiful cookbooks. The cover and pictures are vibrant, and while I haven’t read the authors stories in here, I can tell they are nicely written and emotion was put into them. I’ve tried a couple recipes, kung pao chicken and egg fried rice (tweaked) and it turned out delicious! Steps are easy to understand and ingredients can be easily found at your local Asian market. Love the book and highly recommend!

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Kelly P.

Delicious and beautiful cookbook

Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
I love collecting beautiful cookbooks. The cover and pictures are vibrant, and while I haven’t read the authors stories in here, I can tell they are nicely written and emotion was put into them. I’ve tried a couple recipes, kung pao chicken and egg fried rice (tweaked) and it turned out delicious! Steps are easy to understand and ingredients can be easily found at your local Asian market. Love the book and highly recommend!

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A. Hare
Rare combination! Love the authors as much as the recipes
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022
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I have been a devout follower of the family since the Woks of Life website emerged years ago. Their mix of easy recipes with great family background and stories makes you feel as invested in their family as their food. The recipes are always well presented with the opportunity for classic Chinese ingredients or the ability to use more widely found ingredients. I can honestly say I’ve never been disappointed with any of the recipes we’ve made and the scallion pancakes are perfect. The book is beautiful and reads like a good book on a cool evening. Give this book a try and visit their website, you won’t be disappointed. Ours just arrived and I am a little concerned about the binding. It does sound as if it may come loose with heavier use. I’m still going the 5 star route just because the recipes are all amazing.

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Sophie
If I had room for only one cookbook, THIS WOULD BE IT
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2022
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* The recipes are easy to understand and follow, and necessary ingredients and tools are clearly explained. In fact, there's a QR code in the book that takes you to more detailed and comprehensive explanations on their blog, including how and where to FIND those ingredients.

* There are QR codes throughout the book, linking you to bonuses like their detailed recommendations on woks, or Judy's homemade Chinese chicken stock recipe, or even a video explanation of how to make chopped meat from your favorite fresh cut, without having to put it through a grinder, and without having to purchase ground meat that could contain who knows what.

* The writing is friendly and engaging, and makes me feel like I suddenly have my very own Chinese family instructing me in how to cook!

*Not only are there photos of every dish, there are detailed photos of every step for some of the more challenging dishes, like Cantonese roast duck, which has EIGHTEEN photos.

*Most recipes are easily adaptable to gluten-free. I use rice noodles instead of wheat, soaked rice wrappers instead of dumpling wrappers, and gluten-free soy soy, hoisin, and oyster sauces. If you are gluten-free, MAKE SURE you check the ingredients of your Shaoxing wine, as at least one brand contains wheat.

DO NOT MISS THE LEUNGS' RECIPE FOR "ULTIMATE CHILI OIL (p. 275). I will never buy it jarred again!

My favorite recipes I've tried so far:
Shortcut Dan Dan noodles (p.97)
Quick chicken congee (p.134)
Classic sesame chicken (p.162)
Beef and broccoli (p. 184)
"Mongolian" beef (p. 205)
Shrimp with lobster sauce (p. 218)
Crispy pan-fried fish fillets (p. 224)
Homestyle tof (p.249)
Mapo tofu (p. 250)
Hot & sour soup (p. 259)
Egg drop soup (p.261) for which I first made
Chicken & pork stock (p.268)

TRUE STORY: I served the Beef & Broccoli to my family when my kids came home from college over Thanksgiving weekend, and they asked why I didn't cook this well when they were little.

Buy this book for yourself if you want to eat/serve delicious Chinese food.

Buy it for friends and family for a Christmas present.

For a thoughtful and unique wedding gift: find the QR code for the authors' wok suggestions, purchase one of those woks, and add this book plus some shelf-stable Chinese food ingredients.

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K
A cultural genealogy through food
Reviewed in Canada on November 2, 2022
Verified Purchase

I've been waiting a couple years to finally have this cookbook in my hands and am drooling at every page. The Leungs' website has been a way for me to explore my own family history over the years, and they have come to feel like my own extended family because of the warmth and passion they share.

The book features 100 recipes, each with a full page photo, along with stories of the Leung family and what makes each of the recipes special. It also has information on the tools and equipment needed, Chinese pantry items, and cooking techniques, as well as QR codes linking to additional information.

The only things I would change/add are all quite minor:
• an extended table of contents with each recipe listed in page order would be nice (there is only a table of contents listing the main divisions of the book, along with an index);
• a dust jacket may be helpful to avoid getting the book dirty;
• some ribbon bookmarks would be nice to mark recipes;
• the bottom corners of the book came torn as it was not packaged very well

All in all though, I feel that this book will become a staple for me, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

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K

A cultural genealogy through food

Reviewed in Canada on November 2, 2022
I've been waiting a couple years to finally have this cookbook in my hands and am drooling at every page. The Leungs' website has been a way for me to explore my own family history over the years, and they have come to feel like my own extended family because of the warmth and passion they share.

The book features 100 recipes, each with a full page photo, along with stories of the Leung family and what makes each of the recipes special. It also has information on the tools and equipment needed, Chinese pantry items, and cooking techniques, as well as QR codes linking to additional information.

The only things I would change/add are all quite minor:
• an extended table of contents with each recipe listed in page order would be nice (there is only a table of contents listing the main divisions of the book, along with an index);
• a dust jacket may be helpful to avoid getting the book dirty;
• some ribbon bookmarks would be nice to mark recipes;
• the bottom corners of the book came torn as it was not packaged very well

All in all though, I feel that this book will become a staple for me, and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

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william slevin
Great
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2025
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Alot of great recipes

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Filip S.
Great cook book for special occasions
Reviewed in Belgium on September 29, 2024
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This isn't a book for everyday use (which I expected, to be honest). But, for that special occasion, I will definitely use it (and impress my guests).

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Anca jurj
Great book
Reviewed in Germany on September 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Really easy to follow the recipes

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Alvaro Martin
Recomendable
Reviewed in Spain on March 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
Buen libro para recetas chinas del día a día

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The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family: A Cookbook Hardcover – November 1, 2022

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From the Publisher

Pork, Mushroom & Cabbage Dumplings

Edamame, Tofu & Pickled Mustard Greens Stir-Fry

Special Golden Fried Rice

“Mongolian” Beef

Shrimp with Lobster Sauce

Three-Cup Chicken

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Kaitlin Leung

Sarah Leung

Bill Leung

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Delicious and beautiful cookbook

Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars A long-awaited cookbook that did not disappoint!

A long-awaited cookbook that did not disappoint!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious and beautiful cookbook

Delicious and beautiful cookbook

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5.0 out of 5 stars Rare combination! Love the authors as much as the recipes

5.0 out of 5 stars If I had room for only one cookbook, THIS WOULD BE IT

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars A cultural genealogy through food

A cultural genealogy through food

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cook book for special occasions

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendable

A long-awaited cookbook that did not disappoint!

Delicious and beautiful cookbook

Rare combination! Love the authors as much as the recipes

If I had room for only one cookbook, THIS WOULD BE IT

A cultural genealogy through food

Great

Great cook book for special occasions

Great book

Recomendable