Omnivore's Cookbook

Korean Fire Chicken (Cheese Buldak) Korean fire chicken, or cheese buldak, is a one-pan Korean main I make with boneless chicken thighs, chewy mochi rice cakes, and melted mozzarella over a fierce gochugaru and gochujang sauce. My recipe is ready in 25 minutes, the kind of restaurant-style Korean comfort food I cook when my family wants a spicy dish on a weeknight.

Silkie Chicken Soup (乌鸡汤) This Silkie Chicken Soup is a healthy and nutrient-rich soup with a touch of sweetness ideal for cooler weather or when you are under the weather. A whole black-skinned silkie chicken simmers for 2 hours in my Dutch oven with ginger, dried jujubes, shiitake mushrooms, goji berries, and a small ear of corn until the broth is savory, and lightly sweet.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap) This easy kimchi fried rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap) is a quick one pan dinner I make with well-aged kimchi, cold day-old rice, and a short gochujang sauce that tastes incredibly delicious. It takes only 15 minutes to have it ready on the table and turns a nearly empty fridge into a satisfying meal for my family.

Bitter Melon with Eggs My stir-fried bitter melon with eggs only takes 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes to make. It is a comforting homestyle side dish that brings nutrition and color to a Chinese meal, and the recipe works for vegetarian and gluten-free tables.

Mango Sago (杨枝甘露) My Mango sago is a chilled Hong Kong style dessert with a smooth ripe mango and coconut milk base, chewy tapioca pearls, and fresh diced mango on top. The dessert is naturally dairy free in my version, comes together in a few stages at the stove and the blender, and tastes like a Cantonese dessert shop in a bowl.

Chinese Pork Belly Bun (Rou Jia Mo, 肉夹馍) My Chinese pork belly bun, or Rou Jia Mo, is a Northern and Midwest Chinese street food where melt-in-your-mouth braised pork belly is minced with cilantro and chili pepper, stuffed into a fluffy yeasted homemade flatbread, and finished with a spoonful of the savory braising liquid.

Clams in Black Bean Sauce I love making this stir fried Clams in Black Bean Sauce every summer. Manila clams steam open in a fragrant wok of fermented black beans, ginger, shallot, and Fresno chili, finished with a quick Shaoxing wine and oyster sauce reduction that coats every shell. If you are a fan of clams like I am, this is the perfect recipe to try at home.

Chicken Chow Mein (鸡肉炒面) This chicken chow mein is my 25 minute weeknight version with springy chow mein noodles, marinated chicken, shredded cabbage and carrot, and a glossy brown sauce built on oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, and soy sauce. It is a Chinese takeout favorite I cook at home on the nights I want one pan, dinner on the table, and zero leftovers wasted.

Mushroom and Pepper Stir Fry My mushroom and pepper stir fry is a 15-minute side dish that uses minimal ingredients to create a satisfying dish. The tender mushrooms and crisp peppers are coated with a rich garlicky brown sauce that brings everything together without overpowering the fresh flavors.

Steamed Chicken Buns (香菇滑鸡包) These steamed chicken buns are a Northern Chinese baozi I grew up eating in Beijing, with a soft pillowy wheat dough wrapped around a juicy filling of ground chicken, dried shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and scallions. I serve them hot from the steamer with a small bowl of Chinkiang vinegar on the side for breakfast, lunch, or supper.

Mushroom and Pepper Stir Fry My mushroom and pepper stir fry is a 15-minute side dish that uses minimal ingredients to create a satisfying dish.

Stir-fried Cauliflower with Tomato Sauce My easy stir-fried cauliflower with tomato sauce is a 20 minute Chinese homestyle side, with crunchy cauliflower florets, fresh tomato, and a quick sweet and sour pan sauce I make from garlic, tomato paste, and a small amount of sugar.

Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls These fresh shrimp spring rolls are my 55 minute Vietnamese inspired appetizer with poached shrimp, avocado, carrot, and fresh herbs wrapped in soft rice paper. I serve them with a Chinese sesame sauce and a Vietnamese nuoc cham, so every roll has two ways to dip and no two bites taste the same.

Salt and Pepper Shrimp (椒盐虾) This salt and pepper shrimp is perfect if you are looking for an easy appetizer. It is a 20-minute Chinese dish with juicy shrimp inside a crispy cornstarch coating, tossed at the end with sliced garlic, and a Northern-style salt and white pepper mixture.

Singapore Noodles These Singapore noodles are my 30 minute Cantonese restaurant style version, with thin rice vermicelli tossed in a curry powder sauce alongside char siu pork, shrimp, scrambled egg, and julienned vegetables. The dish gets its bright yellow color from curry powder, and the noodles stay light because they are stir fried instead of saucy.

Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry This easy pork and cabbage stir fry is a 25-minute dinner I make with thinly sliced marinated pork tenderloin, sweet and buttery Taiwanese flat cabbage, garlic, ginger, and a savory light and dark soy sauce that ties everything together. I know you’ll be surprised by how something so simple can be so satisfying!

Ginger Beef Stir Fry I absolutely love making this easy 45-minute ginger beef stir fry recipe for my family. It is a Chinese takeout classic that I make with chewy, crispy slices of flank steak coated in a savory, sweet, and tangy ginger sauce, then finished with green onions, red bell pepper, and baby bok choy.