10 Best Chinese Cookbook 2025 in the United States

The Wok: Recipes and Techniques is a substantial hardcover book that provides a comprehensive guide to cooking with a wok. With 672 pages, it is quite detailed and covers a wide range of recipes, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced cooks. The book's dimensions and weight suggest it is a large and heavy volume, which might be challenging to handle in the kitchen but also indicates thorough content.

The variety of recipes is a highlight, offering diverse dishes that showcase the versatility of wok cooking. This variety ensures that there is something for every taste and skill level, from simple stir-fries to more complex dishes. Ingredient accessibility is well-balanced; while some ingredients may require a trip to an Asian grocery store, many recipes use items readily available in most supermarkets.

The book excels in providing cultural and historical context, enriching the cooking experience by connecting recipes to their origins and traditions. 'The Wok: Recipes and Techniques' is a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding and skills in Chinese cooking, with detailed instructions and a wide range of recipes.

A Very Chinese Cookbook: 100 Recipes from China and Not China (But Still Really Chinese) is a comprehensive hardcover book published by America's Test Kitchen. This cookbook is suitable for home chefs of varying skill levels, offering a mix of traditional and modern Chinese recipes, which ensures a good variety for different tastes.

The recipes are accessible to those who might not have extensive knowledge of Chinese cooking, though some might require specialty ingredients not readily available in all areas, which could be a drawback for some users. The book includes insightful cultural and historical context, enriching the cooking experience by providing background on the dishes and their origins.

Additionally, the visual appeal is strong with high-quality images and a well-organized layout, making it easy to follow along. The physical size and weight (3.4 pounds) could be cumbersome for some users. This cookbook is ideal for those interested in exploring authentic and innovative Chinese cuisine, while also appreciating the cultural stories behind the dishes.

The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a Thousand-Year-Old Tradition is a comprehensive and visually appealing cookbook that should cater well to anyone interested in vegan Chinese cuisine. The book's 320 pages are filled with a rich variety of recipes that cover different skill levels, making it accessible to both beginners and seasoned cooks. The ingredient lists are thoughtfully curated, though some specialized items might require a trip to an Asian market or a specialty store, which could be a drawback for those who prefer readily available ingredients.

The cookbook does an excellent job of blending recipes with cultural and historical context, offering readers deeper insights into the traditions behind the dishes. Visually, the hardcover format and the engaging photos add a layer of appeal that makes it enjoyable to use and display. However, at 2.7 pounds, it is relatively bulky, which might be cumbersome for some users to handle in the kitchen.

Published by Clarkson Potter, the book is in English and should have a broad appeal among English-speaking readers interested in exploring vegan adaptations of traditional Chinese recipes.