China Express [Hardcover]

Nina Simonds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

Chinese scholar and cookbook author Simonds offers recipes for all those dishes adored in restaurants--fresher, easier, and better than ever before. More than 200 recipes are presented for Chinese barbeque, noodle and rice treats, main-dish salads, finger foods, and sweets. Illustrations. Author tuor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Simonds ( Chinese Seasons ) just might put Chinese takeout out of business. Her goal, she tells us, was to create recipes that would make Chinese cooking practical for the average cook, who is short on time. And so she's streamlined the time-consuming preparation and shopping usually involved in Chinese cooking, while retaining the flavorings and healthy aspects of traditional Chinese dishes. She has succeeded in creating a cookbook that is--as she puts it--"user-friendly for a non-Chinese audience." Chinese recipes traditionally don't require much cooking time, but the slicing, dicing and measuring involved can be arduous. Simonds has reduced these steps, and uses traditional cooking methods of stir-frying and steaming to impart flavor and texture. The ingredients for the recipes can be found in any well-stocked supermarket. While you won't find any exotic recipes like birds' nest soup, you will find grilled rainbow peppers in garlic dressing, braised stuffed game hens and steamed lemon cake. Readers will probably want to invest in a wok, though Simonds says a skillet can be substituted. A glossary of basic ingredients and advice on cooking techniques is included. Those new to Chinese cooking may want to go slow, particularly if they're unused to dealing with a wok or steamer, but more experienced cooks should have few problems with any of these dishes.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

With her son's birth, Simonds, author of China's Food (HarperCollins, 1991), no longer had the time to prepare her adored traditional Chinese favorites. Her answer? Faster, fresher, lighter, and easier Chinese cooking, which became the basis of this book. Her authentic-but-streamlined recipes cover a full range of Chinese fare and will inspire any cook who has been daunted by the lengthy preparation times usually required when cooking Chinese. Some ingredients lists appear long at first glance but actually just require very simple combining of measured ingredients. Be aware that not every recipe is quick to prepare; some are just quick er than the laborious originals. Simonds provides many do-ahead tips along with freezing and reheating instructions, and her suggested substitutions make the recipes very versatile. Highly recommended.
- Paige LaCava, New York
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688114784
• ISBN-13: 978-0688114787
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nina Simonds is one of the country's leading authorities on Asian cooking and is an award-winning journalist. She is the author of 11 books on Chinese cuisine and culture, including the best-selling Asian Noodles and A Spoonful of Ginger, which won both the IACP and the James Beard Foundation Book Award for health. Simonds' last book Spices of Life: Simple and Delicious Recipes for Great Health was selected by Cooking Light Magazine as their #1 choice for the best "Healthy" cookbook published in the last 25 years. She has won three James Beard awards. Her website with innovative video blogs (www.spicesoflife.com) was launched in February of 2007 and is featured regularly on The Daily Beast. She is a contributor to GourmetLive.com, Epicurious.com, and the "Off Duty" section of The Wall Street Journal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Chinese Food Prepared Quickly and Simply, May 4, 2000

By 

Christie of Cooking with Christie (Lacey WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China Express (Hardcover)

I want this book. I ordered another Nina Simonds book from the Library and they sent this one instead. I have been doing Asian Cooking (Chinese,Thai,Japanese, etc.) for many years. I have also taken many Chinese and Thai cooking classes and run a cooking school out of my home.

This is one of the best Chinese cookbooks that I have come across. I made BBQ spareribs last night that are better than you find in most restaurants. It took 5 minutes to make the sauce. Preparation was very quick and easy. Recipes are clear and well written. The ingredients can be found in any supermarket.

In her introduction Ms. Simonds states that she wrote this book after becoming a working Mom. This book is perfect for people who do not have the time to go to an Asian market to shop--you will find most, if not all, the ingredients that you need in a good supermarket. It is also perfect for someone who wants to come home and have dinner on the table within an hour. You may want to marinate something overnight; but you do not have to do a lot of preparation to make these dishes. Her section on substitutions in the front is also invaluable.

My one criticism is that she uses turkey (a non-traditional Chinese food) in so many recipes. I would use chicken or pork or ground pork instead. However, for someone on a low fat diet the turkey might be another plus. Other than that this book is great.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I agree completely, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: China Express (Hardcover)

I agree completely with the comments of reviewer #1 (above). Nina Simonds CRANKS, and this book does a slightly easier (more manageable to non-cooks) version of some of her other, always delectable recipes. It's a fantastic book, and would make a great gift. There's no justice! :-)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our most used cook book, July 27, 2011

By 

Erin Cole - See all my reviews

This review is from: China Express (Hardcover)

I have had China Express now for 12 years and my husband and I agree, this is the most used cook book in our collection. Every recipe is easy to understand and comes out perfect. All the dishes taste very authentic. I especially love how each recipe allows for variations to accommidate different ingredients and tastes. We cannot go to Asian restuarants for the fear of nut allergies in our family so this book has allowed us to enjoy Asian cooking at home. We highly recommend this book for beginners and even the well-seasoned home cooks alike.