Simple Chinese Cooking (Hardcover)

by Kylie Kwong (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A companion to her second Australian television series, this appetizing and beautifully illustrated collection will earn Kwong a large American following. Seeking to demystify Chinese cooking for the uninitiated, she allocates ample space to the basics: equipment, ingredients and techniques along with recipes for tasty yet simple dishes. The well-known Sweet and Sour Pork is balanced by the less familiar Sung Choi Bao of Pork, providing treasures for both those learning about the cuisine and those who are looking for more diversity. Kwong offers a comprehensive look at all aspects of Chinese offerings—from stocks, soups and rice to meats, poultry and tofu. Soy Sauce Chicken is not to be missed, and neither is Crispy King Prawns with Honey and Garlic Sauce. Sections on Salads, Wontons and Pickles are an added bonus, highlighting such gems as Pickled Asparagus and Mint Salad and Button Mushroom Salad. Kwong also provides tips on menu planning, saving time, food for kids and what to drink with Chinese food. Highly recommended for all fans of Chinese food, this collection is a welcome addition to a crowded field. 150 full-color photos. (Feb.)
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Review
A Martha in the making . . . Down Under’s homemaking heartthrob. -- Time magazine

This is an incredible book and it will change the way you cook forever. Kylie is an absolute inspiration! -- Jamie Oliver

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Studio (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670038482
• ISBN-13: 978-0670038480
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,081 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The recipes truly are simple!, June 28, 2007

By	E. Cho "echomyst" (Petaluma, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Aptly titled, Simple Chinese Cooking is indeed filled with very simple recipes.

So far, every single dish I have tried have been a hit with my non-Chinese in-laws. I myself am Chinese and have grown up eating home-cooked Chinese food... I must say that most of the recipes are pretty authentic.

Like someone else who'd posted a review before me, I'd made minor adjustments to the recipes, such as cutting out the peanut oil and reducing the amount of other oils.

The ingredients are all very easy to find, which is good because I no longer live close to large Asian supermarkets.

The photos are all very beautiful and colourful.

My only "complaint" is that many of the sauces and ingredients are recycled throughout the book, but it's not a major drawback as it shows how versatile some key ingredients are.

Overall, a great book to boost one's confidence in cooking home-style Chinese food.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars User friendly and great recipies, July 6, 2007

By	Ivan W. Ong (Charlotte, North Carolina United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book to be very well written indeed. As a Chinese I am pretty fussy about Chinese food and I find myself very happy with Kylie's recipes and approach. The stress on fresh ingredients and fresh preparation is the cornerstone to great tasting Asian food, and Kylie imposes that discipline throughout the book. You might want to experiment with sauce proportions- some might want to tweak degree of saltiness and taste. Remember, Chinese food ingredients do not scale up or down linearly, so you need to experiment when scaling up or down a meal. For American readers, you will notice differences in naming cuts of meats and some ingredients- not a big deal, just look it up on the internet. On the whole, a great book and it will continually be a useful reference for me.

Jan 16 2009 Update: Still using it and loving it! We've tried many recipes and have our favorites.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars three out of three winners, February 23, 2007

By	Susan W. Shepard (Redwood City, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The three recipes I have made so far have been great hits. Have had to make some minor adjustments ( such as not using heated peanut oil over a finished dish) because of dietary concerns but these adjustments have not made a major change in the over all "deliciousness" of what I have tried.

I have an extensive collection of Chinese cookbooks and this one looks as if it will become a favorite...easy to follow recipes and easy to find ingredients.