Chinese Homestyle Cookbook
Enjoy the bold flavors of Chinese food with 90 accessible plant-based recipes for the Western cook and kitchen. No wok required!
Everyday Plant-Based Recipes for Takeout, Dim Sum, Noodles & More
With her popular blog, Omnivore’s Cookbook, Maggie Zhu is the go-to person for traditional Chinese recipes designed for the Western home cook, and over the past few years, she has been incorporating more plant-based cooking into her diet. In Chinese Homestyle, Maggie shares a wide range of foolproof vegan recipes that pack all the flavor and none of the meat.
Building on a foundation of plant-based and vegetable-forward dishes found in Chinese cuisine, these umami-rich recipes are inspired by the comforting, everyday dishes Maggie grew up eating in northern China and discovered in her travels throughout the country, along with takeout favorites she became familiar with after moving to the United States.
Made with fresh ingredients and minimal oil and sugar, the salads, soups, stir-fries, braises, dumplings, and more are not only delicious, but also demonstrate the impact of aromatics, the benefits of using homemade sauces and condiments, how to cook tofu for maximum flavor and texture, and versatile cooking techniques, and include:
- Homemade Sauces and Condiments
- Appetizers and Salads
- Favorite Takeout
- Dim Sum
- Noodles and Soups
- Tofu, Tempeh, and Seitan
- Hearty Seasonal Mains
- Easy Seasonal Sides
- Sweet Treats
Complete with step-by-step instructions, stunning photos, and information for stocking your Chinese pantry, Chinese Homestyle will soon have you enjoying this exciting cuisine right in your own home.
Praise for Chinese Homestyle Cookbook
Maggie’s cookbook became my go-to for adding plant-forward dishes for my family who enjoy authentic Chinese food from dim sum to takeout classics. It’s absolute fun to discover new ways to cook our favorite dishes. Packed with ingenious tips, this colorful book is for everyone, even the most advanced home cooks!
Nami Chen, Just One Cookbook
Maggie’s stunning photos make every dish look mouth-watering and comforting. I love the mix of familiar and new-to-me dishes.
Diane Jacob, Will Write For Food
This is a wonderful new book, I obtained as a digital review copy, the plant-based focus is unique and up my alley, I love the recipes and plan to try several, not hard ingredients to find in grocery story, thank you!
Mary
Why a Plant-Based Cookbook from ‘Omnivore’s Cookbook’?
Over the years, I’ve shifted toward vegetable-heavy meals, after my husband went plant-based. I discovered a lot of hidden gems dining at vegan Chinese restaurants and have been experimenting with the ingredients at home, so I can create something we both enjoy. During lockdown, cooking homestyle Chinese dishes reconnected me with my roots and kept my body healthy through the difficult times.
This cookbook focuses on home-style cooking, dishes I grew up eating—plant-based, balanced, hearty, and nourishing. Some of them I converted to plant-based using fun, easy-to-find products from Asian markets or online. These amazing plant-based dishes are go beyond average salads and roasted vegetables, staying true to authentic Chinese tastes.
Creating this book while moving and managing my blog has been a wild ride. Writing something in print—where I can’t just hit “edit”—is nerve-wracking, but here it is: my first printed book, ready for you to hold.
About the Author
Maggie Zhu started her website, Omnivore’s Cookbook, in 2013. Born and raised in Beijing, she moved to Austin, Texas, in 2015. Now she’s a full-time New York–based blogger, writer, recipe developer, and photographer.
Having grown up with a mother who always did the cooking, Maggie’s culinary adventure started in 2007, when she moved to Japan and needed to cook to survive. Learning and sharing Chinese food has become a way for her to connect with her roots and the rest of the world.
Her mission is to help more people get to know real Chinese food and expose less-known regional cuisines, such as Northern and Xinjiang food, to a broader audience. More importantly, she wants to show you how easy it is to cook with wholesome ingredients to create delicious dishes that are like the ones served in Chinese restaurants.
