Complete Chinese Cuisine Cookbook

*Complete Chinese Cuisine Cookbook* by Philip Zhai is a highly practical, home-friendly guide designed for both new and experienced cooks. It uses easy‑to‑find ingredients, clear measurements, and straightforward steps to make authentic Chinese cooking achievable at home.The book opens with the history and cultural background of Chinese cuisine, then introduces the **Eight Major Cuisines**—Shandong, Sichuan, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, and Anhui—explaining how geography, climate, and local customs create their distinct flavors. It also covers essential cooking tools like the wok, bamboo steamer, and Chinese chef’s knife, core seasonings including light and dark soy sauce, cooking wine, ginger, garlic, and oyster sauce, as well as fundamental techniques such as high‑heat stir‑frying, steaming, braising, and blanching. Proper ingredient preparation—marinating meat for tenderness, blanching vegetables, and soaking dried ingredients—is emphasized throughout.The recipe section covers a full range of dishes: cold appetizers like garlic cucumber and spicy sliced beef; everyday vegetarian stir‑fries including tomato egg and mild mapo tofu; popular pork, beef, and lamb dishes; flavorful poultry recipes such as Kung Pao chicken and braised duck; fresh seafood including steamed perch and garlic prawns; comforting soups, noodles, fried rice, dumplings; and traditional snacks and desserts.It also includes regional classic dishes, festive and banquet dishes for occasions like Chinese New Year and weddings, plus healthy light meals that are low in oil and salt, easy to digest, and suitable for dieters, seniors, and children.The book ends with five useful appendices: measurement conversions, ingredient substitutions, spice formulas, food storage tips, and common cooking mistake fixes.Rooted in the warmth of daily home cooking, this book combines culinary tradition with modern daily needs, making authentic Chinese food approachable while celebrating its cultural meaning. Read more