Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #249 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-19
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Your Home February 2007
a cutting edge recipe book for the 21st century

Voyager, Feruary, 2007
Innovative chef Ching-He Huang's new cookbook China Modern is set
to show that Chinese cuisine goes much deeper than an aluminium tray.

Synopsis
Modern Chinese food has come a long way from the traditional favourites that we order by rote from our local takeaway. As China opens up to the West as well as the rest of the East, its culinary traditions have evolved to create a new and exciting cuisine that can best be described as fusion. In "China Modern", Ching-He Huang explores these new influences and challenges conventional perceptions of Chinese food. She looks at how dishes have been reinvented, drawing on inspiration from Japan, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Europe. Ching's 'Peking Duck Sushi', for example, fuses a traditional Chinese dish with classic Japanese presentation, while her 'Steamed Seabass with Stir Fried Spring Onions and Chillies' demonstrates the breadth of cooking style in regional China. Healthy eating has also become more important and cooking techniques are moving away from deep-frying to steaming, pan frying, boiling, grilling and even baking! Ching also looks at home cooking from the less well-known provinces in China such as Hunan and Sichuan (most of the food we know as Chinese originated in Hong Kong) as well as how those takeaway favourites should really be cooked.

"China Modern" will trace an exciting culinary journey, one that Ching will show you with warmth, humour and style. This is cutting-edge Chinese at its best.

Customer Reviews

must-have chinese cookbook
Its a reliable indication a cookbooks value and usefulness if its encrusted with splashes and looks as if it has been marinated in soy sauce. My copy of China Modern is rapidly approaching health hazard status. Its up there with my (rather older) Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery and that's praise indeed. If you only bought one chinese cookery book this would be a good one to pick. Indeed the kung pao chicken recipe alone more than repays the cost. My partner now claims this as his signature dish and is only too happy to rush to the kitchen to prepare it. Ching-he's food stands out because it tends to be punchier and more flavoursome than many a standard chinese recipe. Her recipes are accessible and designed to fit in with a modern busy lifestyle and don't require a cupboard full of ingredients. Her enthusiasm and clear instruction style encourage you to to try new recipes. Once you've tried her versions of takeaway food, those sauces and jars from the chinese supermarket (used by many a takeaway) will seem too gloppy and cloying. All in all, currently one of my favourite cook books.

Simple and Tasty
My partner loves this book and like the other reviewers she has tried many of her recipes from her series. You are not asked to buy lots of obscure ingredients that cost a fortune. The great thing about it too is that the food is very healthy. my partner has lost weight eating more asian food. The flavours are great and it is very easy to follow. Can't say fairer than that.

What a treat
I bought this book after seeing Ching on UKTV cooking the chili prawns and chicken peanut salad in a matter of minutes. And yes, it is that easy. Some of the recipes in this book take a bit more work, but many are really quick and simple to prepare. And every one I've tried so far (8 or 9) have been absolutely delicious. Sometimes it's hard to believe that so few ingredients can go into something that tastes so good. To date, I've stuck to the more traditional(ish) Chinese food, but I'm itching to start exploring her Chinese-Asian and Chinese-Western fusions. Inspiring and worth every penny.