how to

What is Lotus Root (蓮藕)?

WHAT IS LOTUS ROOT? Lotus root is a rhizome of the lotus plant (蓮藕/莲藕 in Chinese; 蓮根/れんこん or renkon in Japanese). According to Diane Morgan’s Roots (2012), this aquatic plant is native to Asia, the ...

How to Make Shan Tofu (Chickpea Tofu)

Thank you to Bob’s Red Mill for sponsoring this post! Over the years, I’ve received many inquiries about tofu substitutions for people who are allergic to soy. In the back of mind, I’ve thought ...

All About Hachiya Persimmons

Hachiya persimmons are one of my favorite fall fruits. When I was growing up in San Francisco, Mama Lin would buy pounds upon pounds of hachiya persimmons from Chinatown. She would place them inside ...

How to Measure Flour

Written by Lisa Lin & Diann Leo-Omine. Photos & Video by Lisa Lin. As a food blogger, I test my recipes many times. When I first started developing recipes for my blog, I would take a ...

A Guide to Asian Rice Crackers

Asian rice crackers were a staple of my childhood. They are light, not too greasy, and bursting with umami flavor. The range of Asian rice crackers is vast. The list below is merely the tip of the ...

What is Mirin (Japanese Sweet Rice Cooking Wine)?

Written by Lisa Lin & Diann Leo-Omine. Photos by Lisa Lin. Mirin (みりん) is a type of Japanese rice cooking wine that is generally made from fermenting several ingredients together: steamed sweet ...

How To Cook With Lemongrass

VIDEO: WATCH HOW TO PREPARE LEMONGRASS Written by Lisa Lin & Diann Leo-Omine. Photos & Video by Lisa Lin. While I didn’t grow up using lemongrass, it’s an ingredient that I’ve grown to ...

What’s the Difference Between Tamari vs Soy Sauce?

Written by: Lisa Lin & Diann Leo-Omine. Photos by Lisa Lin. Although I grew up using Chinese-style soy sauces, I wasn’t familiar with tamari until I started blogging, when I noticed tamari ...

How to Cook Basmati Rice: Stovetop, Instant Pot & Slow Cooker

Here is a tried-and-true guide on how to cook basmati rice. This basmati rice recipe walks you through the stovetop, Instant Pot, and slow cooker cooking methods. Serve the rice with my paneer tikka ...

How to Season a Wok

Thank you Made In Cookware for sponsoring this post! A wok is essential to Asian cooking. Its unique shape makes it perfect for the tossing motion required in cooking stir fries. Buying the right ...

How to Make Paneer (Easy Step-By-Step Guide)

I fell in love with paneer when I was in college and ate my first saag paneer. It was one of the dishes I ate where I thought that meat wasn't necessary to make the meal more delicious. I loved the ...

How to Make Bubble Tea (Boba Tea, 波霸奶茶/珍珠奶茶)

Bubble tea is one of my favorite things to sip on during the summer. Originating from Taiwan, bubble tea (波霸奶茶/珍珠奶茶) usually consists of sweetened tea with milk and the characteristic chewy tapioca ...