Most of us think that a wok is only good for stir-frying Asian food. But a wok is an underrated kitchen tool that can be used for a lot of cooking techniques. One can use it to braise, steam, and even poach food.
But it is in stir-frying that a wok really shows its value. That’s because the wok technique imparts a lot of great flavor into the dish. Chinese culinary experts call this the “wok hei”, a savory and fragrant essence that results from the caramelization and Maillard reactions that come with quickly charring and searing the food in the wok.
Expert wok chefs know how to carefully modulate the heat to control the level of hei. Luckily for us, we don’t have to take a trip to China in order to learn from the masters. There are many wok cookbooks now that teach us this skill right in the comfort of our own kitchens.
Wok cookbooks vary in terms of their recipe selections. Some may focus on authentic Chinese recipes, others feature more modern fusion ones. Some will also feature standard American comfort food recipes to showcase the wok’s versatility.
An indispensable cookbook, however, will feature more than just recipes. It will also have instructions for the proper use and maintenance of the wok. Some will even help you with choosing and buying the right wok for your needs.
In this selection, I’ve picked the best ones that will fit every possible need for a wok cookbook. Whether you’re looking for some quick or gourmet recipes, or just looking to master the wok cooking techniques, here are the books that should be on your reading list.
Here are my top 10 wok cookbooks on Amazon.
Best Wok Cookbooks
- The Breath of a Wok: Breath of a Wok Hardcover
- Wok Cooking Made Easy: Delicious Meals in Minutes [Wok Cookbook, Over 60 Recipes]
- Easy 30-Minute Stir-Fry Cookbook: 100 Asian Recipes for your Wok or Skillet Paperback
- Essential Wok Cookbook: A Simple Chinese Cookbook for Stir-Fry, Dim Sum, and Other Restaurant Favorites Paperback – Illustrated
- The Everyday Wok Cookbook: Simple and Satisfying Recipes for the Most Versatile Pan in Your Kitchen Paperback – Illustrated
- The Essential Wok Cookbook (Cookery) Paperback – Import
- Wok Stories: The Finest Cuisines from China Paperback
- The Healthy Wok Chinese Cookbook: Fresh Recipes to Sizzle, Steam, and Stir-Fry Restaurant Favorites at Home Paperback
- Wok On: Deliciously balanced meals in 30 minutes or less Hardcover
- Wok Fast (Fast Books) Paperback
1. The Breath of a Wok: Breath of a Wok Hardcover
This is a cookbook that teaches you how to use a wok as a multipurpose tool in the kitchen. From braising and steaming to deep-frying and stir-frying to boiling and poaching, this “wokbook” will enable anyone to easily create “wok hei”- the unique flavor achieved by skilled wok culinary artisans.
There are 125 recipes here, gathered from mainland China, Hong Kong, and the United States. The selection includes familiar favorites like Kung Pao Chicken and Moo Shoo Pork and sophisticated ones like Sizzling Pepper and Salt Shrimp, Three Teacup Chicken, and Scallion and Ginger Lo Mein.
Recipes are grouped according to cooking style and are relatively easy to follow but because some of them were collected from the authors' travels to China, some of their ingredients may be hard to source in local stores. Not all recipes come with photos of the food. Those who’ve tried the recipes though have found them delicious and reliable.
Recommended for cooks with basic cooking skills who are looking for an entry level book on wok cuisine.
2. Wok Cooking Made Easy: Delicious Meals in Minutes [Wok Cookbook, Over 60 Recipes] Spiral-bound
This cookbook features wok recipes developed by different chefs all over Asia. There are Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Thai, and Vietnamese recipes that are easy to do in a modern American kitchen.
Recipes are light, healthy, and flavorful. Samples of the selection include Spinach with Garlic Stir-Fry, Hot and Spicy Sichuan Tofu, Sliced Fish with Mushrooms and Ginger, Classic Sichuan Chicken with Dried Chilies, Thai Fried Rice, and Five Spice Chicken.
Each recipe is laid out on its own page with a color photograph of the meal on the opposite side. The recipes have step-by-step instructions and some include ancillary notes. Prepping and cooking times are generally 30 minutes and less.
However, this isn’t a book for teaching newbies how to use a wok. It’s about teaching cooks how to combine the right ingredients in your wok recipes so that one gets that authentic wok flavor. Readers who’ve tried the recipes found them very flavorful.
Recommended for anyone looking for quick and easy Asian wok recipes to expand their repertoire.
3. Easy 30-Minute Stir-Fry Cookbook: 100 Asian Recipes for your Wok or Skillet Paperback
This is a practical stir-fry cookbook that features Asian recipes that can be done in a wok or a skillet. It includes a cook time cheat sheet for essential ingredients such as meat, seafood, tofu, and rice. There are also tips for seasoning and maintaining the wok, as well as recommendations on what kitchen staples to stock.
Recipes are easy to understand and follow. They also have quick prepping and cooking times, with ingredients that are easily available in local stores. Not every recipe, however, has a featured photo of the dish. Samples of the selection include Curried Shrimp, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Thai Basil Pork.
Readers will like how the book teaches them to recreate flavor bases specific to each Asian country. They’ll also like that it comes with step-by-step instructions to cooking brown, white, and sticky rice.
Recommended for casual and beginner home cooks.
4. Essential Wok Cookbook: A Simple Chinese Cookbook for Stir-Fry, Dim Sum, and Other Restaurant Favorites Paperback – Illustrated
This is a cookbook of Chinese American takeout cuisine that includes favorites like Egg Drop Soup, Moo Shu, General Tsao's Chicken, Easy Vegetable Stir-Fry, Lighter Egg Foo Young, and Sweet Chili Shrimp. It also provides instructions for selecting, seasoning, and caring for your wok, as well as a brief look into its culinary history.
Recipes are easy to follow, with step-by-step directions and illustrations. There are tips for swapping ingredients, making a dish more healthy or spicier. They are also labeled according to time (30 minutes or less) and budget (under $10).
Readers found this an entry-level cookbook suitable for beginners. Another liked that the simplicity of its recipes. Those who’ve tried the recipes said that they taste good.
Recommended for home cooks looking for easy Chinese take-out recipes.
5. The Everyday Wok Cookbook: Simple and Satisfying Recipes for the Most Versatile Pan in Your Kitchen Paperback – Illustrated
This cookbook shows you how to cook American favorites like Spaghetti and Meatballs, French Toast, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Pulled Pork Sandwiches using a wok. But it also includes familiar Chinese dishes like Kung Pao Chicken, Shrimp and Egg Fried Rice, Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli, and Chicken Chow Mein.
There are 60 recipes here that can easily be prepared for weeknight meals. Some will require ingredients that may be hard to find or expensive. There are also illustrations and photos for easy reference. Instructions are detailed and long, which might scare off a stir-fry newbie.
Readers who tried the recipes found them delicious and reliable but are not simple and quick for everyday cooking. One found the book’s technical information useful though. Another said that the recipes were easy to modify to suit vegetarian diets.
Recommended for experienced home cooks and those who know how to handle a wok.
6. The Essential Wok Cookbook (Cookery) Paperback – Import
This is a practical primer on wok cooking that gathers stir-fried recipes from all over Asia while also showing the fundamentals of wok cuisine, from techniques to seasoning and maintaining a wok.
Recipes may look initially challenging but readers say that the instructions are foolproof and will help one avoid the common mistakes in wok cuisine. Some recipes may require more ethnic ingredients that may be hard to source but they can be easily modified by using whatever ingredients are available. Every recipe also has a beautiful photo of the dish to inspire the reader.
Recommended for stir-fry enthusiasts, beginners, and intermediate home cooks.
7. Wok Stories: The Finest Cuisines from China Paperback
There are only 30 recipes in this cookbook but these are authentic Chinese recipes that can easily become go-to dishes for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Recipes tend to be fancy but they use basic ingredients and have simple steps so that anyone can easily replicate them in the kitchen. Those who’ve read the book were satisfied with the quality of the recipes. Another found it a good addition for anyone looking for authentic Chinese stir-fry dishes.
Recommended for wok recipe collectors.
8. The Healthy Wok Chinese Cookbook: Fresh Recipes to Sizzle, Steam, and Stir-Fry Restaurant Favorites at Home Paperback
This cookbook features healthy wok recipes that use lower sodium and sugar, lean meat, fresh produce, healthy cooking oils, and no MSG. It also includes a complete walk-through on the basics of wok cuisine.
There are 88 recipes in the selection that start from basic ones and then moving on to typical Chinese take-out dishes. They’re easy to follow, using familiar ingredients, with recommendations for substitutions and variations. There are also colorful illustrations. Samples of the recipes include Orange Chicken and Honey-Walnut Shrimp, Yangzhou Fried Rice, Beef and Broccolli, and Steamed Egg with Ground Pork.
Readers who’ve tried the recipes found them reliable and full of flavor. Another liked that they can easily be modified to suit various dietary preferences. One found the recipes to be restaurant quality Chinese food.
Recommended for wok users and anyone looking for healthy versions of Chinese take-out favorites.
9. Wok On: Deliciously balanced meals in 30 minutes or less Hardcover
This is a modern collection of quick wok recipes from Asian countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam that are easy to do for everyday meals.
Recipes are vegan/vegetarian-friendly and can easily be modified for those with gluten and dairy allergies. There is an emphasis on using fresh produce and ingredients that are available in local stores. The dishes range from dumpling and curries to stir-fries and use a variety of wok techniques like steam frying, flash-frying, braising, and stir-frying.
Readers found it a well-written cookbook with a tasty selection of authentic Asian dishes. Some of the recipes though will use ethnic ingredients that might only be available in online stores. Experienced cooks, however, will be able to find substitutes.
Recommended for intermediate to expert wok cooks and anyone looking for modern Asian recipes.
10. Wok Fast (Fast Books) Paperback
This cookbook gives you all the guidelines to be able to make a great stir-fry dish quickly on a busy weeknight. It emphasizes short ingredient lists and make-ahead tips for sauces that can be mixed and matched with a variety of ingredients.
Recipes are arranged by main ingredients from veggies to seafood to noodles. They’re easy to follow with short prep and cooking times. They also include a lot of step-by-step photos for easy reference. Samples of the selection include Blackened Shrimp with Tangerine Garlic Essence, Crunchy Celery Chicken with Peanut Glaze, Baby Bok Choy in Spicy Garlic Sauce, and Cantonese Wild Mushroom Pasta.
Readers found its collection of marinades and sauces to be useful for creating flavor variations of the stir-fried dishes. One found it a helpful guide for identifying the best quality brands of Asian ingredients to look out for in stores. Another liked that how it simplifies Asian dishes by featuring easy instructions for mixing and matching ingredients and sauces.
Recommended for wok users of all skill levels and anyone looking for quick , fancy Asian recipes.
Top Pick
THE BREATH OF A WOK by Grace Young, Alan Richardson
This is a comprehensive reference cookbook that teaches anyone how to use a wok to cook authentic Chinese dishes using a variety of techniques on an American stove.
The critical principles of stir-frying and how they come all together to provide the flavorful “wok hei” are clearly explained so that once mastered, anyone can easily experiment with a variety of stir-fried recipes.
It is user-friendly; there are sections for choosing and caring for a wok. It also has menus for family-style meals and special occasions. There’s also an illustrated glossary and a source guide for purchasing ingredient staples and wok accessories.
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