Grocery Store Swaps
Grocery Store Swaps is the home cook’s guide to Chinese-inspired cooking with American supermarket ingredients. Here you’ll find realistic substitution guides, pantry-building advice, and shopping strategies that help you get close to the right flavor without driving to three specialty stores.
Can You Eat Skin of Chinese Eggplant? A Simple Kitchen Guide
can you eat skin of chinese eggplant? Yes. Learn how to wash, cook, and enjoy tender eggplant skin in easy wee...
The Only Starter Pantry Most Home Cooks Actually Need
You don’t need a shelf full of Asian sauces to start cooking Chinese-inspired food at home. Maggie Alvarez sha...
Five Smart Substitutes I Actually Use Instead of Sending You to Three Stores
You don’t need to visit three stores to make Chinese-inspired food at home. Former line cook Maggie Alvarez sh...
The Truth About Sesame Oil: Where It Matters and Where It Doesn’t
Sesame oil is one of the most misunderstood ingredients in home Chinese cooking. Former line cook Maggie Alvar...
Fresh Ginger, Frozen Ginger, or Paste? Here’s What I’d Use for What
Fresh ginger, frozen ginger, and ginger paste all have a place in a real home kitchen. Maggie Alvarez explains...
What to Buy at an Asian Market Once—and What You Can Skip for Now
A first trip to an Asian market can be overwhelming. Maggie Alvarez shares the short list of items actually wo...