The Chinese Way

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Explore the eight powerful techniques that unlock a flexible, modern approach to Chinese cooking with this collection of inspired recipes, from the award-winning author of My Shanghai

Betty Liu cooks Chinese all the time—but this doesn’t mean she makes the same food her great-grandparents did. In her kitchen, the wok sits next to a Dutch oven, and the soy sauce in her pantry lives alongside tomato paste and harissa.

The key to great Chinese cooking lies not in strict “authentic” recipes and ingredients, but in adaptable techniques. The Chinese Way teaches eight key methods that anyone can use to unlock their cooking: first, how to master heat (Steam, Fry, Boil, and Braise) and then, how to create irresistible flavor combinations (Sauce, Infuse, Pickle, and Wrap).

In each chapter, Betty boils down the basics in classic dishes like Mapo Tofu and White-Cut Pork Belly. Then, she brings those techniques to the modern kitchen, with local produce and global flavors. The result? Dishes such as Scallion Oil Smashed Potatoes, Harissa Glazed Torn Tofu, Braised Cabbage and Chorizo, Dashi Steamed Mushrooms, and Tomato-Bacon Sticky Rice.

One core technique at a time, Betty shows how to become a better cook—whether you’re stir-frying cauliflower or adding preserved lemon to broccoli for extra zing.

Betty’s food is not traditional—but it is Chinese. And you can cook that way, too.Betty Liu is an acclaimed cookbook author, photographer, and doctor completing her surgical residency. An avid home cook who writes about Chinese home cooking on her award-winning blog, she published her debut book, My Shanghai, in 2021, and it was named one of the best cookbooks of the year. Her writing, photography, and recipes have been featured by Bon Appétit, Epicurious, and The New York Times. She lives in Boston with her husband, son, and dog.“The Chinese Way is an important cookbook—it demystifies Chinese cooking, debunking long-held myths that the cuisine is foreign or difficult to cook. Betty Liu puts classic Chinese techniques on a pedestal and makes them available to everyone, all while presenting us with a set of highly craveable recipes that I’ll want to cook again and again.”—Hetty Lui McKinnon, food writer and cookbook author“In The Chinese Way, Betty Liu showcases a familiar mode of cooking in our family—applying Chinese techniques and a search for vibrantly varied textures and flavors to both traditional and non-traditional ingredients. Her inventive recipes show us that ‘cooking Chinese’ is an ethos that any home cook can learn. This book is a joy to read and cook from!”—Kaitlin, Sarah, Bill, and Judy Leung, New York Times bestselling authors of The Woks of Life“Like Betty Liu’s first cookbook, the remarkable My Shanghai, this book is a treasure. The photographs are beautiful, the recipes are seductive, Betty’s instructions are crystalline, and there’s something to love, learn and savor on each page. The Chinese Way teaches us traditional methods of cooking, gives us enticing recipes both classic and new, and then sets us free to use each lesson in our own kitchens in our own way. It’s a brilliant way to teach and a delicious way to learn.”—Dorie Greenspan, New York Times bestselling author of Baking with Dorie“Betty Liu’s clever new cookbook is Chinese cooking gone wild! She first teaches the traditional recipes and then shows the fun and delicious variations you can create when you understand the basics. Once you cook recipes like Sriracha Shrimp Toast, Sesame Cumin Fried Chicken, or Garlicky Radicchio and Pork Stir-Fry, this way of thinking about Chinese culinary techniques will inspire your own creativity!”—Grace Young, author of Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge“The Chinese Way is destined to be one of my most used cookbooks—I cannot stop cooking from it! Betty takes Chinese cooking fundamentals and effortlessly applies them into everyday dishes that are approachable, familiar, and inspired. Stunning photography and whimsically informative illustrations make every page of this book worthy of exploration. It’s a joyful homage to everyday Chinese cooking.”—Alana Kysar, author of the bestselling cookbook Aloha Kitchen

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