The best Cantonese cookbook allows you to taste the special flavors of southern China.
An especially important point you should know: Cantonese recipes are very different from Sichuan recipes because chili peppers are rarely used.
Without further ado, let's take a look at these Cantonese cookbooks:
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks…
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Best Cantonese Cookbook
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It is not only a classic and authentic Cantonese cookbook, but also deeply integrates Chinese culture in it.
And when you read The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen, you will feel the power of healing.
In these 150 Cantonese recipes, the author guides you from simple dishes to complex recipes. And there are ways to make healthy and delicious soups. Soup in Cantonese cuisine has a unique place in Chinese cooking.
Example Recipes:
- Shark's Fin Soup
- West Lake Duck
- Savory Rice Tamales
- Shrimp Dumplings
- Water Chestnut Cake
- Sesame Balls
In each recipe, there are detailed ingredient instructions and cooking steps. The author will also tell some tips based on her cooking experience. If you are a beginner of Cantonese cuisine, this is for you.
The features of this book are:
First up are those healthy soups that will nourish your body in every season. Because these soup recipes contain ginseng, ginkgo nuts, dong quai, etc.
If your own body or your family's body is relatively weak, you can try the soup recipes here.
In addition, the book also provides a glossary of spices and agricultural products, which is very useful in the process of purchasing ingredients and cooking.
What We Like
- The Cantonese recipes inside are very detailed and easy to understand.
- Soup recipes are good for your body
- Can have a deep understanding of Chinese culture
What We Don’t Like
- Seasoned chefs may find some of the introductions in the book too basic
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This classic "Bible" Chinese cookbook was first published in 1977. It has been almost 50 years.
It doesn't have as many gorgeous pictures as some of the cookbooks out there today, just some simple illustrations. But it has the heart of a recipe: a particularly thorough explanation of a recipe.
Among the 300+ recipes, many are Cantonese recipes. It's powerful and there are so many recipes that you can make different delicious meals every day.
The author has explained the subtleties of each recipe, which can make the final cooking taste more authentic. You will find a lot of unexpected recipes that may not be found in some Chinese restaurants today.
The cooking techniques and ingredient descriptions in the recipes are more than enough to take you from a cooking novice to a very experienced one. You will learn how to use a knife, how to steam, fry and stew.
What We Like
- Focus on the core of cooking, the recipe explanation is very thorough
- Recipes are very extensive
- Recipe is classic
What We Don’t Like
- Missing pretty recipe pictures
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It is also a very collectible cookbook and contains authentic Cantonese cuisine.
It sells for as much as $100-$250 on book buying sites like AbeBooks. But you can get this best Cantonese cookbook for a lower price on Amazon.
The Chinese Village Cookbook was published in 1975, and the entire book is shorter. However, the content is some core Cantonese cooking techniques and recipes.
Example Recipes:
- Jook
- Steamed Minced Pork with Water Chestnuts
- Steamed Eggs
- Parchment Chicken
- Fuzzy Melon Soup
- Winter Melon Soup
- Steamed Spareribs in Black Bean Sauce
- Lo Han Jai
If you are familiar with Cantonese food, then you will understand that the above recipes are all authentic Cantonese food recipes.
The only downside to this book is that the pictures are black and white and lack images of the finished dish. But it's also understandable that this was the best cookbook out there over 40 years ago.
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The New Cantonese Cooking cookbook was published in 1988. There are recipes from every aspect of Cantonese cuisine.
Includes simple noodles, vegetables, rice. As well as fish, seafood, poultry, meat, etc. And of course some delicious sauce recipes.
Whether it's authentic Cantonese home-cooked dishes or Cantonese restaurant dishes, you can find them all in this book.
Each recipe is concise, with ingredient instructions, cooking tools, and more.
Where this Cantonese cookbook falls short is the lack of pictures of the dishes. And some dishes have some Chinese characters in addition to English, but you can solve it through Google Translate.
5. The Little Cantonese Cookbook
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You may find that the four Cantonese cookbooks mentioned above are relatively old (but the recipes are all authentic).
Because there are quite a lot of cookbooks on Chinese cuisine on the market, but in recent years there are relatively few books that focus entirely on Cantonese cuisine.
The latest good Cantonese cookbook is The Little Cantonese Cookbook.
In these 42 Cantonese dishes, there are classic southern Chinese delicacies as well as nutritious soups.
Example Recipes:
- Sweetand Sour Pork Fillet
- Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Beans
- One-pot Chicken
- Lap Cheong Rice
- Watercress, Carrot and Pork Soup
- Chicken Feet Withlotus Root Soup
The recipes in the book are easy to follow, and the author adds her own cooking tips to help make cooking easier.
However, some of the ingredients in the book may be harder to find if you don't have an Asian supermarket near you.
How to Choose the Best Cantonese Cookbook
Recipes
It should be noted that there are relatively few cookbooks dedicated to Cantonese cuisine.
Although there are many Chinese cookbooks, there may be only a few chapters on Cantonese cuisine. This requires special attention.
Afterwards check that the recipe includes ingredients, cooking steps, and pictures of the finished dish.
Illustrations and Photos
Illustrations and pictures can sometimes help you enjoy cooking Cantonese more. This is also an important part when buying.
But remember: some older cookbooks do have fewer pictures.
Author
If the author's ancestry is from southern China or Cantonese, and has experience in Cantonese cooking, that is the best.
Extra Content
In addition to introducing Cantonese recipes, is there anything else in the book: such as Cantonese culture, recipe index and so on.
Cantonese Cookbook FAQ
What Are the best Cantonese Dishes?
The most authentic Cantonese dishes are as follows:
- Char Siu Recipe
- Shrimp Dumplings
- Rice Rolls
- Steamed Pork Buns
- Chicken Giblets
- Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs
What is Cantonese Cooking Style?
There are as many as 21 cooking methods in Cantonese cuisine, especially steaming, frying, frying, baking, braising, frying, potting, stewing, etc.
The dishes made pay attention to color, aroma, taste and shape. The taste is mainly clear, fresh, tender and cool.
And it changes with the seasons. Light diet in summer and autumn. Winter and spring are more intense.
Cantonese Cuisine History
Cantonese cuisine has a long history, and its origin can be traced back to the early Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. After more than 2,000 years of development, it has gradually matured in the late Qing Dynasty.
Guangdong is particularly rich in products, which can be easily obtained. Cooking and eating them has cultivated a preference for fresh and vigorous eating habits.
In the past 100 years, it has become one of the most representative food cultures in China and the most influential in the world.
Conclusion
In this list of the best Cantonese cookbooks, there are many different Cantonese recipes for you to choose from.
And our final pick for the best Cantonese cookbook is: The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen: Classic Family Recipes for Celebration and Healing.
Because this book focuses on authentic Cantonese cuisine, and each recipe has some detailed ingredients, making steps.
The last part of the cookbook also includes a glossary section to help readers.
Hurry up and get a Cantonese cookbook that suits you, and make delicious Cantonese food!
