The Asian diet has long been touted as one of the most healthful in the world, and in this new collection, Ying Chang Compestine skillfully incorporates key ingredients that are the hallmark of the Asian food pyramid. These foods not only enhance flavor but also promote health.
From ginseng and soy to garlic and green tea, home cooks can create colorful and creative meals that pack a powerful health benefit.
A leading national authority on culture and cuisine, award-winning author, and former food editor for Martha Stewart's Whole Living magazine, Ying Chang Compestine has written 27 books across multiple genres, including picture books, YA novels, and healthy adult cookbooks. She has hosted cooking shows, worked as a food editor for Martha Stewart’s Body+Soul, and was a spokesperson for Nestle Maggi and Celestial Seasonings.
Her novel "Revolution is Not a Dinner Party" and her memoir "Growing Up Under a Red Flag" recount her childhood during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. These works have received awards globally and high praise from prestigious media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly. Her novel "A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts" is currently being adapted into an animated TV series.
Named one of the "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" by The Author's Show, her books have sold worldwide in multiple languages. Endorsed by Dr. Andrew Weil, her cookbook "Cooking with an Asian Accent" has been described as “a contemporary new cuisine.”
Ying believes food can be both healthy and delicious and that healthy eating is the key to a long, happy life. By integrating her background into her recipe creation, she features the three most critical Asian principles of food in her dishes: satisfaction of the senses, yin-yang balance, and medicinal properties.
In addition to writing, Ying has been a sought-after keynote speaker for high-end cruise ships, private jets, and resorts, including The World Residences at Sea, Crystal, Silver Sea, Viking, TCS World Travel, and Canyon Ranch. Ying is also frequently invited to speak at schools and conferences worldwide to share her journey as a writer—how her life in Wuhan, China, inspired her work—and to promote healthy eating and living. Her website is www.yingc.com
I loved this cookbook! I loved the writing style, the history, the cultural perspective (what part of the fish to serve the guest of honor- well, the head, and eyes, of course) and the focus on health. Not just healthfully prepared foods, but the author discusses "yin" and "yang" foods, herbs, and provides a lot of innformation about cooking with green tea, ginger, and ginseng. The book also gives guidance about where to purchase and how to choose quality ingredients (I know I wouldn't know where to find, or how to pick out a good ginseng root). It's a great book.
Sadly, there are not many recipes in this book I can eat... yet... but I learned a lot about Asian healing foods and look forward to when I can try some of the recipes.