Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes

by Sarah Ahn, America's Test Kitchen (editor), Nam Soon Ahn

Learn Korean cooking alongside social media star Sarah Ahn as her umma passes down 100+ family recipes and decades' worth of kitchen wisdom. Sarah Ahn’s viral food videos of her and her mom have captivated millions of viewers with their behind-the-scenes look at Korean cooking and multigenerational home life. This collaboration is now a must-have cookbook blending the emotional intimacy of Crying in H Mart with practical culinary advice from Nam Soon’s lifetime of kitchen experience. The recipes are framed by mother-daughter conversations that are funny, profound, and universally relatable—plus all the food is backed by the recipe-testing power of America’s Test Kitchen. Thorough ingredient Walk through a Korean grocery store with a Korean umma for in-depth guidance on what pantry ingredients and fresh produce and protein to buy. Recipes both traditional and Learn to make everything from simple banchan, a variety of kimchi, and foundational stews to an assortment of yasik (midnight snacks) and inventive desserts. Kitchen wisdom from mother to Shared confidences open a window onto a level of family intimacy rarely seen in cookbooks. The Ahns understand that when generations come together in the kitchen, so much is not only food, but also knowledge, advice, family history, and love.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

384 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Umma and Sarah lead you on a Korean food extravaganza! i love that there are lists of pantry staples to buy and suggestions on where to buy the products needed to produce such delicious meals. I also love that everything is easy to follow, suggested substitutions are made and each step is explained in detail, so that nothing is assumed. Brilliantly written with so much love for Umma. I highly recommend this cookbook.