Recreate the nostalgic Taiwanese and East Asian flavors you've been longing for. Nourishing, umami-rich recipes reimagined for the modern kitchen, paired with cozy cooking videos and detailed ingredient guides that make each dish approachable.
From classic Taiwanese recipes and East Asian comfort foods to cozy meals with a creative or plant-forward twist. Reconnect with the flavors you grew up with or explore them for the first time. Thoughtfully crafted by a chef and registered dietitian. Come cook with me at The Sound of Cooking®!
nostalgic taiwanese recipes
Classic Taiwanese recipes that reflect my Taiwanese heritage and the flavors I grew up with, using ingredients you can find in the States.
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summer recipes: it's lychee & strawberry season~
Every summer, I look forward to lychee season (iykyk). Along with sweet strawberries, crisp cucumbers, juicy watermelon, and more. From Taiwanese shaved ice and refreshing lychee drinks to crunchy cucumber salads, these recipes celebrate some of my favorite flavors of summer.
the best din tai fung cucumber salad copycat recipe you'll find
Every Din Tai Fung (DTF) fan knows the cucumber salad is a must-order. As a chef, I figured out the actual flavor profile so y ou can make the real thing at home. Crisp, cold, subtly savory-sweet with just a whisper of garlic and spice... just like the one served at the famous Taiwanese restaurant.
★★★★★
I have tried several variations of this Din Tai Fung recipe & I was not happy with the results. FINALLY I found this recipe that hits the mark!!!
I've tried it at SOGO mall in Taipei and at the Taipei 101. I'm very pleased with the results in this recipe!!! Yes, there should not be soy sauce or rice wine vinegar. This is great and so easy! Thank you!!!
- Karen
★★★★★
This is the recipe I've been looking for!!!
Every other recipe I find adds rice vinegar and it makes me wonder if those people have ever even tasted this dish! There is no acid in the DTF cucumber salad!
This recipe was perfection.
- Nichole
★★★★★
This is probably the best recipe I've found that is closest flavour-wise to the DTF cucumbers.
I was actually thinking the same thing as you - these recipes all use rice vinegar or soy sauce, but when I dine at DTF, the sauce is usually just sweet and clear, so I don't see where people get the idea of using rice vinegar and soy sauce...
Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!
- Steven
the easiest way to peel lychee
I made this comprehensive lychee chefs guide just for you.
hotpot at home
Easily make hotpot at home just like the restaurants in Taiwan! In these essential guides, I guide you through how to build a cozy spread that you can customize with different cultural influences, plus restaurant-quality, chef-developed and tested Taiwanese, Chinese, and Japanese dipping sauces that are simple to tailor to your own taste preferences.
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cozy east asian soups
Easy and cozy East Asian soup recipes may just be my favorite 'food group.' Growing up, a soup was always on the dining table for family gatherings. From classic Taiwanese soups to other favorites like miso soup, you'll find something that's both nourishing and comforting.
see more cozy east asian soup recipes
cozy east asian weeknight meals
ingredient guides
I crafted these detailed ingredient guides to share everything I know from my culinary training, teaching experience, and Taiwanese background, helping you confidently buy, prep, and cook East Asian vegetables and fruits like daikon, yu choy, lychee, fresh bamboo, and more.
latest cozy cooking video from The Sound of Cooking® channel
Cinematic series of cooking videos that highlight the often-overlooked sounds of cooking, storytelling, and professionally developed, tested recipes. This is the first episode of a new series called Letters to George, inspired by my late dad, who was a chef.
It's a collection of cozy cooking vlogs where I reimagine the recipes he never got to teach me, while sharing the things I never had the chance to tell him - like writing letters through food.
Each episode is a food memoir in motion, blending recipes and reflections into something intimate and heartfelt. As I revisit these nostalgic dishes, I'm learning along the way too - exploring new-to-me techniques, tweaking flavors, and sharing the discoveries I make in the process.
Hello! I'm Cindy Chou, RDN (周昀)
I'm a Taiwanese American chef with 22+ years of professional cooking experience and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (but you won't find any restrictive diet talk here!). As a chef instructor, I help East Asian food lovers recreate the nostalgic flavors you love right in your home kitchen. And, I'm on a journey to recreate and reimagine the recipes my late chef dad never got to teach me.
I'm also a hotpot enthusiast and love to cook Taiwanese and other Asian cuisine-inspired dishes. Join me for nourishing Taiwanese and East Asian recipes, pro cooking tips, and cozy cooking videos to help you slow down and create lasting food memories.
reader favorites & trending recipes
These are the recipes readers return to again and again, ones that have sparked memories of time spent with loved ones in the kitchen, or helped them recreate a popular dish at home that once felt intimidating.
east asian comfort foods
East Asian recipes that draw from the natural connections between Taiwanese food and regional Chinese cuisines, Japanese dishes, and broader East Asian foods.
