Archive for the 'wok' Category
May 6th, 2010 by admin
So you’re decided to buy a wok – congratulations! There are a few things to keep in mind when you research your purchase, so here are a few tips to get you started.
First of all, you should decide on a material. Cast iron woks are great because they are heavy duty and heat evenly. The downside is that they are the slowest to heat up and cool down. For the authentic wok experience though, I definitely recommend a cast iron wok. Not only that, but your arms will be in great shape after you cook with this thing – like all cast iron cookware, they tend to run on the heavy side!
Another option is a carbon steel wok. If you go this route, I would avoid getting one with a nonstick coating, because they are easily damaged under the high heat that you will be cooking with. Carbon steel woks are nice because they are both durable and lightweight, and the heat dissipates evenly.
I recommend staying away from stainless steel – the temperatures can fluctuate wildly, and you generally need more oil to keep them steady. While stainless steel has its advantages in some cookware, for the type of cooking you’ll be doing it’s best to avoid it altogether. No matter what type of wok you purchase, be sure to research how to properly season it.
You must also make your purchase based on what type of stove you have. If you have an electric range, you might want to consider a wok that has a flat bottom – this way, you can set it down and the heat will remain relatively constant. If you have a gas stove, a round bottom will work just fine. Sometimes you can flip the grate that sits atop the open flame and rest your wok on that, but be sure to test it out before you start cooking – it’s always better to learn these things while the stove is off!
Size also matters – if you’re only cooking for one or two, there’s no need to buy a large 16″ wok that can serve 10 people. It just means more time cleaning, and it’s more of a hassle to cook quickly with such a large wok. Stick with the smallest wok that you can get away with – 12″ is what I use for home cooking, and that suits me just fine.
As with any big purchase, read some reviews before you decide to buy. Mainstream websites like amazon.com offer a wide range of opinions – be sure to read the positive reviews as well as the negative ones so you can effectively contrast the opinions of the authors.
April 13th, 2010 by admin
Beef stir-fry recipes aren’t as popular on blogs and in cookbooks as you would think. I’m not exactly sure why this is, but I suspect it’s because most beef in the United States is sold either as ground beef or as steaks. It’s not easy to stir-fry with ground beef due to the fat, and many prefer steak as a main dish, not cut up and served with other foods.
Chicken and pork are more versatile for a stir fry, but remember that beef, cubed and trimmed of excess fat, can often be substituted for either in most recipes. Don’t overlook this cooking option when deciding what to fix for dinner – in addition, beef can take on the characteristics of the spices you are cooking with much more easily, while also breathing a new flavor into some of your old standby dishes.
April 5th, 2010 by admin
Now is as good a time as any to review the different types of pots and pans you can find in the kitchen. Choosing the right type of pan will make cooking much more fun.
You can think of a wok as simply a frying pan with a large round bottom. The beauty of the wok is it’s simplicity and versatility. The “proper” way to cook with a wok is to cook your meat and vegetables very quickly and at high heat. Because of the rounded bottom, your food doesn’t go flying out of the wok when you stir your food in the wok. In addition, you can add liquids like soy sauce for flavor and make sure that it will cover all of your food.
A frying pan can be used like a wok, but is designed to be set down with a larger surface area over the direct heat of the stove. Foods that do not need to be rapidly turned, or should not be cooked over high heat are more suited to a frying pan.
A saucepan is designed for simmering over a low heat. You should not do any frying in a saucepan, or let food cook without enough liquid. A saucepan is perfect for making a sauce (of course!), or steaming vegetables over.
One of my favorite pieces of cookware is the opposite of the wok – the crock pot! When cooking with a crock pot, you want to add foods that will cook very slowly over several hours. It’s easy to add some lean meat, hearty vegetables, and other root vegetables to make a quick and tasty stew.
March 29th, 2010 by admin
1 lb. beef top round steaks
3 T. cornstarch
1/2 C. beef broth
1/2 C. soy sauce
2 T. sugar
2 T. vegetable or canola oil
2 C. sliced shiitake mushrooms
1/2 head bok choy (also known as chinese cabbage)
1 red pepper (sliced)
1 green onion (sliced)
2 celery stalks (sliced)
Feel free to improvise with this recipe – I don’t usually have fresh bok choy on hand, so consider using a half-head of cabbage (or maybe some fresh basil) instead.
I really like this stir fry recipe because it allows the chef to take a break from cooking – the steps are broken up very distinctly, finally combining all the ingredients at the end.
The first thing you want to do is to slice the steaks into thin strips. You want them thin enough so that they can cook quickly when you throw them in the wok. Remember, handling the meat raises it’s temperature and makes it more difficult to cleanly slice, so consider putting it in the freezer for several minutes before slicing.
Next, mix the cornstarch, broth, soy sauce, and sugar. We’ll use this mixture when we’re almost ready to serve this dish.
Heat 1 T. oil in the wok (high heat). Stir-fry the strips of steak, and set aside.
Add another Tablespoon of oil and allow it to heat up over medium heat. Add all the above vegetables and stir-fry for a couple of minutes, so that they are crisp, yet tender.
Finally, add the broth mixture to the wok. You will need to constantly stir this mixture. When it begins to boil, add the meat and the vegetables. Over time, it will also thicken slightly – if it does not thicken enough for you, don’t be afraid to add more cornstarch. Hopefully your rice is done at the same time – just pile this wonderful main course on top and you’ve got an excellent meal!
March 2nd, 2010 by admin
Bitter melon is not a common food in the west, but here is a recipe for Scallion-Scented Bitter Melon. You essentially want to first blanch the bitter melon (after removing the seeds of course) in boiling water, then fry the scallions in some oil in the heated wok for flavor. Remove the scallions from the wok, then add your seasonings and the bitter melon. Stir fry for a few seconds and enjoy – check out the link for more details on this recipe.
March 1st, 2010 by admin
Interesting post on how to season a wok using pork fat and chinese chives. After purchasing a new wok, you need to season it before cooking with it, and I can’t think of a better way to season a wok.
October 27th, 2009 by admin
Get it? Cake wok? Cakewalk? Oh man, I’m so witty. Anyway, welcome to cakewok, a blog about woks, wok recipes, wok tips, wok reviews, and wok-related puns. If you’re looking for this and more, wok this way!
Well, this is my first post, and I’m excited about this wok blog. Hopefully you’ll find it useful and have as much fun reading it as I will writing it!