The Choi of Cooking

The New York Times bestselling author of L.A. Son, founder of the Kogi food truck, and star of Netflix's The Chef Show shares 100 flavor-packed recipes that empower readers to redefine what healthy looks like on their own terms

The Choi of Cooking is Roy Choi’s magnum opus, a decades-long culmination of cooking combined with his early experiences seeking a more balanced approach to eating. When Choi realized that falling victim to his greasy cravings was not sustainable, he began to eat more nutritious foods—but he did it his way, to build a more sustainable, realistic lifestyle not based on extreme dieting or deprivation. Built on a foundation of balance and compassion, The Choi of Cooking reflects his personal journey of cooking, living, and learning from mistakes. This equates to vegetable-forward recipes with pit stops of comfort along the way and tons of flavors layered in each bite. 

The Choi of Cooking focuses on cooking foods that fuel your body, and Choi meets readers wherever they are, recognizing that eating healthy isn’t all or nothing. He makes vegetables the star of the meal with Calabrian Chile Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Harissa and Garlic Herbed Butter and creates comforting vegetable-heavy rice and noodle bowls like Cold Bibim Noodle “Salad” and Veggie on the Lo Mein Spaghetti. Since this book is about taking steps, not leaps, there’s also plenty of inspiration for when you’re craving something indulgent, like a Kimchi Philly Cheesesteak, but with "Power Up" modifications to make it healthier when you're ready. Recipes abound with even more flexible guidance to meet readers where they are on their cooking journey: "Get In Where You Fit In" shows you how to customize the dish to whatever you have on hand, "Sweatpants Version" offers smart shortcuts, and "Bonus Round" presents ideas to transform leftovers into totally new dishes. 

Reaching for healthier foods is like flexing a muscle, and the work begins with having the confidence to cook at all. To empower readers to take those first steps in the kitchen, Choi shares his cooking philosophy, including bits of wisdom and narrative essays that expand on his approach to food. The Choi of Cooking is more than a collection of recipes; it’s a guide to creating a more balanced life through cooking.