Taiwanese Home Cooking I Love Making For Grandma
Here are some Taiwanese Home Cooking dishes I’ve cooked for my Taiwanese grandma, as well as Dom’s, that definitely impressed their Taiwanese taste buds! As my grandparents are getting older, I’ve really enjoyed being the one cooking for them. From quick dinner dishes to lavish Lunar New Year must-haves, I’ve collected some of her most complimented dishes that I’ve had the pleasure of cooking for her. Here are some of my Grandma-Approved Taiwanese dishes that your grandparents might enjoy too!
Cooking Nostalgic Taiwanese Food For Our Grandmas
My grandma is an incredible Taiwanese home cook. Whenever I’m in Taiwan, or when she’s in Canada, I love learning from her and cooking for her. When she’s far from home in Canada, I want her to be able to enjoy those familiar Taiwanese flavors she loves and knows well. Over the years, I’ve learned how to cook some very authentic dishes, from simple homestyle meals to full holiday feasts in a way that actually fits her taste. It’s something I’m genuinely proud of!
Since I got to cook for my grandma this trip back to Taiwan, I decided to share some classic Taiwanese dishes that gets her stamp of approval every single time. If you’re cooking for your Taiwanese grandparents, here are some dishes that are not only comforting and nostalgic for them, but easy to eat and gentle on their stomach. They’re all grandma-approved!
Taiwanese Braised Cabbage 白菜滷
Taiwanese Braised Cabbage 白菜滷 is a vegetarian dish I’ve made again and again, for my grandma when we visit each other. This classic Taiwanese street vendor dish is so incredibly comforting and made super simple with kai dong sauces. Everything is cooked until tender and super easy to chew. The naturally sweet napa cabbage melts in your mouth and absorbs all the savory flavor from Four Season Scallion Sauce and that familiar garlic-shallot aroma from Golden Shallot Oil. It’s rich, but surprisingly still super light. The shiitake mushroom gravy is umami-packed and absolutely amazing with rice!
- 1 large Napa Cabbage chopped separate with stem and green
- 2 tablespoon Four Season Scallion Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Golden Shallot Oil
- 10-15 Shiitake Mushroom sliced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ tsp ground white pepper
- 5 fried tofu sliced
- 1.5 cup dashi stock or mushroom stock.
- Salt to taste
Steamed Chicken with Scallion Ginger Sauce
This Steamed Chicken with Scallion Ginger Sauce is one of the quick homestyle dishes I made for my grandma this trip back to Taiwan. It’s a super simple ways to enjoy the natural flavors of Taiwan’s free-range chicken at the traditional markets. This steamed chicken recipe is one of the light protein dishes I love cooking not just for my grandma, but also as a quick dinner for myself.
- 2 Chicken Thighs
- 1.5 tbsp Four Season Scallion Sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 inch Ginger sliced
- White Pepper to taste
Scallion ginger Sauce
- 3 stalks green onion
- 1.5 tablespoon ginger grated
- salt
- white pepper
- 2-3 tablespoon oil
Tofu Shrimp Ball Stew
This Homemade Tofu Shrimp Ball Stew might be one of my grandma’s favorite thing that I’ve cooked for her. I got so many compliments the last time I made this for her while she visited Canada. With handmade shrimp balls and soft tofu that soaks up all that umami seafood and tomato soup essence, it’s an easy dish to finish a ton of rice with. It’s super easy to eat and highly nutritious, and an hit with all ages, especially kids and aging adults!
Shrimp Balls
- 1.5 lb Shrimp
- 1 tbsp Dashi Powder
- 1 tsp White Pepper
- 1 Egg White
- 2 tsp Corn Starch
Tomato Tofu Soup
- 1 pack silken tofu cubed
- 2 cups Water or dashi stock for tomato broth
- 3 Tomato
- Ketchup for tomato-based broth
Stir Fried Garlic Water Lily 青炒水蓮菜
This Stir Fried Garlic Water Lily is a super simple dishes that lets the main ingredient do all the talking. Water lilt is a unique veggie that’s often found in Taiwan, but not so much in Canada. These super super tender, but slightly crunchy shoots need only a little oil and some garlic to turn it into a tasty veggie dish for a family-style meal. It’s quick, simple, and an easy way to keep grandma happy!
- 200 g Water Lily washed and cut into 2-3 inch length
- 3 cloves of Garlic chopped
- 1.4 tbsp Oil
Taiwanese Braised Cold Dish 滷味拼盤
This Taiwanese Braised Cold Dish is always a dinner party hit! Every time I make it for family from Taiwan, it’s a welcoming, familiar dish that disappears first. Kelp, soft tofu, and boiled eggs are simmered until completely infused with that yummy kai dong scallion-soy braise. It’s light, savory, and an easy-to-eat appetizer without any tiny bones or tough pieces. When Dom’s grandma visited, she definitely enjoyed this cold dish!
- 6 tbsp Four season scallion sauce
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 3 Star Anise
- 2 Bay Leaf
- 3 dried shittake mushroom
- 1 tsp Sichuan Peppercorn
- 1-2 cup Water
Braising Ingredients
- Kelp
- Hard Boiled Egg
- Medium-firm Tofu
Taiwanese Sticky Rice
This Taiwanese Sticky Rice is an authentic traditional Taiwanese dish I learned from my mom and my grandma. Now, I make it for them and for Dom’s family on special occasions. From Lunar New Years to large family dinners, this family recipe is truly a recurring main character. It’s such an important dish for every celebration! It’s a warm, cozy, and authentic bite that will definitely remind your grandparents of home, especially if they’re visiting from Taiwan.
- 3 cups Glutinous Rice soak for 3 hours+
- 400 ml Mushroom Water or Chicken Stock
- 5 pieces Chicken Thigh bite-sized pieces
- 3 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp White Pepper
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1.5 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 4 Shallots sliced
- 1 cup Dehydrated Mushroom soaked in water to rehydrate
- 3 tbsp Dehydrated shrimp rinse clean 2x
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2.5 tbsp Vegetarian Oyster Sauce
Garlic Sweet Potato Leaves
This yummy Garlic Sweet Potato Leaves is another dish I’ve made on my recent trip to Taiwan for my grandma. I’m proud to be cooking dishes with kai dong sauces for her, especially when it really matches her palate. These tender, lightly blanched sweet potatoes leaves are drizzled with a super fragrant garlic sauce made with only 3 ingredients. It’s so simple, but it is definitely grandma-approved!
- 300 g sweet potato leaves tough stems removed
- Water for blanching
Easy Garlic Sauce
- 1½ tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp Everyday Garlic Oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
