What is Wok Hei? Meaning, Definition and How to Get Wok Hei at Home

A chef cooking over a very high heat to give a wok hei touch to the food cooking in the wok.

Wok hei is the smoky, singed quality that gives a good stir-fry its edge. The term comes from Cantonese and is often translated as “breath of the wok.” It’s tied to very high heat, fast movement and the way oil, sauce and food hit the metal during cooking. If you’ve ever wondered why restaurant fried […]