StreetSmart Kitchen
Hi! I am Sharon Chen, an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach helping you make healthy meal prep easier than ever with simple sous vide cooking, street-smart cooking tips, and easy recipes.
The steak I've been making on repeat 🥩
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, I've been making this Sous Vide Cumin Steak on repeat lately, and I think it's time to share it. The marinade is four ingredients — lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and ground cumin. Nothing complicated. But when the steak is vacuum-sealed with it and sits in the water bath for an hour, the cumin penetrates all the way through. And then when it hits the hot skillet? It caramelizes. The whole kitchen...
A trip to Key West changed the way I eat corn
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, Last week, I told you about the new kitchen, the glass stove I'm still making peace with, and the rooftop that makes up for all of it. This week I want to talk about corn, something I'm cooking on repeat in my new kitchen. It starts with a trip to Key West — two weeks, four of us, people I loved, the kind of trip that feels like it exists in a separate chapter of life. We rented a convertible and...
A new kitchen, a rooftop, and a recipe I think you'll love
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, It’s been a while — and I know it. The last time I showed up in your inbox was back in March, and a lot has happened since then. I went through a burnout in the spring. And then in May, I moved. A New Home (Smaller, But With a Surprise) Fourth apartment in Hong Kong since I left Austin in 2018. Downsizing is humbling — especially when almost everything in your last place was built-in, and now you’re...
Chicken Fajita Tacos in 30 min (or even faster)
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, As a massive proponent of meal prep, I’m all about meals that feel like a celebration but come together with the kind of ease that fits a Tuesday night. Let's talk about the perfect weeknight taco! Juicy, seasoned chicken. Sweet bell peppers and caramelized onions. A tangy pickled cabbage that adds the freshest crunch. All wrapped in a warm tortilla and ready in 30 minutes. That’s what my new Chicken...
The Best Oxtail Stew of Your Life (Hands-Off!)
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, Oxtail has always intrigued me. Those cross-cut sections promise deep, beefy flavor and soul-satisfying richness, but they also require a lot of patience. Achieving that perfect texture—where the meat surrenders to the spoon but the bone still delivers its deep, gelatinous goodness—traditionally means hours of vigilant braising. It’s a project for a day with nothing else on the calendar. Well,...
Crispy Tofu & Broccoli Stir Fry and Chickpea Salad with Kale
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, How has your new year been so far? Between the whirlwind of Christmas and New Year’s, and with my son's birthday, plus Lunar New Year just around the corner in February, I’ve been craving a little reset—something fresh, satisfying, but totally doable on a busy weeknight. If you’re feeling the same, I’ve got you covered. This month, I’m leaning into two of my favorite plant-powered recipes that are...
Your Answer to "What's for Dessert?"
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, I can't believe it's almost Christmas already...again! I used to view the holiday season as a nutritional minefield. Every party plate felt like a test of willpower, and saying “no thank you” to my mom's legendary sweet fermented rice wine with mini glutinous rice balls felt… well, slightly tragic. As a holistic health coach, I knew there had to be a sweeter way—literally—to celebrate without the...
The Silkiest Pumpkin Purée & 5 Ways to Use It
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, The temperature in Hong Kong finally dropped. I've busted out fuzzy blankets and temporarily stored away my summer clothes. How about you? Can you feel that crispness in the air wherever you are? I’ve fully embraced the pumpkin season in my kitchen, and let me tell you, the results have been nothing short of spectacular. I’m talking about a whole week of cozy, flavorful, and surprisingly simple...
Down for a challenge?
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, The weather is finally changing over here in Hong Kong. It's been hot for far too long. Depending on where you are, you might still be soaking up the sun. However, there's something about this time of year that calls for a reset—a cozy, comforting shift in our routines. And what better way to reset than with food? If you’ve been feeling the urge to get organized, ditch the takeout temptation, and...
A New 30-Minute Dinner Obsession
SIMPLE COOKING WITH STREET-SMART TIPS & EASY RECIPES Mostly sous vide & low-carb. Hey Reader, I have been creating a ton of personalized meal plans for my health coaching clients in Hong Kong. When I create healthy meals, I mentally run a checklist like this: It's packed with lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs to keep you feeling full and energized. It's delicious. It takes as little time as possible, ideally within 30 minutes. Guess what? This new Salmon Quinoa Bowl checks off all...
Hi! I am Sharon Chen, an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach helping you make healthy meal prep easier than ever with simple sous vide cooking, street-smart cooking tips, and easy recipes.