Sandi’s Tiny Kitchen

04/08/2026

Asian Noodle Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

As the weather warms up and days get longer, the last thing anyone wants is to sweat over a hot stove. When the seasons change, our cravings naturally shift. We want meals that are bright, refreshing, and, most importantly, fast. Enter this irresistible Asian Noodle Salad. Packed with crunchy Napa cabbage, chewy noodles, and a sweet, tangy ginger-sesame dressing, this is the ultimate warm-weather meal....

Whip up this quick and refreshing Asian Noodle Salad with a sweet sesame-ginger dressing. Perfect for warmer days!

03/11/2026

Umami-Packed Miso Mushroom Chowder with Pancetta

Craving a rich, comforting bowl of soup but tired of the usual heavy, flour-laden chowders? Traditional creamy soups can feel weighed down, or you just want to try something new. The solution may be in your fridge: white miso paste. By combining shimeji and oyster mushrooms with crispy pancetta and savory miso broth, this Miso Mushroom Chowder delivers bold umami in one pot....

https://sandistinykitchen.com/miso-mushroom-chowder-recipe/

03/06/2026

Ready to graduate past the spring rolls? 🥟

In Part 1, we talked about the gateway classics. But if you want to eat like a true dim sum pro, Part 2 is all about the “Deep Cuts”—the bold flavors and complex textures that truly define Cantonese dim sum.

When I was a kid in Hong Kong, I was a picky eater. The only thing I liked was har gow. I didn’t understand the appeal of the “chew” of glutinous rice or the delicate snap of beef tripe (I also didn’t know what beef tripe was.) But as I got older, and especially after moving to the State, my palate evolved. I started craving the dishes I used to ignore.

Now, I see that the gelatinous richness of Phoenix Claws and the springy bite of beef tripe are some of the most unique foods in my culture. These are the dishes that take a little more courage to try, but offer the absolute biggest reward. Don’t let the names or the textures intimidate you!

Swipe through to explore the bold, fried, and textural favorites I’ve grown to love. Which one are you brave enough to try first? 👇🏼

02/26/2026

Do you remember the first time you sat down at a dim sum table and didn’t know where to start?

I had the privilege of having dim sum with my family in Hong Kong as a kid. Dim sum 點心roughly translates to “point to your heart.” I learned about dim sum from osmosis - it was something I never paid too much attention to. The main idea is that there has to be har gow, siu mai, and cheong fun. “Yum cha” 飲茶 is the term we use to describe going to get dim sum. “Yum cha” literally translates to “drink tea.”. When I was a kid, going yum cha meant playtime with my cousins while the “adults” ate and chatted for 3 hours. I didn’t care about the food. My mom would make me eat a few bites, and I was off.

But after moving to the States, I realized I had taken the weekend dim sum gatherings for granted: the food, the unsupervised playtime, and, most importantly, time with my grandparents. Dim sum speaks to me differently since then. I also learn to appreciate how the dishes are made, and the fact that they actually “point to your heart.” Even my dad spoke of yum cha in my wedding speech. (Okay, I’m not crying, you are!😭)

My grandparents are long gone, and I have now lived in the States for over 30 years. Thanks to the Chinese diaspora, which has been opening dim sum restaurants here, the quality of dim sum in the States is impressive. If you haven’t tried dim sum, give it a go! I promise it’s a unique dining experience. I’ve curated a guide to these “gateway” classics—the ones that defined my childhood and maybe some of yours.

Swipe through for a dose of nostalgia and a deep dive into the essentials.

02/17/2026

Wishing everyone a prosperous Year of the Fire Horse! Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快樂!

🧧Rice Cake 年糕 (nin gou/nian gao) symbolizes rising prosperity and success. “Gou” means tall or height, while “nin” means year. Nin gou represents climbing to a new height in your endeavors, whether it is your career, business, or schoolwork.

#謹賀新年

02/06/2026

If you want to make better soup more often, begin by checking what you already have in your cupboard. 🥣

Here is my definitive Sandi’s Tiny Kitchen Guide to Soup Pantry Essentials. These are the 5 specific building blocks I recommend keeping in stock to turn a simple pot of water into a rich, hearty meal on even the busiest nights.

The 5 Core Categories:

🥫 1. Canned Beans: The instant texture kit. Perfect for quick protein without soaking.

🫘 2. Dried Beans & Lentils: The budget maximizer. Use these for slow-simmered depth and to stretch your grocery dollar (1lb = 3-4 cans!).

🥣 3. Broths & Stocks: The flavor foundation. Essential for instant umami without the long cook time.

🌽 4. Canned Vegetables: The “lazy” prep hack. Pre-chopped corn, peas, and tomatoes are the secret to bulking up soup on low-energy days.

🍝 5. Pasta, Noodles & Grains: The satiety booster. Shelf-stable farro, barley, or noodles turn a starter into a standalone meal.

I picked these with soup lovers in mind, but they are truly essentials in any busy kitchen.

Swipe through the slides for the full breakdown! 👉

📌 Save this post to use as a cheat sheet for your next grocery run.

01/28/2026

Butter Bean Soup with Arugula Pesto

A light, brothy butter bean soup, slow-simmered for 90 minutes and finished with a swirl of peppery arugula pesto. The perfect antidote to heavy winter meals....

A slow-cooked, brothy Butter Bean Soup recipe topped with peppery Arugula Pesto. This deeply flavorful, vegetarian-friendly soup is the perfect antidote to cold winter days. Get the recipe at Sandi's Tiny Kitchen.

01/26/2026

Allow me to re-introduce myself! 👋

Hi, I’m Sandi! You might know me for the recipes coming out of my tiny NYC kitchen, but my path here was anything but straight.

Swipe through, and you’ll spot my home office, where I logged countless hours analyzing healthcare data and churning out position papers and persuasive e-mails. (Yep, I started working from home in 2015, before it was cool!)

And you’ll get a peek at the “tiny” reality where everything began—a miniature stove, no dishwasher, the whole deal. These days, I’ve upgraded to a slightly bigger tiny kitchen. 🙏🏼

Somewhere between spreadsheets and a (very!) brief modeling adventure, I finally found what lights me up: creating recipes and sharing the things I’ve learned along the way.
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Now, instead of digesting big numbers, I get to analyze ingredients and flavors. I write recipes, make food and travel videos, and I’m always on the hunt for the best bites and sips, especially when I’m exploring new places.

Speaking of exploring... ✈️ Travel keeps my creativity flowing, and the next trip is already in the works. Hope to share more with you in the future.

To everyone reading this: Whether you’ve stuck with me since the mini-stove days or just found my page... thank you. I’m so grateful you’re here. 🩷

Special thanks to for taking my pictures (pics 1 & 6)!

**e

11/27/2025

Soup season is in full swing! What are you hungry for?

Happy Cooking!

11/20/2025

Daikon: the unsung champion of Asian comfort food 🤍
Mild, juicy, and tender when cooked. Swipe to find out more!

Bonus: Daikon recipe ⤵️
https://sandistinykitchen.com/daikon-napa-cabbage-soup-with-shiitake/

Follow ➡️ for more recipes, food, and w**e content.