Book cover for Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds by Hetty Lui McKinnon (Gneiss Spice) features vegetables arranged as a face—broccoli hair, mushroom mouth, pea eyes, banana chin, and herb eyebrows/mustache.
Inspired by "Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds" by Hetty Lui McKinnon, this ramen from Gneiss Spice features a creamy, spicy broth with egg, scallions, cilantro, peanuts, and spinach—ideal for veggie lovers.
A smiling woman in a mustard-yellow sweater holds up "Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds" by Hetty Lui McKinnon from Gneiss Spice, featuring broccoli, mushrooms, and a banana on the cover.
A white plate of golden gnocchi with pesto, fennel, and cheese on wood—vegetable inspiration from "Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds" by Hetty Luis McKinnon, from Gneiss Spice.
Book cover for Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds by Hetty Lui McKinnon (Gneiss Spice) features vegetables arranged as a face—broccoli hair, mushroom mouth, pea eyes, banana chin, and herb eyebrows/mustache.
Inspired by "Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds" by Hetty Lui McKinnon, this ramen from Gneiss Spice features a creamy, spicy broth with egg, scallions, cilantro, peanuts, and spinach—ideal for veggie lovers.
A smiling woman in a mustard-yellow sweater holds up "Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds" by Hetty Lui McKinnon from Gneiss Spice, featuring broccoli, mushrooms, and a banana on the cover.
A white plate of golden gnocchi with pesto, fennel, and cheese on wood—vegetable inspiration from "Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds" by Hetty Luis McKinnon, from Gneiss Spice.

Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds by Hetty Luis McKinnon


$ 40.00
Minus Plus

James Beard Nominee 2024

Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Connection

In Tenderheart, Hetty Lui McKinnon—author of To Asia, With Love—shares a deeply personal and vegetable-driven cookbook that honors her late father and the power of food to root us in place, memory, and culture. Through more than 180 vegetarian recipes centered around 22 essential fruits and vegetables, McKinnon blends Chinese heritage, Australian upbringing, and global flavor influences into nourishing dishes that are as meaningful as they are delicious.

This book is a love letter to vegetables and to her father, a Chinese immigrant who taught her the value of seasonal produce and shared meals. From Crispy Potato Tacos and Soy–Butter Bok Choy Pasta to Broccoli Wontons with Umami Crisp and Sweet Potato & Black Sesame Marble Bundt, the recipes strike that perfect balance between cozy and fresh, practical and soulful.

Tenderheart is an inspiring resource for vegetarians, flexitarians, and anyone looking to fall back in love with their produce drawer—through storytelling, family history, and a pantry full of flavor.

Who’s it for?

Great for home cooks looking for everyday plant-based meals with emotional depth, fans of East-meets-West cooking, and anyone who loves veggies but wants fresh ways to use them.

Spices to pair with this cookbook:

  • Umami Seaweed Salt: A finishing salt that adds savory depth to simple vegetable dishes
  • White Pepper (Ground): A gentle heat often used in Chinese cooking, great for stir-fries and soups
  • Toasted Sesame Seeds: Perfect for noodle dishes, crisp salads, or bundt cakes with a twist
  • Miso Powder: A flavor-packed pantry shortcut for marinades, broths, and dressings
  • Ginger Powder: Warming and versatile—ideal for savory stir-fries or sweet bakes alike