Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes Hardcover – April 1, 2025

I am a 68 yo adopted Korean woman (with one visit to Korea 20 years ago) who waited until 6 years ago to really get in touch with my Korean heritage. I've been following Sarah and her Umma on YouTube for a while now. Their recipes are wonderful and detailed, as I expected ... but it is the poignant stories that go with them that bring me to tears nearly every time I open this book. It will be well used and well loved - Thank you. I will be making my 4th trip to Korea this fall and my love for my people gives joy and peace to my heart.

Hello, so I may already be biased since I am Korean myself and have an amazing umma as a home chef. I originally bought this book not only because I wanted to support the Ahn family but also because I am now married to someone who is not Korean. My husband loves Korean food but how do I share recipes my mother or other Koreans have shared with me and translate it properly into English? This book came in handy. I love how it’s not just a simple recipe book. It’s so much more than that. We get to read little stories about Umma Ahn, her words of wisdom to make each dish more flavorful, what condiments to use in a Korean kitchen, how to even shop properly for Korean food. I realized wow our cuisine can be so simple yet so complicated at the same time but once you do know the basics it’s very easy to follow along. The biggest plus is that this book does not share only common dishes most Americans know. There are a lot of dishes shared that only Koreans would know but they are just as delicious. I highly recommend! I cannot wait to start making dishes with my husband (who is honestly a better chef than me so yay).

This book is absolutely beautiful. It arrived a short while ago. I’ve already started reading it and I can’t wait to start making some of the beautifully written and wonderful dishes out of here. I’ve already made some of her recipes so I know the recipes in this book will also be very good. The quality of the book itself is durable, thick, and overall a hearty book. The notes that deep dive into how to make these recipes really give you a clearer picture when trying to cook something for the first time.

I love this book. Stories are beautifully told, methods are thoughtfully laid out, explanations are given w photos to make sure that if you are a first timer to Korean food, you will know how to prepare it and what it should look like. It is a solid, hefty book. With a team like America’s Test Kitchen behind it, it brings to a new level what to expect in a story rich cookbook.The recipes are made from the mother’s experience as a restaurant owner and reflects extra touches & ingredients one may not use as an in home cook. This is, as the author says, to give it that restaurant taste. I am a Korean and so I do cook it at home. But I will probably be altering some of these recipes or just borrowing some ideas as I have insulin sensitivity and nearly every recipe has added sugar in it, even when there is no need for just that small amount of sugar, to balance the inherent salty nature of some Korean dishes. So IF you have insulin sensitivity or are dealing with diabetes, for some of these recipes that use smaller touches of sugar, corn syrup &/or plum syrup, you might want to try removing it or using an appropriate substitute. There is also a brief explanation of the new views on MSG and how there is no reason to fear it but some of the recipes do offer you the option of not using MSG or its cousin, dashida if you still have a concern/sensitivity to it. Just something to be aware of, going in, especially if you have dietary restrictions around your health or even self imposed restrictions like Keto

This book is so much more than just a cookbook. The stories along the recipes makes them so meaningful. As a child of immigrant parents and an immigrant myself food is cultural and a way to pass traditions down. Very well written book, easy to follow with great explanations about ingredients. Really like the fact that things are sorted in sections or chapters. What a wonderful gift from mother to daughter. A piece of her she will have forever, and how wonderful Sarah has shared this with the world.

Absolutely gorgeous book. Reading through it was an emotional experience—some parts even brought tears to my eyes. The stories, the photos, and the heartfelt way everything is presented really touched me. At the same time, I felt so inspired and excited to try the recipes. Each one feels approachable yet special, and I can tell a lot of love and care went into creating this. Thank you for such an incredible and meaningful book.

What a treasure this will be in our kitchen. Beautifully put together. My favorite part is Umma’s kitchen tips for each recipe. It feels like your own mom telling you just what to use- the right brands and how to choose the best pieces of meat. The stories were heartfelt and really connected me to the origins of the recipes. I feel very excited to go on my next shopping trip with all the knowledge shared in preparation for the recipes. Thank you for making this cookbook and for sharing your stories!

This cook book is amazing. It’s a stunning tribute that reminds us that the best cooks don’t just nourish our bodies—they nourish our souls. This cookbook is a thank-you letter, a legacy, and a gift to all of us who see our mothers in the meals that shaped us.