Modern Nonya is essentially Straits Chinese food made simple with authentic yet streamlined recipes. The recipes retain all the traditional tastes, using modern methods where possible. Presentations or helps such as bottled pastes and pre-packaged foods are incorporated into the recipes for fuss-free cooking.

Many of the dishes can be reduced to a basic spice mix, which creates different dishes depending on cooking method (whether you fry or boil or grill or bake) or on the addition of other spices, herbs or seasonings. Interesting information on historical influences in the food, be it Chinese, Malay or European is also mentioned, where appropriate.