Fired rice is one of the most versatile Chinese dishes around, allowing you to incorporate various vegetables and proteins. However, green onions and egg are a must, as well as soy sauce and sesame oil!
For the best results, you should always use day-old rice or even a few days old, because fresh rice tends to get mushy when you fry it. Meanwhile, older rice tends to lose its moisture, which is regained during the cooking process.
Char siu is essentially a Chinese version of barbecue pork. It’s a popular dish in Cantonese cuisine, and you can usually find it in various Chinese communities worldwide.
The term "char siu" translates to "fork roast," referring to the traditional method of cooking the pork on long fork skewers over an open flame.
This well-known Chinese dish is a fairly popular option at many Chinese restaurants, although not always authentic. It's beloved for its spicy kick and bold flavor profile. It usually features peanuts and vegetables like green onions and bell pepper.
Originating from the Sichuan province of China, Kung Pao Chicken has become a staple in Chinese cuisine and is enjoyed worldwide.
While the fried version may be more popular in the Western world, found in Americanized Chinese restaurants across America, the authentic version is slightly different.
The original Cantonese sweet and sour pork is made with vinegar, preserved plums, and hawthorn candy, giving it that sweet and sour taste. There’s also a version made with spare ribs instead of pork loin.
When it comes to cuisine, there is a wide variety of foods from all over the world called dumplings. However, Chinese dumplings, also known as jiaozi or potstickers, are popular for their flavorful fillings and thin, doughy wrappers.
They can be prepared and served in various ways, such as being boiled, steamed, pan-fried, and even deep-fried. They may also be served as a soup. They are an exceedingly popular dish for the Lunar New Year as they are said to bring good fortune.
Wenchang Chicken Rice is a traditional dish hailing from the Wenchang City in Hainan Province, China. It's renowned for its simple yet rich flavors from high-quality ingredients and unique preparation.
The chicken is range-free and usually fed coconut and peanut bran, which gives the chicken more tender meat and a unique flavor. It is then steamed and served over fragrant Jasmine rice. The chicken is accompanied by a flavorful sauce made from ginger, garlic, scallions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sometimes chili sauce or fermented tofu for added depth of flavor.
Originating from the Sichuan province of China, this dish has gained popularity both within China and internationally. Mapo tofu usually features a soft tofu that is cubed and takes on the flavor of the sauce – which is the real star of this dish.
Consisting of ingredients such as doubanjiang (fermented broad bean paste), chili bean paste, soy sauce, fermented black beans, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns, the sauce is both spicy and savory.
Pork belly with dry pickled Chinese mustard is a traditional Chinese dish known for its rich flavors and unique combination of ingredients. This dish originates from the Hakka cuisine, which is known for its bolder and heartier flavors.
Essentially bacon that hasn’t been cured, pork belly is beloved for its tenderness and decadent layers of fat. It's typically cut into thick slices or chunks for this dish. The dry pickled Chinese mustard, also known as zha cai, is a type of preserved vegetable made from the stems of mustard greens. It has a salty, slightly sour flavor and a crunchy texture.
Jianbing Guozi, often simply called Jianbing, is a popular Chinese street food originating in Shandong Province. Jianbing batter is made from a mixture of wheat flour, water, and sometimes mung bean flour or other starches.
The batter is thin and spread onto a hot griddle (basically, you are making Chinese crepes). A fresh egg is then cracked onto the batter while it's still cooking, and the egg is quickly spread out to cover the surface of the pancake as it cooks. After cooking, a mixture of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and chili paste is brushed over the crepes.
Xiaolongbao is a beloved Chinese dish originating from the Jiangnan region, or moreover, Shanghai. These delicate steamed dumplings feature thin wrappers and a flavorful minced pork filling.
Xiaolongbao is typically served with a dipping sauce made from black vinegar, soy sauce, and thinly sliced ginger. This sauce adds acidity and umami flavor to complement the richness of the dumplings.
Dongpo Pork, also known as Dongpo Rou, is a classic Chinese dish with a rich history dating back to the Song Dynasty. It was named after poet and gastronomer Su Dongpo. This dish features a braised pork belly that's slowly cooked in a flavorful sauce until tender.
A variation of Dongpo Pork is simmered in a sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, and spices until the pork belly develops a caramelized glaze.
Originating from the Sichuan province of China, this soup has become popular both in China and around the world for its satisfying combination of savory, spicy, and sour elements.
The base of Hot and Sour Soup is typically a clear chicken or pork broth, although vegetarian versions may use vegetable broth instead. For protein, tofu, pork, or chicken is added.
Bao, also known as baozi or simply buns, are a staple of Chinese cuisine and are enjoyed in various forms throughout China and other parts of Asia. These soft, pillowy buns can be filled with various savory or sweet fillings, making them incredibly versatile and delicious.
Bao dough is typically made from flour, water, yeast, sugar, and a small amount of oil or fat. The dough is kneaded until smooth and elastic, then allowed to rise before being shaped and filled with minced pork.
Roujiamo, also known as Chinese hamburger or Chinese pulled pork burger, is a popular street food originating from the Shaanxi province of China. It consists of tender, braised pork belly or shredded pork stuffed inside a flatbread bun called "mo."
While you won’t find the taste to be similar to a traditional American hamburger, the Chinese hamburger is a satisfying comfort food in its own right.
Like fried rice, Chow Mein are stir-fry noodles that can be prepared in a variety of ways, using vegetables like onions, bell peppers, carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, and bok choy, along with a variety of different protein options.
Chow Mein noodles are made from wheat flour and egg, giving them a yellow color and a slightly chewy texture. They are similar to egg noodles but slightly thinner and firmer.
