Chinese food is one of the critical parts of Chinese culture because of its extensive history, distinctive characteristics, variety of styles, and fine cookery. Chinese food is recognized for its variety of colors, flavors, aromas, and appearances.
China is a very large country, and because of the various regional climates, histories, local foods, dining habits, etc., there are numerous regional variations in the cuisine.
Chinese cuisines can be classified into eight different types based on cooking methods and regional characteristics. These varieties include Cantonese cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Shandong cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine, Fuzhou cuisine, Anhui cuisine, and Cantonese cuisine. Every Chinese restaurant menu has a favorite dish.
1. Dumplings
Dumplings do not, in fact, only belong to Asian cuisine
Other East Asian cuisines, including Japanese and Korean, as well as Central Asian cuisines, such as Afghan and Uzbek, contain them. You must try the Chinese version, no matter what.
These snacks are made up of little dough wrappers packed with soft mutton stew, black pepper, spring onions, and other herbs.
It is a fantastic dish to keep your body warm during the winter. I enjoy soaking them in a bowl of warm, brothy soup, which works well in place of wonton soup.
2. Chow Mein
The Mandarin word “chomià n,” which translates to “stir-fried noodles,” is pronounced “chow mein” in Cantonese. The ingredients of this stir-fried meal are noodles, meat—typically chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork—onions, and celery.
The noodles must be boiled in boiling water for a bit before being used to make chow mein. The process of stir-frying begins when they have cooled.
Chow mein’s history has a fascinating genesis story. According to rumors, Shan Gu, a woman from Jiangsu Province, invented chow mein. She was making lunch for the laborers who were building a big dam to prevent the Yellow River from flooding.
She discovered that food spoils quickly and easily in hot conditions. As a result, a food called Mein was created that can be easily reheated and eaten. Since then, stir-frying has become a well-liked method of creating noodles.
3. Kungpao chicken
Kung Pao chicken, one of the most well-known Chinese dishes outside of China, is produced by stir-frying pieces of chicken that have been chopped with scallions, ginger, peppercorns, chile, and deep-fried peanuts.
A former Sichuan governor by the name of Ding Baozeng, whose nickname was Ding Gongbao (alternatively romanized as Kungpao), is credited with inspiring the meal, according to many.
A dish of fried chicken from the Shandong area of China is reported to have been Ding’s favorite. He instructed his chef to add some local chili and peanuts to the dish after being transferred to Sichuan, and the rest is history.
4. Fried Rice
Chinese food relies heavily on rice, according to Yinn Low. Chinese fried rice is a complete meal that may feed the entire family. Its ingredients may include vegetables, proteins (chicken, pork, and shrimp), and carbs (carrots and mixed vegetables).This dinner is a balanced one. Also, making it at home is easy and quick. Nevertheless, as Yinn Low suggests, leftover rice makes the tastiest fried rice. (We know how to handle the leftovers from our takeout.)
5. Hot Pot
Chinese folks believe that the hot pot is the best option for hosting a dinner party since it can accommodate everyone’s preferences. The hot pot is cooked in a big wok that is cooked continuously on a stove, as its name suggests.
They wait for the soup to thoroughly cook before adding slices of beef and other veggies.The two representatives of the China Hot Pot are the spicy and flavorful Chongqing Hot Pot and the Beijing Copper Pot with instant-boiled mutton.
6. Chop suey
Chop suey is a must-try if you want to eat authentic Chinese cuisine. It is a classic Chinese dish that was created in San Francisco by Chinese immigrants during the time of the gold rush.
Chop suey is a stew that is typically eaten with rice or noodles and contains ingredients such as bean sprouts, onions, bamboo shoots, beef, water chestnuts, and celery.
The whole family may eat this traditional Chinese dish. One piece of advice: it’s preferable to use fresh ingredients and not leftovers while making this recipe. You must sample this fantastic Chinese meal at least once.
7. Spring Rolls
Rather than being a specific dish, spring rolls are a choice. They do provide a selection of filling options, after all.
A thin, crispy batter consisting of flour and water that resembles a cooked pancake forms the outer layer. The filling, however, is an entirely different matter.
It must be soft and tender, and it can be savory or sweet, prepared with broccoli, carrots, bean sprouts, shredded chicken and mushrooms, or even some noodles. It must be composed of some kind of bean paste.
Also read: The Most Refreshing Summer Drinks to Make at Home
In case you were curious, the reason they are called “spring” rolls is because it used to be customary to create them to celebrate the arrival of spring during the Chinese New Year.
