Traditional Chinese dishes are prepared at cafes and restaurants in different countries. There is a whole list of dishes that everyone who wants to get acquainted with this culture should try. Some, such as dumplings, are familiar to many. And others, such as Chicken Gunbao, are known to few. However, in any case, reviews about the dishes of this country are only positive. Lovers note exquisite taste, pungency, satiety and a beautiful presentation. Everyone will be able to find something to their taste. However, it should be understood that you can not do without spices, especially pepper.
What is on the list of famous dishes of China?
What does the traditional cuisine of China include? The list is quite diverse. For example, in the first place is a Peking duck. Also worth noting are seven more options:
- Chinese dumplings;
- Gunbao Chicken;
- Pork in sweet and sour sauce;
- Ma Po Tofu;
- Chinese rolls;
- fried noodles;
- wontons.
Each of these dishes can be prepared at home if necessary.
Dumplings from China
This traditional Chinese dish is very revered in the country. For example, it is considered festive. It is traditionally present on the table before the new year. Dumplings are cooked in broth, cooked in a pan.
In fact, such dumplings do not differ much from the usual ones in our country. They consist of finely chopped meat, minced chicken. Sometimes used shredded fish, shrimp. All this is wrapped in a thin and elastic dough.
By the way, wontons, which also relate to traditional Chinese dishes, are also dumplings. Although many attribute them to manti. They can be closed or open top. The filling, in addition to meat, usually includes mushrooms, seafood, vegetables. And some people like to make sweet variations of the dish. They are steamed, but sometimes they are fried.
Gongbao Chicken: recipe and description
This dish belongs to traditional Chinese. However, reviews of those who have already tried it say that it is very sharp. Not everyone will like it. But pepper lovers willingly cook it at home. A simple recipe will help. To prepare you need to take:
- two chicken fillets;
- a tablespoon of soy sauce;
- as much sugar;
- a similar amount of sesame oil;
- three cloves of garlic;
- a teaspoon of ground hot pepper;
- some oil for frying;
- six small pods of hot pepper;
- a bunch of green onions (only the white part is used).
For starters, chicken is pickled. To do this, cut the fillet into pieces, season with soy sauce, butter and sugar. Mix the pieces so that they are completely covered with dressing. Cover the container with chicken and send it to the refrigerator for the night.
How to fry chicken?
When the chicken is marinated, send it to a hot pan with vegetable oil. It is better to fry in batches, until cooked. Then everything is removed from the pan. Red pepper is finely chopped, the white part of the onion is cut into rings, the garlic is chopped finely. First, pieces of garlic are fried, then onions and peppers are added. Spicy ground pepper is also placed here. Fry for a couple of minutes. Then lay the chicken and fry together for about five minutes. Where can I try traditional national Chinese cuisine? Food markets in this regard are especially good. It is here that food is prepared with visitors. And thanks to the abundance of spices, it is difficult to poison. Although, of course, the cafe also has Chinese dishes, but many of them are converted into tourists.
Ma Po Tofu
This dish is considered traditional Sichuan. It is a mixture of tofu, spicy spices and minced meat. According to legend, he was invented by an elderly widow, whose face was covered with smallpox scars. Therefore, the name of this dish is translated as "bean curd from the pockmarked grandmother."
According to the same legend, the widow after the death of her husband lived poorly, making ends meet. However, friends periodically brought her meat and tofu. As a result, the widow was able to create a cheap and nutritious dish. The story ended happily. The woman got rich, and all thanks to the recipe. According to the reviews of those who have tried this dish, it is best to combine it with plain rice. This compensates for the poignancy and piquancy of Ma Po Tofu.
Pork in sweet and sour sauce
To prepare this dish of national Chinese cuisine you need to take:
- 500 grams of meat;
- one yolk;
- two bell peppers, preferably different colors;
- a pair of canned pineapple rings;
- two tablespoons of vinegar;
- as much ketchup;
- half a small onion;
- salt and pepper;
- cooking oil for frying;
- starch - a tablespoon;
- as much sugar;
- two tablespoons of soy sauce.
To begin with, the meat is slightly beaten, and then cut into pieces. Marinate in a spoonful of soy sauce, yolk, a tablespoon of starch. Stirred and left for an hour. Then heat the oil in a pan and fry the meat until cooked. Clean on paper towels to make glass oil.
After peeling and chopping into large cubes, pepper, onion into thin half rings and pineapple into small pieces. Onion is first fried in vegetable oil, then pepper and pineapple are put. Pour the rest of soy sauce, ketchup, sugar. All are thoroughly mixed and fried. Then add the meat, heat again.
Fried noodles
According to Chinese food lovers, fried noodles are very popular. For cooking, take directly noodles, any vegetables. Chicken is also sometimes added.
Boil the noodles for this dish and let it drain. Vegetables, meat are cut into slices and fried in vegetable oil. Soy sauce is often added instead of salt. Ready noodles are added and sautéed.
It is acceptable to add an egg. To do this, all the ingredients from the pan are shifted to one corner, the egg is broken. When it sets slightly, it is mixed with the rest of the ingredients. Cooking times vary, as someone loves crispy noodles.
Chinese rolls
This dish is a variety of rolls. The filling can be meat, sweet or spicy. First they are stuffed, and then fried. Chip - crust, crispy and crumbly. Rolls are popular in many provinces of China.
The basis for the roll are pancakes. They are made from flour, salt and water. Frying on both sides, they form an elastic base for another traditional Chinese dish. How do the Chinese relate to food?
Dishes of Chinese cuisine: features of etiquette
It's no secret that in China there is a special attitude to food. For them, food is a gift from heaven, so quick snacks are not for Chinese people. It is also believed that the meal should be long, thoughtful. Talking at the table should only be about food, not being distracted by extraneous topics.
Due to the fact that they use sticks when eating food, all the ingredients are cut into small pieces according to etiquette. This is also due to the fact that it is simply not customary to use a knife at the dining table in Chinese etiquette.
Traditional Chinese food is a mixture of spices. Here you can find both spicy, which you need to jam with rice or drink water, as well as dishes with sweet taste.