Easy Chinese Recipes - Chinese Cooking - Chinese Food

Welcome to Easy Chinese Recipes

 Chinese Food is one of the most popular cuisines today. However, the cooking style and techniques are mysterious to many home cooks. Some feel that Chinese recipes are too difficult to cook at home. Actually, Chinese recipes are relatively simply compared to many other cooking styles. All you need are a few Chinese cooking tips and a good Chinese recipe.

 

Featured Recipe

Cashew Chicken Kung Pao



    Ever popular Cashew Chicken is easy to make with about ten minutes cooking time. Go to recipe

 

 

Cookware and Utensils for Chinese Cooking

If you intend to cook Chinese more that just occasionally, you might want to invest in a few cooking utensils that will make your job easier.

The Wok
 

Every kitchen should have a "wok", even if you never cook Chinese. A wok is very useful in cooking a variety of food. Read more about woks, including how to season.

The Rice Cooker
 

Rice is a traditional companion to most Chinese meals. A good rice cooker is very helpful for Chinese cooking and practically assures perfect rice every time. Today's rice cookers are absolutely fail-proof if you follow directions.

Bamboo Steamer
 

A Bamboo Steamer is very useful but not required. They are inexpensive and last a long time.

Chinese Spatula and Wire Strainer
 

These are useful tools with long (usually wood) handles. The spatula has a rounded blade to fit the contours of a wok. The Chinese Wire Strainer is wide with a flat wire-mesh strainer that is very useful for removing deep-fried foods from hot oil or noodles from boiling water. It drains oil and liquid more efficiently than metal perforated types.

Read our Chinese Cooking Techniques - Here

Etiquette at the Chinese Table

If you are invited to a Chinese family dinner for the first time, you will be more comfortable if you are familiar with some Chinese customs. Although the younger generation may not be as concerned with tradition as their parents, it is best to have some knowledge of those traditions at the Chinese dinner table.

Here are a few tips:
 

* Soups are usually eaten last.
* Do not sit at the head of the table unless your host seats you there.
* Do not begin eating until the eldest person at the table begins.
* The more you eat, the happier your host will be. Do not leave food on your plate if possible.
* Try to pace your eating to match your host. Do not finish eating considerably ahead or behind your host.
* At a restaurant, the one making the invitation is expected to pay but everyone generally tries to pay.
* If using chop sticks, do not play with them. Treat them as you would a fork. No drumming.
* Chinese generally like to take their time eating so don't be in a hurry.

These tips aside, just be respectful, use common sense and enjoy the company. Chinese are a very polite people and would not call attention to any miscue you might make, but to get a second invitation, make an effort to respect your host's traditions.