OK, let’s start with the obvious: Chinese cuisine is delicious. Pork dumplings, beef and broccoli, fluffy rice…mmm. What you might not realise is that it’s totally possible to enjoy these and other classic dishes without using all your budget. Skip the Chinese take away tonight and try cooking some yourself. The following recipes are delicious stand-ins for the dishes that come from a restaurant, without the extra expense, questionable ingredients, and leaving home. Whip up a few tonight for you and your friends and family.
4 Chinese staple ingredients
- Chinese five spice is a mix of star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel and Szechuan pepper. Find it in the spice aisle.
- Soy sauce is made from fermented soy beans. Light soy sauce is saltier than dark. Find it in the Asian aisle.
- Shaoxing wine is made from rice. Find it in the Asian aisle or Asian grocery stores. If unavailable use dry sherry.
- Sesame oil is made from crushed white sesame seeds and has an intense flavour so use sparingly. Store the bottle out of direct light in a cool, dark cupboard.
Chinese entree dishes
Why buy Yum Cha out when you can make it even tastier at home? These little prawn dim sim parcels make a great start to a Chinese feast. Or try our pork and prawn short soup with prawn wontons, greens, baby corn, and bamboo shoots.
Chinese main dishes
Chow mein is a Chinese term for stir-fried noodles and is a very popular Chinese dish. Try our version of curried mince chow mein for a great takeaway-style dinner. Or why not try the traditional Chinese dish of sweet and sour pork filled with sweet chunks of pineapple and loads of colourful veg.
Vegetarian Chinese dishes
Vegetarian night has never been so delish! Yummy stir-fried tofu rice paper rolls, fried rice with loads of veggies and almonds and tofu stir fry with fresh ginger, shiitake mushrooms and cashews.