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Beginning Cooks

You've decided to take the plunge and start cooking Chinese food.   Congratulations! Prepared properly, Chinese food is healthier for you.  Besides, it just plain tastes great - why else do gourmets argue over whether China or France has the world's finest cuisine?

Still, tackling strange cooking equipment and even stranger ingredients can be nerve-wracking.   Below is a step-by-step tutorial to help make your introduction to Chinese cooking a pleasurable experience.

Getting Started- Ingredients and Equipment  ~ Cooking Techniques ~ Basic Recipes for the Beginner ~ Cooking Aids ~ More Resources 

 Getting Started 

Stocking the Pantry
Find out what ingredients you need to begin cooking Chinese food. 

Best Brands 
My brand recommendations, with online shopping sources where possible. 

Fry Pans and Stir-frying
Don't have a wok?  Here is how to make sure your frying pan is "stir-fry friendly" 

 

Before You Buy a Wok
Flat or Round Bottom? Carbon steel or aluminum?
Information to help you choose the wok that best meets your needs. Includes instructions for seasoning and cleaning a wok.

Before You Buy a Cleaver
Do you need a cleaver? What type should you buy? 

 


 Cooking Techniques

Twenty Basic Cooking Tips
Basic tips for cooking Chinese food

Twenty Tips for Stir-frying

Handy tips to take the mystery out of stir-frying.  

Twenty Tips for Deep-frying
From temperature to the type of oil to use, tips to make deep-frying easier.  

 

 

How To... 
A series of short and easy instructions on everything from seasoning a wok to shredding ginger.

Photo How To's...
Photo Instructions on filling wontons,  getting milk from a coconut, and sharpening a cleaver.

Coming Soon...
Cleaver Cutting Techniques
Tips for Steaming


 Basic Recipes for the Beginner

Chop Suey 
The western favorite - a great choice on those nights when you're cleaning out the vegetable crisper. 

Chow Mein

Includes instructions for making the noodles crispier.   

Plain Fried Rice
A basic recipe with seasonings.

Fried Rice with Shrimp and Ham
A great one-dish dinner.
   

 

Egg Rolls
Uses a easy method for folding the egg rolls. 

Pineapple Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce
A flavorful, easy to make dish.  

Beef with Tomatoes
Cantonese Home Cooking

Almond Float
A refreshing and easy to make dessert using unflavored gelatin, evaporated milk and canned or fresh fruit.  

 
 Cooking Aids

Ingredient Substitutions 
What should you do if you can't find a certain ingredient? 

Beginner's Cooking Quiz
Take this fun quiz and learn how to handle some of the common problems that arise when you're cooking Chinese food. 

   

 

Egg Roll Energizers 
How to make sure your eggrolls turn out crisp and not too soggy every time. 

Rice Revitalizers
For rice that is fluffy and doesn't stick to the pan.  

 More Resources

Culinary Dictionary
What should you do if you can't find a certain ingredient? 

Photo Gallery
Photos of Chinese and Asian Ingredients.

Chinese Cuisine Articles
An index of all my articles dating back to 1998.

FAQ
A few commonly asked questions



 

 

Tips on Choosing a Cooking Class
Includes a few of my more memorable classes.

Chinese Cuisine Bookstore
A growing resource, with links for ordering online. 

Find It!
Basically, a resource for finding everything on the Chinese Cuisine site. 

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