Basics of Chinese Cooking and Cuisine
By Rhonda Parkinson, About.com Guide to Chinese Food
Whether you’re new to Chinese cooking, want to brush up on your skills, or just want to learn more about Chinese cuisine, this is the place to start.
- Basic Chinese Cooking Techniques
- Buying Advice for Chinese Cooking Equipment
- Caring For Chinese Cooking Equipment
- Stocking the Pantry
- How-to's
- Health Benefits and Concerns
- What to Drink With Chinese Food
- Regional Chinese Cuisine (an Introduction)
- Chinese Food Pictures
Basic Chinese Cooking Techniques
From stir-frying to velveting chicken, here are basic tips to help you master different Chinese cooking techniques.
- General Chinese Cooking Principles
- Twenty Tips for Stir-frying
- How to Add Oil to the Wok (for Stir-frying)
Buying Advice for Chinese Cooking Equipment
Whether you're a weekend cook or prepare Chinese food on a daily basis, you'll want to learn about the different types of equipment used in Chinese cooking, from a frying pan to a wok and cleaver.
- Top 4 Chinese Cleavers
- Top 4 Rice Cookers Under $40
- Online Shopping for Chinese Cooking Equipment and Ingredients
Caring For Chinese Cooking Equipment
Properly cared for, major Chinese cooking utensils such as a wok and cleaver will last for years.
- How to Season a Carbon Steel Wok
- How to Clean a Carbon Steel Wok
- How to Sharpen a Chinese Cleaver (Photo Instructions)
Stocking the Pantry
Chinese cooking is really more about striking a balance in flavors, color and textures than using specific ingredients – a good Chinese cook can often come up with a dish that has the characteristic taste and flavors of Chinese cuisine using whatever ingredients are on hand. Nonetheless, there are certain staples you’ll want to keep in your kitchen cupboard.
How-to's
Easy tips showing how to do everything from chopping to slicing a mango.
- How to Cook Rice
- How to Cook Brown Rice
- How to Steam Jasmine Rice
- How to Make Chinese Chicken Stock
- How to Chop Garlic
- How to Shred and Mince Ginger
- How to Roast Szechuan Peppercorn
- How to Make Five-spice Powder
- How to Drain Tofu (Press Tofu)
- How to Toast Sesame Seeds
- How to Cut and Cube a Mango
- How to Peel and Slice a Mango
- How to Season (Infuse) Vegetable Oil With Ginger
- How to Choose a Coconut
- How to Extract Milk From a Coconut
- How to Toast Coconut Flakes
- How to Fill and Fold Wontons
Health Benefits and Concerns
Healthwise, Chinese cuisine has a lot going for it, but there are also some concerns, especially for persons on low sodium or other special diets.
- Soy - Super Bean or Super Threat?
- The Miracle of Green Tea
- Is Black Tea Healthier Than Green Tea?
- White Tea - Information and Health Benefits
- Monsodium Glutamate (MSG) - Pros and Cons
- How to Lower the Salt in Chinese Cooking
- Low Carb Chinese Recipes
What to Drink With Chinese Food
It's hard to exaggerate the importance of tea in Chinese culture - the tradition of tea drinking dates back over 2,000 years and has become an indispensable part of Chinese daily life. More recently bubble tea, a fun drink made with tapioca pearls, tea, and milk, has become popular throughout Southeast Asia, China and North America. But tea isn't the only drink that can be served with Chinese food. Chiew is the Chinese name for all alcoholic drinks, from distilled liqueurs to Chinese rice wines. And while it can be challenging, it is possible to pair western grape wines with Chinese food.
- The Ubiquitous Cup of Tea
- The Health Benefits of Green Tea
- Wild About White Tea
- How to Brew White Tea
- Pairing Wine With Chinese Food
- The Origin of Tea Tapping
- The Legend of the Historic Liquor Du Kang
- Are Bottled Tea Drinks as Healthy as Brewed Tea?
- How to Make Bubble Tea
Regional Chinese Cuisine (an Introduction)
The culinary map of China is divided into at least four separate regions.
Chinese Food Pictures
Before your first visit to a Chinese marketplace, it can help to view pictures of all the different ingredients and equipment used in Chinese cooking.
