History of Chinese cuisine

Chopsticks, noodles and Chinese ceramics are the three things that immediately strike in your mind when you hear Chinese food.

Chinese cuisine has one of the world’s marvelous culinary cultures. Its originality and diversity are indisputable. Cantonese, Shandong, Sichuan, and Huaiyang are the four most influential Chinese cooking styles.

Dishes from these parts of China stand out in taste, texture, aroma, and aesthetics. Different factors such as ingredients, cooking techniques, people’s lifestyle, geography, and climatic condition made the style of each province (or region) incredibly distinctive.

If you believe popular Chinese foods are about chop suey and fortune cooking, then you are mistaken. They were modified or invented American-Chinese dishes, specially designed to delight US customers. To know what real Chinese cuisine is, take a glance at China’s kitchens of the past. With the help of different dynasties of China, we will be able to make you understand it better.

Han Dynasty

During the early part of this period, noodles usually made from the wheat dough or millet was their staple food. This is the earliest noodle ever found – entailing that Asians was the first to invent this famous dish.

Tang Dynasty

By this period the Chinese have explored all possible sources of food for diet diversity and good health. This led to their discovery and fondness for exotic food. It is during this period that drinking of tea became popular among all social classes. They also began to do business with Persia, Korea, and other neighboring countries.

Song Dynasty

It is only during this period that their economic and social progress was marked, which resulted to cosmopolitanism. This led to the development of restaurants serving special Chinese delicacies. 

Previously, only the emperors and their close ones could eat sophisticated meals. During this dynasty, even the common masses could enjoy great meals.

During Song Dynasty, the Chinese got to decide food from a menu. This had not occurred elsewhere in the world. Eateries or restaurants at Song dynasty offered dishes that symbolize the unique cooking styles from different regions of China. Talented chefs mastered a wide array of techniques to extract most of the flavors, aroma, and texture from fresh ingredients. All these efforts led to the invention of choicest Chinese cuisine that we know and enjoy today.

According to tradition, Chinese cuisine can be judged based on the aroma, presentation, palatability, and texture.

Apart from these factors, a perfect Chinese meal must have the balance famous Four Natures (the hot, the warm, the cool, and the cold) and Five Tastes (pungent, sweet, bitter, sour, and salty).

Fortunately, you do not have to go to China to experience their mouth-watering Chinese cuisines, as it is easily available in any part of the world. 

Top 10 Must Try Vegetarian Chinese Dishes

If you think you are a vegetarian trapped in China, think again…

 Vegetarians in China do not have to fear, as the Chinese cuisine has plenty options. Admittedly, the highlights of Chinese cuisine often includes meat ingredients such as; poultry, pork, seafood, etc. The same goes for everyday dishes you are likely to come by on the streets, as well as special authentic Chinese cuisines from the different parts of China.

A vegetarian will never find himself/herself limited of choices in vegetarian Chinese cuisine. Vegetarian Chinese dishes are just as delicious and as plentiful as ones with meat. To help you get started with the list of top 10 vegetarian Chinese dishes that will certainly satisfy your taste buds.

Peanuts and Spinach

Ingredients: peanuts, spinach, garlic

Mapo Tofu 

Ingredients: tofu, ground pork (obviously request this to be left out), peppers, soy sauce, ginger, scallions, garlic

Buddhas Delight

Ingredients: lots of various vegetables, garlic, salt, sometimes egg and shrimp (request no egg or meat), mushrooms, and tofu.

Tomatoes and Eggs
Ingredients: Tomato, egg, salt, green onions

Stir Fried Green Beans
Ingredients: green beans, Sichuan peppercorns, peppers, spring onions

Honey garlic baked cauliflower

Ingredients: Honey, cauliflower, breadcrumbs, soy sauce.

Vegetarian Steamed Buns

Ingredients:  all–purpose flour, cabbage, green onion, ginger, soy sauce.

Vegan fried rice

Ingredients: Carrots, Garlic cloves, Green onion, Peas, Tofu, Rice.

Vegetarian Steamed Dumplings

Tofu, carrots, cabbage, red pepper, ginger, cilantro

Soy Sauce Noodles   

     

Bean sprouts, Carrot, Garlic, Green onions, Soy sauce, Noodles.

8 Must try Chinese appetizers

Who does not like eating Chinese cuisine? It is not just a popular cuisine in Asian country but also in other part of the world. One can easily identify a number of fusion as well as authentic Chinese food restaurant in almost any part of the world. Chinese cuisine is rich in taste, light in eating and often less expensive. Chinese appetizers are always an easy and interesting option to choose if you are planning for get-together or a reunion since you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

So here’s the list of some delicious and easy to make Chinese appetizers that you can treat your family and friends.

Delicious Chinese Steamed or fried dumplings

The Chinese have mastered the art of making dumplings. Chinese dumpling may be round or crescent-shaped, steamed or pan fired. The filling may be sweet or savory, vegetarian or filled with any minced meat.

Chinese Egg rolls

Egg rolls make a great snack, appetizer or an additional to a meal. It is made using a thicker wrapper than a spring roll. Egg roll can be served with soy sauce or Chinese hot mustard for dipping.

Potstickers

Potstickers are those irresistible dumplings that are steamed on one side and pan fired on the other, it’s just impossible to eat only one. A properly cooked potstickers are crisp and browned on the bottom. The trick to make perfect potstickers is not to overcook them, or else they’ll live up to their name by sticking firmly to the pot.

Spring rolls

Spring rolls are an excellent choice for appetizers. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes wealth as their shape and color is thought to resemble a long gold bar. With a crisp skin and flavorful filling these spring rolls make the perfect appetizers for all parties and for anybody & everybody.  Serve Spring Rolls with soy sauce or Chinese Hot Mustard for dipping.

Lettuce wraps

Lettuce wraps are a popular Chinese dish, makes a great appetizer or main dish. These flavorful lettuce wraps are stir-fried with vegetables in an oyster-flavored sauce and wrap “Taco-style” in lettuce.

Wonton Wrapped Shrimp

This shrimp appetizer is an excellent appetizer for any party or occasion. It can be easily made by wrapping shrimp in wonton wrappers, then frying for a crispy. This appetizer is delicious served on its own, or with Thai sweet chili sauce for dipping.

Chinese Style Deep Fried Chicken Wings

Chinese style fried chicken wings are sweet, finger-licking good and very addictive. Mixed with tempura batter and then deep-fried until ultra-crispy and crunchy. The freshly cooked wings are already good as is, but tossing them in a mixture of grated garlic, soy sauce, sugar and mirin will make them even better.

Crab Rangoon

Crab Rangoon is that one Chinese appetizer that remains popular year after year. The sweet, delicate flavor of the crab and the crunchy texture of deep-fried wonton make for an intriguing combination.

8 Must Try Chinese Appetizers by taoismjan on Scribd

Chinese Seafood

Food is an essential part of everyday life for Chinese individuals. Chinese not only enjoy eating, but believe eating good food brings harmony and intimacy to the family and relationships. Shopping daily for fresh food is vital for all Chinese cooking. Unlike the junk food society of the U.S., the Chinese select live sea food, fresh meats and seasonal vegetables and fruits from the local marketplace to ensure freshness. This implies swimming fish, snappy crabs, and squawking hens. Even prepared foods like dim sum or Barbecue duck for to go orders should gleam, glisten, and steam as if only taken out from the oven. Chinese individuals generally aren't as worried about nutrition as Western culture. They're more involved with the food texture, flavor, color, and aroma.

Those are the essential points for good Chinese cooking. Chinese daily meals consist of four groups of food! grains, veggies, fruits, and meat. Since of lactose intolerance, Chinese don't consume considerable amounts of dairy products. Rather, Chinese alternative these with soymilk and tofu, which likewise contain significant amounts of protein and calcium. Some exceptions include preserved veggies like snow cabbage or mustard greens, maintained eggs, aka Thousand year old eggs or salted and dry fish. Other conditions include snack items like beef jerky, cuttlefish jerky, sweet and sour preserved plums, or dehydrated mango pieces. Western desserts like biscuits, cakes, pies, and ice cream are eaten only on unique events like birthdays and weddings. Families usually eat seasonal fruits as dessert. Chinese desserts like red bean soup, sweet white lotus seed soup, or steam papaya soup are served once in awhile as a unique treat on a hot summer's night.

 Ethnic Chinese cooking does not involve lots of deep fried cooking. The reason majority of the Chinese restaurants in America also have deep fried dishes like sweet and sour pork, almond fried Chicken, and deep fried shrimp is to encourage business and also to please western tastes. This obviously displays just why there are more overweight and high blood pressure level concerns in Western culture than you'll find in Chinese culture. Chinese barely waste any section of the animal and also have found ways to cook virtually every part. Chinese culture believes that Yi xing bu xing, which suggests by using any form or part of the animal the same part of the human body may be refreshed and strengthened.

Chinese Seafood by taoismjan on Scribd

Chinese Restaurant Menu

If you're like a lot of individuals, you most likely enjoy eating Chinese food. There are various options to select from, and several individuals find that there are so many selections on the menu which are good to eat. You may also find that with the number of items on the menu, you may keep trying new foods as well as see what your favorites are when you're going to go out as well as eat.

 Chinese food is popular, as well as most everywhere the fact that you get you'll find Chinese restaurants offering lots of items to choose from, and several have explanations of what the dishes are so you know just what dish it is, and what type of items you might need to attempt. Among the best parts about Chinese food is the fact that many of the eateries deliver. That's recommended if you wish to eat Chinese food, but you don't need to go out to the eatery. Chinese delivery will often make and deliver any one of the items on the menu which you would like. You might enjoy having your hot food brought to your door and never have to leave your house. When you're trying to determine how to purchase the dishes on the menu, you can typically start by picking the meat that you will get.

 Most Chinese menus have each among the main types of cuisine recorded under poultry, beef or other meats. You may select which of the meats you're going to order, and after that find the dish the fact that sounds the best. You may also purchase soups and appetizers, egg rolls and several rice and vegetable choices will also be available. Many of the Chinese delivery menus will indicate if any one of the dishes is spicy, as well as some you might need to request how spicy you're going to order it and every other statement the fact that you need to make before you get the food provided. You may also find that most restaurants do provide the delivery options. Whenever you find a fantastic place which Provides Chinese food delivery, you can try numerous different items to see those that you like the best, and try the various kinds of Chinese food which are available. You may enjoy the various kinds of rice, veggies, meats and variations which are offered on majority of the Chinese menus as well as find the ones the fact that you appreciate the most. Many individuals like to start out the dinner with an egg roll, or alternative starter item.

Catering Services

When there is an important event and you need to offer great food to the guests, it is time for you to use a food caterer. During an event, you'll find more essential things for you to manage like briefing the emcee and attending to visitors. The last thing that you would like to worry about is the food. It can make a lot of sense to employ catering services for the event. These events include workshops, marriages, start parties, birthday parties, as well as corporate events. With a pro food caterer around, he'll help you in the preparation as well as setup, without you worrying about the quality of the food for the guests. Before you employ a food catering business, you need to contemplate the kind of food service to offer to your guests.

 Do you need to possess a buffet or a take a seat meal? If you're offering a take a seat meal to your guests, you have to choose what types of appetizer, main course and sweets to serve. If you intend to provide a buffet, you need to discover where to train your trays of food for the guest. A professional food catering is going to be able to give you sound advice as well as recommendations on which kind of food service to offer to your guests. To make sure the catering setup streams fluidly, you'll have to provide a large space to your food caterer to work in. Ensure that the food setup area is large enough to accommodate both the caterer as well as his staffs. If you're providing a buffet, the region where you serve the food must be spacious enough in order that your guests can move quickly and get the food they need. You'll not want your guests to pass through to get their food. Before you employ a food catering service, make certain you have a look at the caterer menu as well as get the quotes based on the estimated number of individuals attending your event.

If you do decide to provide alcoholic beverage to the guests, make sure to inform the caterer in order that he could put up perhaps a wine bar to serve the beverages. Remember to allow your caterer know all the details in order that he'll know your anticipation as well as give you a well prepared catering company. The caterer should assist you to clean up the set up area. An expert food caterer is surely an asset for almost any event that you organize.

Chinese Spoons

Chinese spoons became an extremely Trendy way to serve appetizer or canapés, along with including Chinese spoons in your wedding reception will help to give it a modern edge. As the name indicates, these chunky spoons originate in China. They're used alongside chopsticks for every day dining, and are particularly useful when eating soup or rice. If a Chinese spoon is used to consume liquid, like soup, the fluid is sipped from the side somewhat like a cup. If solid food has been eaten, the user lifts the spoon to their mouth along with after that eats the food using chopsticks. Chinese spoons are often produced of porcelain along with are plain white, but they may be made from other supplies such as metal, and will also be accessible an extensive variety of conventional and modern oriental designs and colors.

                                 

They've a wide, generally flat bowl and a curved handle. Chinese spoons are used to present bite sized parts of complex dishes as appetizer or canapés at modern gatherings and weddings. Sweet or salty foods are arranged in individual pieces, one on each spoon bowl and after that trays or circular plates of spoons can be found to guests. This makes the layout and presentation of the canapés very efficient, and is a simple way for guest to eat intricate appetizer without using plates or cutlery. Chinese spoon appetizer work best when they involve a bit of strong food resting in a sauce or soup. Chinese spoons could make beautiful wedding bomboniere, particularly if you're having an Asian inspired wedding theme. Look out for unusually shaped or extremely decorative spoons that may be full of sweet treats. You can even place Asian spices in the bowl from the spoon along with tie a recipe recommendation to the handle.