Chinese food is savory, very aromatic, comforting, and above all else, delicious. It is the kind of food you would look forward to eating after a long day at work. Some Chinese restaurants, even have it on takeout so people who order them can just eat it anytime, anywhere. Here are the Top 10 most popular Chinese dishes of all time.
1. Chow mein
Chow mein simply means “fried noodles”, the chow means “fried” and the mein means “noodles”. It is one of the most ordered dishes on the menu and also one of the most favorite. The recipe consists of noodles, meat, preferably pork or chicken.
You can add shrimps if you like and some more vegetables to make it a nutritious meal. The savory sauce is the highlight of this dish which is a mixture of oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper.
2. Sweet and sour pork
This dish has a tangy yet sweet taste. It is made of deep-fried pork with a red-orange-colored sauce that is a mixture of ketchup, pineapple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, bell peppers, and carrots.
Mix it all together with the pork and you have yourself a wonderful meal. It is a certified belly-buster.
3. Yangzhou fried rice
This is a complete meal in a bowl. It comprises meat or ham and a Chinese sausage that you can only find in Chinese markets. Mix it with some vegetables like green peas and carrots and you can add more if you want.
Stir in some beaten egg and you can have it for breakfast. It is a great meal to kick-start your day.
4. Sesame-Ginger Chicken
If you do not mind getting your hands all sticky, then you will love this delicious recipe. The chicken is fried and dumped in a spicy and sweet sauce that is flavored with ginger and sesame oil.
It is then topped with toasted sesame seeds and some green onions. This dish is finger-licking good.
5. Mapo Doufu
Map Doufo or more commonly known in Chinese restaurants as Mapo tofu hails from the Sichuan province in China. It is a spicy dish made of tofu and a chili bean-based paste sauce. It usually has pork or beef, incorporated into the dish.
The tale about a Ma Po or an “old woman with a pockmarked face”, who served this dish to poor farmers in ancient China, was said to be the origin of the name.
6. Hot and sour soup
This Chinese soup is one of the best comfort food in the whole world. The heat and the sourness of the soup do not overpower the other. They are perfectly well-balanced like the yin and yang. It is made from black rice vinegar, chili, and some shiitake mushrooms.
You can add some chicken or other kind of meat. Once you take a mouthful of this comforting soup, you will feel so much better for sure.
7. Kung Pao Chicken
It is a very spicy stir-fried dish made of chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. This dish also originated from the Sichuan province of China. It is very popular in China which is why a lot of variations to the recipe have been made.
In some regions, the dish is made with a little less spice than the original. When cooking this dish, you can adjust the amount of chili peppers to your own taste.
8. Peking duck
The Peking duck is enjoyed by so many because of its very thin and crispy skin. It is a 65-day old duck slaughtered and then seasoned to perfection. It is roasted in a hung oven.
It is best eaten with hoisin sauce paired with cucumbers, scallions, and even lettuce.
9. Chop Suey
Chop Suey is a traditional Chinese dish that means “assorted pieces”. It consists of meat such as pork, chicken, beef, fish, and shrimp. To make it even more nutritious, you can add some vegetables like bean sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage.
Boiled quail eggs are usually sliced for garnish at the end. A wok is essential to cook this dish fast so as not to overcook the vegetables.
10. Chinese pot stickers
Chinese potstickers or Jiaozi is a delicious dumpling dish. It is made by wrapping a mixture of ground meat with minced vegetables in very thin rice paper-like wrapper, and then folded and sealed by pressing around the edges of the wrap.
It is best enjoyed by dipping it in a soy-vinegar sauce with chili peppers. But if you are not up for the heat, you can simply omit the chili and enjoy it as it is.
Chinese food sure is worth salivating for. You can try some of these recipes at home and avoid the usual takeout. They are very healthy, delicious and filling too. Not to mention, they are very easy to make, so fixing yourself a late-night meal is no bother at all.