With the onset of the COVID- 19 pandemic, eating outside became difficult. This situation encouraged us to cook our favorite cuisines at home. From Italian, American, and Lebanese, we tried it all. But if Chinese food is what you love, chances are you may have struggled with it a little to achieve those authentic flavors.
Authentic Chinese food may look challenging to prepare but with the right guidance from MissChineseFood, making Chinese food is possible and easy.
Today we are going to share some tips so that you can cook authentic Chinese food at home. I’m going to share some items that you should have at home to relish authentic Chinese flavors at home. Come, let’s have a look!
1) Powdered Spices
Asia is known for its spices. For cooking a friendly and authentic Chinese dish, you need to have some specific powdered spices at home.
Chinese food is often spicy. Therefore, your pantry should be stocked with powdered spices having significant heat levels. Some spices used to make Chinese food includes are cardamom, sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and ginger.
The mixture of these spices is often called the five spices as it gives five different tastes like salty, sour, bitter, sweet and spicy all in one dish. This powder is commonly used in meat dishes. You can use this while marinating your meat or in a dish like roasted pork. Experiment your next meal by using this spice mix and enjoy the taste.
2) Red Chilli Oil
Spices play an essential role in Chinese cuisine. One popular condiment made using red chili is red chili oil. It is prepared by frying dried red pepper in some peanut oil. This oil is the heart of Chinese cuisine.
Red chili oil is used in many ways. You can drizzle it over savory sauces, fried chicken, noodles, or have it with starters. As the name suggests, the red chili oil is spicy in taste.
3) Lard
Lard is something that is used in the replacement of vegetable oil or canola oil during stir fry or braising in Chinese cuisine. Lard is nothing but pork fat that is refined and clarified for cooking purposes. This is easily available at some ethnic grocery stores. You can easily use lard instead of butter. The Chinese chefs love using lard for their umami flavors.
4) Fermented Beans
Fermented bean sauce or paste is Chinese cuisine’s most handy items. It is a versatile item used to flavour vegetables, meats, seafood and bean curd. You can use it as a dip or a tastemaker in any stir fry or savory dish. It can also be used for marination. It has a salty, sweet, and bitter taste.
5) Sesame Oil
Chinese people and chefs love the use of sesame oil for its nutty and earthy flavors that adds a unique taste to the dishes. Sesame oil is also good for skin and hair. To make authentic and classic Chinese cuisine, sesame oil is a pantry must have.
