All Posts
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Below, view all our posts in chronological order, starting with the most recent. To browse recipes by category, course, or collection, visit our Recipe Index. Also be sure to check out our How-To section and Chinese Ingredients Glossary.
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Sweet Bean Paste (豆瓣酱 – Dou Ban Jiang)
Updated:View Post: Sweet Bean Paste (豆瓣酱 – Dou Ban Jiang)There are many kinds of soybean pastes and sauces used in Chinese cooking and Asian cuisine at large, including hoisin sauce, spicy bean sauce, and what we’ll be talking about in this article, regular bean paste, or sweet soybean paste.…
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Tamarind Paste
Updated:View Post: Tamarind PasteTamarind paste is essential to making an authentic pad thai, as well as other Thai and Southeast Asian dishes. Tamarind is also a key ingredient in India, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. In this quick article, we’ll…
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Chili Oil
Updated:View Post: Chili OilWhile we didn’t include Chili Oil in our list of 10 Essential Chinese Pantry Ingredients, it is a staple in Chinese cuisine, and in our pantry. A dollop of chili oil can wake up a bowl of noodles, add a…
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Fish Sauce
Updated:View Post: Fish SauceFish Sauce. It’s the reason for that funky smell in the air as you walk towards the front door of a Thai restaurant! While it’s used in some Chinese dishes, fish sauce is an essential ingredient for many Taiwanese, Thai,…
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Chicken Noodle Wonton Soup
Updated:View Post: Chicken Noodle Wonton SoupDuring these cold months, you might need a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm you up. We love a classic pot of chicken stock, but when you’re looking for something a little different, this Chicken Noodle Wonton Soup…
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How to Cook Dumplings: Boil, Steam, Pan-fry
Updated:View Post: How to Cook Dumplings: Boil, Steam, Pan-fryGrowing up, dumplings (jiǎozi, 餃子) were practically their own food group in our family. A bag of dumplings was always in the freezer, ready to become an after school snack, quick breakfast, party appetizer, or lazy weeknight dinner. In this…
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How to Make Five Spice Powder
Updated:View Post: How to Make Five Spice PowderFive Spice Powder is probably one of the most well-known Chinese seasoning blends, and a popular shortcut for getting that signature flavor. What is five spice powder made of? We did an informal audit of five spice powders, and it’s…
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Sweet and Sour Chicken
Updated:View Post: Sweet and Sour ChickenSweet and Sour Chicken is made by batter-frying chicken and then tossing it in a quick and easy sweet and sour sauce. If you love Chinese food but don’t live in China, chances are you’ve tried this dish before. Meaning,…
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Chinese Fried Ribs with Fermented Red Bean Curd
Updated:View Post: Chinese Fried Ribs with Fermented Red Bean CurdChinese fried ribs marinated in red bean curd are a favorite in our family and a proven crowd pleaser at any party. The combination of fermented red bean curd and five spice powder makes for some of the all-time tastiest…
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The Chinese Zodiac: What’s Your Animal Sign?
Updated:View Post: The Chinese Zodiac: What’s Your Animal Sign?It may already be 2023, but the start of the lunar year of the Rabbit begins shortly after the calendar new year! Are you ready for what the Chinese New year has in store? Do you know your animal sign?…
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Chinese Year of the Rat
Updated:View Post: Chinese Year of the Rat1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 The Chinese year of the Rat is a special one, because the the Rat was the first animal to cross the finish line in a race to the Heavenly Gate. The old Chinese…
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Chinese Braised Ti Pang (Pork Shank – 红烧蹄膀)
Updated:View Post: Chinese Braised Ti Pang (Pork Shank – 红烧蹄膀)In some parts of China, Braised Ti Pang is a must-have dish for Chinese New Year feasts. It’s said that it brings luck and stability! Just look at the dish’s presentation––it’s a masterpiece and a heavy hitter (硬菜, yìngcài). Even…
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Wasabi
Updated:View Post: WasabiWasabi may be a familiar ingredient to anyone who’s dined at a sushi restaurant, but did you know most wasabi served in restaurants and sold in tubes isn’t real wasabi at all? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you…
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Plum Sauce
Updated:View Post: Plum SauceIn this article, we’ll talk about Chinese plum sauce, including what it is, how it’s used, where to buy it, and how to store it. What Is Chinese Plum Sauce? Chinese Plum Sauce is a slightly sour but mostly sweet…
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Sichuan Peppercorn Oil
Updated:View Post: Sichuan Peppercorn OilSichuan peppercorn oil can easily add that distinctive numbing flavor to Sichuan dishes. It’s particularly convenient if you don’t have time to infuse oil with whole Sichuan peppercorns, or if you simply don’t like having whole or crushed peppercorns in…
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Stuffed Chinese Fried Gluten Balls
Updated:View Post: Stuffed Chinese Fried Gluten BallsToday, we have a particularly special recipe: Stuffed Fried Gluten Balls. Ok, so it may not be the best sounding recipe in English, but rest-assured, this one is absolutely delicious. The whole family thought so! The balls’ round shape also…
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Snow Fungus Soup with Pears
Updated:View Post: Snow Fungus Soup with PearsSnow Fungus Soup with Pears (bīngtáng yín’ěr dùn xuělí, 冰糖银耳炖雪梨) is a Chinese dessert soup usually served on special occasions like Chinese New Year. Snow fungus is more expensive than the more common black wood ear fungus, making it a…
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How to Cut a Whole Chicken Chinese-Style
Updated:View Post: How to Cut a Whole Chicken Chinese-StyleIf you’ve ever prepared a whole Chinese chicken, you’ve probably gotten to the last instruction: “Cut up your chicken into bite-sized pieces and serve.” You look at the chicken you worked hard for, and wonder how you’ll get it to…
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We’re Sarah, Kaitlin, Judy, and Bill– a family of four cooks sharing our home-cooked and restaurant-style recipes.
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