Beginner’s Guide to Chinese-Style Cooking
Ready to bao-down to big flavour? Learn your way around Chinese-style cooking at home with this guide.
Known for its diversity, impactful flavours, and history, Chinese food is enjoyed around the world, and here in Canada, you will find Chinese restaurants in most communities. While some ingredients and techniques may feel new, our beginner’s guide explains key flavours, pantry staples, and common equipment. It offers simple tips to build confidence in the kitchen and help you create Chinese-style dishes at home.
Fresh Ingredients
Fresh produce is the real veggie hero of Chinese cuisine, bringing vibrant flavours and exciting textures to every dish. They form the foundation of the vibrant flavours and diverse textures that Chinese cuisine is known for. Let’s take a look at some essentials:
- Broccoli
- Baby corn
- Carrots
- Snow peas
- Water chestnuts
- Bok choy
- Napa cabbage
Pantry Staples
Bring in those classic Chinese flavours with some pantry staples. Ingredients like soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil, alongside aromatics like garlic, ginger, chili paste, and more, help build flavour. With the right pantry staples, creating Chinese-inspired dishes at home can become easy, fun, and packed with flavour.
Basic Seasonings and Aromatics
Build layers of flavour with simple seasonings. Most dishes start with creating a fragrant base of garlic and ginger. Then adding chili flakes, fresh chilis, or chili paste can offer a customizable heat to everything from stir-fries to noodles. Other common spices in Chinese-style dishes include star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, and fennel seeds, also known as Chinese five-spice.
Sauces and Oils
Sauces and oils can help create depth of flavour in Chinese-style dishes. Soy sauce provides a savoury and strong umami flavour and can also be used as an odd-on after you're done cooking! Oyster and hoisin sauce provide sweetness, richness, and complexity without the long cooking time. Chinese cooking wine pairs well with aromatics and can help tenderize proteins like chicken, pork, beef, and seafood. Chinese cooking oils add flavour, aroma, and texture to home-cooked dishes. Neutral oils like peanut oil are commonly used in stir-fries, while sesame oil is known for its rich, nutty aroma and is typically added at the end of the cooking or used in dressings.
Common Ingredients
Chinese cooking at home often starts with a few trusty staples that make whipping up a meal a breeze. Carbs and proteins take centre stage in creating classic, easy Chinese-style dishes. Chicken, pork, beef, and tofu are quick-cooking stars that soak up sauces and marinades. Jasmine rice, wheat noodles, and udon add plenty of variety for quick bowls and one-pan meals. With these essentials on hand, you can work your way through many combinations of flavours and textures.
Meat & Tofu
Common proteins in Chinese-style home cooking include chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp. Tofu is a great meat alternative and is found in many Chinese-style dishes. It is known for its versatility, mild flavour, and ability to absorb seasonings and sauces beautifully.
Rice & Noodles
Rice and noodles create a flavourful foundation for a wide range of Chinese-style dishes, including stir-fries, leafy greens, and comforting soups. Medium-grain rice varieties, like jasmine rice, pair well with stir-fries. And when it is boiled or steamed, the grains naturally cling together, making it perfect for chopsticks! Hot pots or soups shine when they are served with noodles like udon, rice, and egg varieties.
Equipment
It’s full steam ahead when your kitchen is stocked up with the proper equipment. Items like woks, bamboo steamers, and mandoline slicers will help you cook with confidence, experiment, and serve up some delicious Chinese-style cuisine. With the right tools in hand, tossing noodles becomes a breeze, veggies slice in seconds, and dumplings come out perfectly fluffy every time.
Wok
A wok is one of the most versatile and essential tools for Chinese-style cooking at home. Its wide, sloping sides make it a great option for stir-frying, allowing ingredients to cook quickly and evenly over high heat. The shape also makes tossing and stirring easy, so vegetables, meat, and noodles mix together evenly. The wok can also be used for deep frying, steaming, and even making soups or braised dishes. A well-seasoned wok also develops naturally over time, making cooking and cleanup easier. With just one tool, you can explore a wide range of Chinese-inspired recipes!
Bamboo Steamer
A bamboo steamer is a must-have kitchen tool for bringing authentic Chinese-inspired cooking to life. The tool allows you to gently steam dumplings, buns, fish, and vegetables, helping preserve their natural flavours, colours, and nutrients. The stackable design allows you to cook multiple foods at once, which helps save time while keeping each item separate. Steaming with bamboo also adds a subtle, earthy aroma that can help enhance the dish without overpowering. With this tool in your kitchen, you can easily recreate Chinese-style dishes at home!
Mandoline Slicer
A mandoline slicer is a handy tool for Chinese-inspired cooking at home, making prep faster and more precise. The tools allow you to create uniform slices, juliennes, or matchsticks, which are perfect for stir-fries, salads, and noodle dishes. Consistent cuts help vegetables cook evenly, and they also look great in a finished dish! Many mandolines come with adjustable blades, giving you lots of options that you might need depending on the recipe. Always use the hand guard for safety, as the blades can be extremely sharp. This tool can help elevate home-cooked Chinese-style dishes with a professional-looking finish and evenly cooked ingredients every time.