Popular Chinese Food That You'll Love
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Chinese food is an ever-evolving cuisine that takes influence from all the different regions of China and changes with each new generation. There are also many different Chinese dishes that have come out of the immigrant experience around the world, as well, with immigration into China providing new flavors and recipes and emigration around the world providing access to new ingredients.
Here at Fly By Jing, we want to make it easy to add your own personal touch to Chinese food dishes from history. In addition to sharing our favorite ingredients, spices, and oils, we also offer our favorite recipes and stories of the culture and history that make Chinese food dishes so special. Here are just a few of our favorite popular Chinese food dishes.
History of Chinese Food
Chinese food dates back over 5,000 years and comes in many different shapes and forms. There are eight distinct regional cuisines around the country, and their flavor profiles and commonly used ingredients make them each unique and delicious in their own way.
For instance, Sichuan food is rich in hot peppers and chilis due to the region’s abundant humidity and lush climate. Other regions rely heavily on seafood, thanks to their proximity to the coastlines, and others on ingredients like soybeans, which are drought-resistant and very versatile.
Thousands of years ago, early Chinese food featured a lot of grilled fish dishes and early versions of the grains that are still used in Chinese cooking today, like rice, beans, and barley. Salt was used in many forms to help both improve flavor and aid in storage.
Since then, our favorite meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes have emerged in myriad forms. You can begin cooking some easy and delicious recipes right at home today.
Our Favorite Chinese Food Recipes
When it comes to cooking Chinese food, the only question is—where do you start? There are so many different variations of flavors and textures, and Chinese food can be easily adapted to fit many personal dietary needs. You can also adjust the spice and flavor profile to your own personal tastes, with some of our recipes and suggestions.
Hot Pot
It’s hard not to love a hot pot dining experience. In addition to serving up amazing flavors, it’s also a chance to connect with loved ones. In fact, part of hot pot dining is about taking your time and sharing with friends and family.
You’ll make hot pot at home by bringing your favorite broth to heat in a special hot pot dish and then preparing an arrangement of meats and vegetables that pair well with the broth flavor. Cook the ingredients in the broth and enjoy a great meal with friends today.
Dim Sum
Dim sum is another social dining experience. Whether you’re enjoying dim sum at a restaurant or bringing it home, it’s a chance to test out amazing flavors, not only of Chinese food but Chinese tea, as well. Dim sum recipes rose out of the success of tea houses in Chinese history, and modern dim sum dishes are paired with a selection of teas that best fit the flavors of your ordered dishes.
With dim sum, you’ll get the chance to test out many great flavors. That’s because the table will split many small dishes over the course of the night, rather than each individual ordering a single dish. Pork buns, dumplings, and sesame balls are all common dim sum dishes you can begin making at home.
Chinese Soups
We could put together a book of our favorite Chinese soup dishes! There’s no better way to keep warm than with spicy Chinese soups, and you have a wide variety of options to pick from. You can add in your favorite meats, like chicken, pork, or duck, or make a dish rich with vegetables and noodles.
Check out some popular soup options in Chinese cuisine like hot and sour soup, egg drop soup, bird’s nest soup, and even winter melon soup.
Noodles
Noodles are one of the most versatile Chinese food dishes, and that makes them an excellent option when you’re ready to start cooking at home. You can adjust them to fit both your dietary restrictions, with options like vegetarian noodle dishes and gluten-free noodles, and you can pair them with all of your favorite spices and flavors for bold, sweet, savory, or umami tastes.
Noodles are also an excellent option for home cooking because you can make them very quickly—or take the time to create more complex dishes to share with friends and family. Some of our favorite Chinese noodle dishes are spicy Sichuan peanut noodles, lo mein, crispy pork noodles, and more.
Sichuan Chili Chicken
Sichuan dishes are known for being spicy and loaded with delicious hot peppers, thanks to their humid climate. Chili chicken is just one of the delicious options for chili recipes that embrace the bold and spicy flavors of chili oil. You can also make spicy Sichuan pork or use your preferred chili oil in many other delicious recipes.
Dumplings
Like noodles, Chinese dumplings are easy to make your own—and they’re always delicious! It takes only a few ingredients to make the dough, and then you can fill them with all of your favorite ingredients, including pork, chicken, and vegetables.
There are so many excellent options for dumplings, but some of our favorites include fried pork, shrimp and herbs, scallion and tofu, and more. They also come with classic Chinese flavors like ginger, garlic, sesame, and soy sauce. Dumplings also go very well in soups, and they’re a great dish for mixing with your favorite spices and sauces. Dip in chili sauce, Zhong sauce, and more!
You’ll find dumplings are a traditional part of celebrations like the Chinese New Year, because they signify prosperity for the new year. Sometimes, they will have coins cooked in, and the diner who bites into the coin will have good fortune.
Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu is an excellent option if you’re looking to cook up a vegan dish with all of your favorite Chinese food flavors. In addition to tofu, this comfort food recipe delivers up flavors of garlic, ginger, chili crisp, Sichuan peppers, and fermented black bean.
This dish, like many from the Sichuan region, utilizes all of those great pepper flavors for a spicy and warm meal that can be easily adjusted to fit your heat level preferences. Mapo tofu is traditionally made with meat, but you can make an easy substitution with dried shiitake mushrooms or other vegetables, and you might find that you prefer that one more! It has a spicy and umami flavor from the peppers and fermented bean paste and is easy to begin making at home today.
Kung Pao Shrimp
There are so many excellent Chinese food seafood dishes, and Kung Pao shrimp is just one of the amazing options available to you. In addition to shrimp, this dish employs ingredients like peanuts, garlic, and oyster sauce. You’ll also want to use your favorite vegetables, including onions, peppers, and chilis.
Many dishes in Chinese cooking require a neutral oil with a high smoke point for cooking, and Kung Pao is one of them. Canola or peanut oil are both good options for the stir-frying process that you’ll use when cooking Kung Pao shrimp at home.
You’ll start by toasting the chilis, adding the peanuts and garlic, adding the shrimp and the vegetables, and then mixing in your spices, sauces, and stock. Once combined and cooked, serve immediately over rice.
Conclusion
The truth is, when it comes to popular Chinese dishes, there’s something for everyone. Chinese food combines history, family, culture, and flavor for a unique and special dining experience at your favorite restaurant or a cozy night at home.
You can create elaborate meals like hot pots and dim sum, or you can make easy and delicious comfort food like a classic noodle dish with soy sauce or peanut sauce.
Soups, salads, stir-fries, and dumplings are just a few of the excellent options that make up Chinese cuisine, and you can begin cooking up your own favorite flavors today. Fly By Jing is here to help. We carry the essential spices and ingredients that will help you to achieve spicy, umami, and sweet flavors in all of your meals. Explore our growing collection of Chinese food recipes and begin testing out your personal popular Chinese food dishes today.
Sources
History of Chinese Cuisine | Top China Travel
Everything You Need to Know to Make Chinese Hot Pot at Home | Serious Eats
