Cooking Chinese foods are considered healthy and a balanced way of having ancient Chinese culture.

Ethnic recipes originated from different cultural diversities of each country. It is a way of learning traditional meals in terms of food preparation, dietary habits, food symbolism and rituals.

Most Chinese dishes combine a mixture of ingredients and a balance of elements in its flavors, colors, aroma, textures and food preparations. It is a noted and regarded great combination of dishes.

The usual meal that comprises Chinese ethnic dishes would include a cup of steamed rice, mixed vegetables, fried, steamed dish or soup. It even has four major Chinese cooking styles like Beijing Cuisine, Cantonese, Szechwan and Hunan also incorporate mixing of dishes.

A good Chinese cooking practice can be distinguished by their seasoning blends, temperature control and meticulous cutting of ingredients. For best results, parboiling and partial frying are the techniques used by Chinese for centuries already.

In a family meal, eating rice two to three times a day is basic. Two cups of long grain white rice is cooked with 3 cups water for just 20 minutes, done usually in four servings.

For rice porridge or congee, combining 8 cups of water and 1 cup of short grain rice will make out a commonly eaten breakfast. You can bring it to a boil, cover it in low fire and allow it to simmer for 1 ½ hours. Stirring is important every now and then in order to keep it from sticking in the pan. Veggies, dried fruits, meat, scallions, gingers and nuts can be added on top in order to spice up the recipe.

A combination of tea in every meal is a must. It is the most-loved beverage of Chinese individuals. Social gatherings would not be complete without a cup of hot tea. Oolong, black and green tea are the 3 popular varieties in China. Oolong is brown pale tea as compared to fresh peaches. Black tea has a more strong taste. Green tea has a light and fresh flavor. It comes in loose form and it is often drank without sugar or milk. Drinking tea lowers the risk of cholesterol, prevents cancer and heart diseases.

Some Chinese ethnic recipes are as follows:

Soups and Appetizers

A clear soup serves as a drink during meals; it is a way to warm up people during the winter time. Their soup is usually served in large bowls, for dinner or banquet. On the other hand, dimsum as an appetizer is served during the mid-mornings or afternoon and can be as a late night snack. Dimsum samples include wonton, egg rolls, dumplings, shrimp balls and pastries. To enjoy delicious soups and dims sum samples, you can try these recipes:

Wonton Recipe - Ingredients:

o Minced pound pork ½ lb.
o Minced fresh mushrooms ¼ lb.
o ¼ tsp. salt
o 1 tbsp. minced scallion
o 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
o 1 pc. egg yolk
o Peanut oil
o Wanton squares

Method:

o Using a bowl, mix pork, mushrooms, salt, scallions, pepper and egg yolk.
o Put a 1/2 tsp mixture at the center of won ton square and fold a corner to make triangles.
o Pull the corner bottom and overlap the tips pinching together.
o Fry in hot oil and drain.
o Serve with ketchup or mustard with a horseradish. It can make 120 pieces.

Main Dish

A main dish usually consists of meats or fish and vegetables. Fresh vegetables are important. It should be cooked quickly in order to retain its color and crispness. The dish below is good for 4 persons.

Almond Chicken Recipe
Ingredients:

o 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts
o 1 tsp. honey
o 1 tbsp. cornstarch
o 12 ounces pea pods
o 3 tbsp. soy sauce
o ¼ cup vegetable oil
o 3 to 4 tbsp. Water
o 1 tsp. ginger
o 1 cup natural whole almonds
o 1/3 cup sherry

Method:

o Cut chicken breasts in ½ inch cube.
o Mix ginger, cornstarch, and honey. Blend soy sauce and sherry in water.
o Heat oil in a wok on medium heat.
o Add almonds and chicken. Cook for 3 minutes.
o Pour sherry mixture until sauce thickens and add pea pods. Stir fry and glazed.

Source: Articlesbase

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