Though Chinese cooking incorporates vegetable oil today, the most traditionl cooking oil used is Peanut oil. Occasionally Sesame oil is used as well though the oil used can depend on the dish.
For value for the money, you can’t beat a trip to a Chinese buffet. In addition to having your choice of delicious entrees and sides, you’ll also get dessert options so you can indulge in a sweet treat without having to feel guilty about paying for extra.
Although fried rice is one of the most popular dishes sold in Chinese restaurants today, in China rice is typically served plain. It's a staple at mealtime and a major source of carbohydrates there.
Wondering what kind of flavors and seasoning to expect from Taiwanese food? Traditionally, Taiwanese cooking uses a variety of Asian seasonings like soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili peppers, but also has its own local variety of basil called jiucéngta (or “nine story pagoda”).
In China, dumplings are called "jiaozi." Jiaozi should not be confused with wonton: jiaozi has a thicker skin and a relatively flatter, double-saucer like shape. Wontons have thinner skin, are rounder, and are usually served in broth.
Taiwanese food is heavily influenced by the cuisines of China and Japan. Indeed, many Taiwanese dishes feature traditional foods from both cultures: Japanese foods like sushi and sashimi and Chinese rice noodles and seaweed.
Did you know that Chinese is the second largest non-English language spoken in U.S. homes after Spanish? 2.6 million people over age 5 speak Chinese in their home.
Chinese cuisine is normally divided into four sections: northern, southern, western, and eastern. Taiwanese cuisine has a lot of influence from the eastern cuisine of the Fujian province, but has given the cuisine its own unique flair and distinctive properties.
You probably already know that rice is a staple of the Chinese diet. What you may not know is that there are lots of varieties of rice to choose from. In fact, agricultural experts believe there are more than 40,000 different types of rice grown worldwide.
Did you know that "Chow Mein" is the Cantonese pronunciation of the Chinese characters that represent "stir fried noodles”? Chow mein noodles are cooked in boiling water, cooled, and then stir fried with onions, celery, and pork, beef, chicken, or shrimp.
Did you know that almost all Taiwanese dishes are prepared using rice wine? Indeed, most dishes are cooked using clear white rice wine, which is quite similar to the Japanese cooking wine mirin. However, the rice wine used in Taiwanese cuisine is lighter and allows for greater flavor subtleties.
Tofu is believed to have originated in ancient China. Care to guess how old the process for producing this nutritious food is believed to be? If you guessed 2,000 years old or so, you're right.
You may have noticed a lack of cheese and milk in popular Chinese food options. That's because dairy products never became popular in China. There is the rough equivalent used in desserts and sauces, though. Care to guess what it is? If you guessed tofu (soy milk), you're right.
Dim sum actually comes from Cantonese-style Chinese culinary traditions. This Americanized tradition is fashioned after the custom of feasting on a variety of pastries and dumplings in China’s teahouses.
What is the Chinese word for chopsticks? Kuaizi – which means “quick bamboo.” Chopsticks are believed to have originated from China thousands of years ago during the Shang Dynasty - and they are commonly made out of bamboo or metal.
One of the hubs of Chinese food in the United States has been the Chinatowns that have popped up in practically every major urban area in the country. The first and most prominent Chinatown was in San Francisco.
One of the enduring contributions of Chinese culinary traditions to the world is soy sauce. Made from fermented soybeans and wheat, this liquid condiment is widely used in cooking to add flavor to dishes. It was formulated about 2,220 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty.
A little soy sauce with your Chinese menu option is a good idea. It will help make that plain rice or pot sticker taste richer and more satisfying. Soy typically contains quite a bit of salt, though. If you're watching your salt intake, ask the server for low-sodium soy sauce. It's often available on request. If not, use a little less, and explore some other sauce options.
Taiwanese cuisine features a variety of fruits. Popular fruits featured in dishes and as sides include Asian pears, coconuts, kumquats, lemons, oranges, apples, watermelon, mangos, papayas, guava, bananas, grapes, strawberries, and passion fruit.
Duck is a popular meat in Chinese cuisine. One of the most famous traditional dishes is Peking duck, which features a thin, crispy skin and is widely considered a national dish of China. Peking duck originates from Beijing and has been served for many hundreds of years.
You probably already know natives eat Chinese cuisine using chopsticks. Care to guess how many pairs of chopsticks are used and discarded across China every year? If you guessed 45 billion, you're right.
Many Chinese like to serve whole chickens for their New Year celebration. Having the chicken served whole (complete with head and feet) is said to bring togetherness, prosperity, and unity to a family. Also, melons and pomelos may be served during this celebration as it is believed these foods will help keep the family large.
When giving a gift in China, it is polite to offer it with both hands, regardless of the size of the gift. Custom dictates that the receiver of the gift should initially refuse the gift three time before receiving it with both hands.
Chinese cuisine is integral to modern American life. As author Jennifer 8 Lee says, “If our benchmark for Americanness is apple pie, ask yourself, how often do you eat apple pie? Now how often do you eat Chinese food?” Good point!
Did you know that many Chinese buffets also do takeout? You can choose a variety of the dishes you like best when you go to the buffet and get them as takeout so you can enjoy them at home or have a delicious meal on the go.
China is home to the largest man-made structure on the planet. It is over 5,500 miles long and may be visible from low Earth orbit. Can you guess what it is? If you guessed that it's the Great Wall of China, you're right.
Soy milk and tofu are related. Both are extracted from soybeans, and both are also employed in Chinese cuisine the way dairy would be used in many Western recipes. You don't find cheese in Chinese cooking, but you do find plenty of tofu.
