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With its rich culinary heritage, a journey through China promises to offer visitors an array of impressive dishes that are unforgettable.
Explore China: Delve into 11 Familiar Yet Distinctive Specialty Dishes
Kung Pao Chicken (Gong Bao Ji)
A spicy stir-fried chicken dish originating from Sichuan province, known for its bold and aromatic flavors due to the addition of chili peppers and peanuts. In Chinese culinary culture, Kung Pao Chicken holds special significance during traditional festivals and is valued for its high nutritional content and easy-to-eat nature, making it a favorite among many.
Mapo Tofu (Tofu in Chili Sauce)
Made from simple ingredients like tofu and minced meat stir-fried with soy sauce and chili to create a spicy flavor. This dish was created by a creative woman, hence it is named after her. Due to the cold weather in Sichuan, dishes here are mostly spicy to warm the body.
Shanghai Pan-Fried Bun
This famous dish from Shanghai is called shengjian bao, or simply shengjian. Shengjian bao is similar to tangbao - a type of bun with soup inside. The outer layer is made from wheat flour, chewy like dumpling skin or xiaolongbao. However, one side of the bun is pan-fried while the other side is steamed.
Pan-fried buns usually have pork filling but sometimes also include chicken, shrimp, crab... The filling also contains a special gelatin made from meat broth solidified into jelly, which melts under heat during cooking, becoming a liquid soup inside.
Field Lobster
A favorite dish among the Chinese for its rich and sweet meat with a high nutritional content. Field lobsters are cooked vigorously with chili and various spices and are often enjoyed with a cold beer.
Yangzhou Fried Rice
Yangzhou Fried Rice has been around since the Qing Dynasty, now famous in many countries around the world and found in most Chinese restaurants. The main ingredients for making Yangzhou Fried Rice are barbecue pork, shrimp, Chinese sausage, eggs, peas, and carrots. To enhance the rich flavor of this dish, you can add a little soy sauce on the side. While this may not be an unfamiliar dish, try the original flavor to see what sets it apart.
Beijing Roast Duck
This dish is already famous worldwide for its amazing flavor. With its thin crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat that melts in your mouth, eating it with the special sauce typical of China will definitely be different from elsewhere. The best way to enjoy this renowned dish is to take a piece of duck meat with crispy skin, place it on a thin pancake, add some slices of onion and cucumber, then dip it in sauce and eat.
Dong Pha Braised Pork
Carefully selected quality pork belly pieces are cut into square chunks, marinated with Thiệu Hưng wine, soy sauce, and various other characteristic spices. The pork is lightly fried before braising in a small pot until fully tender. This dish is incredibly satisfying.
Signature Hotpot Dishes
Due to the distinctive temperate climate, Chinese people have a strong affinity for hotpot dishes to warm themselves up during cold weather. You'll easily spot bustling hotpot eateries when traveling in China. Surely, the flavors of these hotpot dishes will leave a lasting impression on you.
Fermented Tofu
Despite its strong odor, once you try this dish, you'll be hooked by its flavor. It's a type of heavily fermented tofu, beloved by many in China. To enhance its unique taste, it's often prepared with chili powder to create a rich, spicy flavor that's irresistibly bold.
Dim Sum
A light cuisine originating from the Chinese tradition of tea drinking. Initially, they created small dishes made from vegetables, flour, and meat... primarily enjoyed with tea. Dim sum dishes are typically steamed and served in small bamboo baskets, such as dumplings, siu mai, buns, chicken feet... Enjoying dim sum is especially delightful when dipped in a special sauce known as 'seafood sauce' and chili sauce.
Lotus Seed Candy
A traditional Chinese snack that has been around for a long time and will be familiar to fans of Chinese period dramas. Lotus seed candy is made from lotus seeds coated with sugar on the outside, making them visually appealing and much more enticing.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourMarch 22, 2023
