Table of Contents
Chinese food is one of those cuisines that you think you know, until you realise that you really don’t. Incredibly diverse, regionally specific, purposeful and balanced. Once you dip your toes in beyond the egg fried rice you always buy, you might not be able to stop. So let’s dive into some of the best traditional dishes you absolutely must try!
What is a traditional Lunar New Year food in China?
It should come as no surprise that a nation housing over 1.4 billion people should have a variety of traditions and dishes served at New Year celebrations, depending on who you are and where you live. It might be chicken, fish, dumplings, or hot pot, but one stands out as a starting point.
If it were me, I’d go for longevity noodles. Symbolic of a long and healthy life, these noodles cannot have their strands cut and are intended to be eaten as a whole length. Long noodles = long life. Longevity noodles are often associated with Yi Mein noodles, a Cantonese egg noodle made from wheat flour. A wide variety of Yi Mein dishes are available to suit your tastes and preferences, so get stuck in and start enjoying that long and healthy life you just won yourself. It’s the Lunar New Year though, so don’t hold back (get the lobster).
Is fried rice a traditional Chinese food?
In short, yes! Fried rice is said to have originated in Yangzhou, northwest of Shanghai, many centuries ago. It’s been popular in China since the 6th century, so it’s fair to say it’s quite well established. More of a method than a singular dish, fried rice can contain any number of ingredients, some suitable for vegetarians and others that are more for meatlovers. It was utilised not only as a decadent, balanced dish for emperors and dignitaries, but also as a way for peasants to use leftovers and avoid waste.
Popularised in 20th century Western culture as a result of Chinese migration across the globe, fried rice stands as a symbol of globalisation and cultural education in real time.
Are egg rolls traditional Chinese food?
Egg rolls? No. They are not a traditional Chinese food. They are an Americanised adaptation of spring rolls, a Chinese and Southeast Asian appetiser or dim sum. Spring rolls vary greatly across Asia, but commonly contain shredded cabbage and some form of meat or seafood, in a thin wrapper that is then fried.
Egg rolls have a thicker wrapper and are deep fried, coming out crispy, chewy, and bumpy. They are served with various dipping sauces, try Hoisin for something a touch more authentic! While they are often an appetizer, they can easily steal the show, so get stuck in! Just remember to egg roll in moderation.
Chinese dishes to try
1. Hand pulled noodles / Biang Biang noodles
These hold a very special place in my heart. My university had a shop selling these just across the road, served with egg, peanuts, chili oil, and bok choy. A hot bowl of hand-pulled noodles can fix just about any bad day, and make a good day a great one. Unctuous, chewy noodles in a spicy, rich oil, how could you possibly say no?
2. Dandan noodles
Another Szechuan classic, Dandan noodles consist of pickled vegetables, spicy sauce, Szechuan peppercorns, and pork mince served over noodles. The traditional dish is dry, but a soup version is also widespread across China and abroad. Mouth-tingling meaty sauce, hot noodles, fresh vegetables, this is the kind of stuff people order on death row. Or, at least I would.
3. Mapo tofu
Numbing szechuan peppercorns, beef mince and tofu, served on a bed of rice and garnished with a few scallions. Guarantee you’ll go back for seconds. And the best part is, it’s so easy to make you can do it all again tomorrow!
4. Pineapple buns
A Hong Kong breakfast staple, these soft and sweet doughy delights are served hot and with butter, with some varieties filled with pork. No they don’t have pineapple in them, the name comes from the crusty topping of the bread bun.
5. Dim sum
More of a style of cuisine than a singular dish, Dim Sum is a series of small plates or appetisers forming a larger meal. Translating to “touch the heart”, these dishes were often served with tea as part of a bunch in Cantonese culture and cuisine. There are thought to be over two thousand different Dim Sum dishes, so I haven’t a hope of listing them all! The best thing you can do is head to the nearest Dim Sum restaurant and start ordering!
6. Century egg
It certainly is a delicacy, but try everything once, right? Made by preserving chicken, duck, or quail eggs in clay, ash, salt, and quicklime for weeks to months, producing a savoury and somewhat pungent flavour! They are often integrated into other dishes such as congee, so you may not realise one is on your plate ‘til you see it!
7. Pork bun
An absolute classic and must-have addition to any chinese meal. Actually, you don’t even need to have it with a meal. As a snack, on the go, it’s a little ball of happiness that works around you.
8. Peking duck
Crispy, glossy, skin encompasses moist, tender meat in this delectable dish. The duck is prepared over several days, which involves air drying that you may have seen in the windows of your local Chinatown. The duck is then roasted and served with thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, cucumber and spring onions to garnish. A perfect balance of rich and refreshing.
9. Bao buns
Now a popular street food item, Bao buns are the soft, fluffy cousin of the pork bun. You can tell they share a grandparent somewhere, but look and act differently enough to know they were raised in different neighborhoods. Often served open and with a variety of fillings, from pork belly to tofu. You really can’t go wrong with a good bao bun.
10. Wonton soup
I didn’t grow up in a Chinese household, but I can only imagine that this is the kind of dish your mother would give you when you’re sick in bed, wrapped up like a poorly Victorian child. Moreish, meat filled dumplings in a light yet flavourful broth, each bite one juicy step further on the road to recovery… and more wonton soup.
11. Congee
If I had to describe Congee, it would be ‘sloppy rice porridge’. You boil rice in lots of water until it takes on a pudding-like consistency, then top it with whatever tickles your fancy! Generally eaten for breakfast, it can also be served as a tasty main meal with various meats and seafood.
12. Claypot rice
par-cooked rice is added to a claypot with proteins, vegetables and spices to soak in and take on flavour, with the claypot developing a crust on the bottom of the rice, similar to paella! Traditionally done with chicken and Chinese sausage, claypot rice is the ultimate comfort food. If it comes out steaming and still in its pot, you’re in for an absolute treat.
I know what you’re wondering. How can I, a lonely little traveller, possibly hope to try this all? Let alone get to China and dine in the birthplace of these wondrous meals? Well, you can do all this and so much more on a Contiki China Adventure! Not only can you make friends to dine with, you can soak up the ancient wonders, spellbinding landscapes, and buzzing cities of mainland China!
