Step 1: Preparing Ingredients • Choose fresh ingredients: Chinese cooking emphasizes fresh vegetables, meats, seafood, and aromatic herbs. • Cutting techniques: Ingredients are often chopped into small, uniform pieces for even cooking (e.g., julienned, diced, or sliced). • Marination: Meats and seafood are marinated with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and other seasonings to enhance flavor.
Step 2: Prepping Sauces & Seasonings • Common sauces include soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil. • Spices like five-spice powder, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili paste add depth to flavors.
Step 3: Cooking Methods
Chinese cooking uses various methods, depending on the dish: • Stir-frying (炒, Chǎo): Fast cooking in a wok over high heat with minimal oil. Ingredients are constantly tossed to retain texture. • Steaming (蒸, Zhēng): Used for dumplings, fish, and buns. Food is placed in a bamboo or metal steamer over boiling water. • Boiling (煮, Zhǔ): Often used for soups, noodles, and dumplings. Ingredients are cooked in seasoned broth or water. • Deep-frying (炸, Zhà): Common for crispy dishes like spring rolls or sweet and sour pork. Food is fried in hot oil until golden brown. • Braising (红烧, Hóngshāo): Slow-cooking with soy sauce and spices for rich flavors, often used for meats.
Step 4: Serving & Presentation • Dishes are plated beautifully, often garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, or fresh herbs. • Meals are served family-style, where multiple dishes are shared at the table. • Rice or noodles often accompany the main dishes.