Food plays an important part in Chinese culture, with the belief that it offers harmony and balance, bringing families closer together. Ingredients are fresh and healthy, and often complex, and quite unlike how Chinese food is represented in the west.
Chinese cuisine outside the country is a pale imitation of authentic Chinese food. Throughout the country you’ll find different specialities, with different dishes prevalent. With so much available to try, you could stay in China all year and still not have sampled everything! To help you get started, here are some of the best dishes to try during your stay.
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Beijing Duck (北京烤鸭)
Also known as Peking Duck, Beijing Duck is one of the most famous dishes in China. Mentioned in records dating back to the 14th century, it’s often recommended as an essential for any trip to China, along with the Great Wall.
It takes around three days to prepare a duck correctly so this isn’t a dish that can easily be made at home. Air is injected between the meat and the skin to give a glossy, crisp finish while wood from fruit trees provides the distinctive flavour and red colour.
The duck should be sliced in front of diners, just before its eaten. A single duck can contain 120 thin slices, all of which contain both meat and skin. You’ll find a variety of side dishes offered to accompany the duck such as pancakes, sesame biscuits, cucumber and plum sauce.
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Spicy Chengdu Hotpot (火锅)
Chengdu is known for its spicy food, and none more so than its famous hotpot. Considered as a must-try dish when you visit the region, the hotpot can be a real challenge to the digestive system if you’re not a huge fan of spicy food!
The main soup is crammed full of chillis and may seem quite oily at first. You can ask for some rice or bread to go with your hotpot if you want something to counteract the spice and grease. The soup will be simmered on your table where you’ll have the chance to choose the raw ingredients to add. These are then cooked right in front of you in the spicy soup, creating an authentic hotpot experience.
If you really can’t handle the spice, some restaurants offer alternatives. This includes a half-and-half option with the traditional spicy soup accompanied by a more mellow broth. Bear in mind this won’t be offered everywhere and some restaurants will only offer the full-bodied hotpot dish.
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Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)
Named after the woman who first created it. Mapo Tofu is a dish that was first served in the mid-19th century. Originating from Sichuan, the dish contains fermented black beans, minced beef or pork and tofu cubes in a spicy sauce.
Sichuan is a region known for its spicy cooking and Mapo Tofu is no exception. Chilli oil, peppercorns and doubanjiang provide the heat, with an extra layer of chilli oil served on the top to bump up the spicy hit. Enjoy with rice or on its own – if you dare!
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Kungpao Chicken (宫保鸡丁)
Although Kungpao chicken is one of the most popular westernised Chinese dishes, you won’t get the full experience unless you try it in China. Containing chicken, Sichuan peppercorns, peanuts and vegetables, it’s a spicy dish with a flavour that should be multi-layered and develop as its eaten.
The spices that make up the core of this dish were illegal to ship to the US until 2005 and aren’t widely used in Western cuisine. Kungpao chicken in China is on a different level, paling your previous culinary experience of the dish into insignificance!
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Dumplings (饺子)
Dumplings are a big deal in China, particularly in the north. Unlike the heavy doughy dumplings of western cuisine, Chinese dumplings are considered to be a delicacy.
Each dumpling consists of a very thin skin made from dumpling dough which is then filled with finely chopped vegetables and meat of some kind. Popular dumpling meats include ground chicken, diced shrimp, minced pork, beef or fish. It is also possible to find vegetarian dumplings.
Rather than just being a filler, dumplings are celebrated as a delicious dish. With Sandhills Travel you can attend a “dumpling banquet” where there are many different types of dumpling to sample and to cook.
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Dim Sum (点心 )
Dim sum are often spoken about as a single dish but the term covers an enormous range of different types of food and flavours. Dim sum is a traditional food in China that is customarily eaten during brunch hours. However, it’s such a popular dish that you’ll find plenty of restaurants and street sellers that offer dim sum at any time of the day.
Typically accompanied by tea, dim sum are small and usually served in bamboo steamed dishes. They can be savoury or sweet, and may be fried, baked or steamed. Popular dim sum include pork and shrimp dumplings, barbecue pork buns and rice noodle rolls.
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