Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Mini Northern Chinese Favorites
Mini Northern Chinese Favorites
Mini Northern Chinese Favorites
Ebook135 pages51 minutes

Mini Northern Chinese Favorites

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

()

Read preview

About this ebook

The evolution of northern Chinese cuisine has been strongly influenced by the relatively dry, cold climate and wind–swept steppes of northern China. It relies heavily on preserved foods and hearty fare to combat the harsh climate. Northern Chinese Favorites has everything you need to make 40 easy and authentic Chinese favorites. This book contains instructions for appetizers, desserts, meat, noodles, pancakes, poultry, seafood, soups, and vegetables. Recipes include:
  • Pressed tofu with spicy sauce
  • Sweet almond cream dessert
  • Five spice Beijing spareribs
  • Jiajiag Mian
  • Potstickers
  • Chicken with cashews
  • Hot and sour soup
  • Bok choy with black mushrooms
  • And many more!
Also included in this book are unit conversion tables, dual measurements, over 35 detailed photos, and an overview of basic Northern Chinese ingredients for creating authentic and appetizing Chinese favorites. Each recipe includes cook time, prep time, and serving sizes. Enjoy!
LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 10, 2013
ISBN9781462913831
Mini Northern Chinese Favorites
Author

Daniel Reid

Daniel Reid has a Master’s degree in Chinese language and civilization, and he studied Taoist practices in Taiwan for 16 years and in Thailand for 10 before moving to Australia in 1999. He is the author of several books, including The Tao of Health, Sex & Longevity and The Complete Book of Chinese Health & Healing, and the translator of My Journey in Mystic China, John Blofeld's autobiographical account of his years spent in pre-Communist China.

Read more from Daniel Reid

Related to Mini Northern Chinese Favorites

Related ebooks

Quick & Easy Cooking For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Mini Northern Chinese Favorites

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings

0 ratings0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Mini Northern Chinese Favorites - Daniel Reid

    Published by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. with editorial offices at 61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 534167

    Copyright © 2009 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.

    ISBN: 978-1-4629-1383-1 (ebook)

    Printed in Singapore

    12 11 10 09

    6 5 4 3 2 1

    Distributors

    Asia Pacific: Berkeley Books Pte Ltd,

    61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12,

    Singapore 534167

    Tel (65) 6280 1330; Fax (65) 6280 6290.

    inquiries@periplus.com.sg

    www.periplus.com

    Indonesia: PT Java Books Indonesia,

    Kawasan Industri Pulogadung

    Jl. Rawa Gelam IV No. 9

    Jakarta 13930, Indonesia

    Tel: 62 (21) 4682 1088; Fax: 62 (21) 461 0206.

    cs@javabooks.co.id

    Photography and Food Styling: A. Chester Ong

    Design: Periplus Design Team

    The evolution of northern Chinese cuisine has been strongly influenced by the relatively dry, cold climate and wind-swept steppes of northern China. Unlike the lush green regions of the southern and eastern coastal provinces, where rice is the major staple, wheat and millet are the main grains used in northern cooking. Wheat-based dishes such as noodles, steamed and baked buns, boiled and fried dumplings, and various breads and pancakes appear frequently on traditional northern menus, while millet gruel (congee) is one of the most ancient of all food items in northern China, long pre-dating both rice and wheat. A variety of the most popular northern wheat dishes are included among the recipes in this book.

    Besides noodles, dumplings and other pasta dishes, northern Chinese are very fond of cold cut plates prepared with various braised or boiled meats, soft or pressed tofu, as well as a wide range of raw or lightly poached vegetables. Cold cut plates are usually presented as appetizers at the beginning of a meal. Sometimes, they are included as additional main dishes in a meal. Cold cut plates are also often served as drinking food (xia jiu cai) accompanying wine, beer or spirits—when drinking rather than eating is the main event. Many northerners like to compose whole meals consisting entirely of these tasty leng pan (literally cold plates).

    Red meats are used more frequently and in greater quantity in northern food than in any other regional Chinese cuisine. This is due partly to the relative scarcity of fresh vegetables in the arid north and to the warming nature of meat dishes, which were traditionally consumed as fuel to help keep the body warm in cold northern climates. Lamb and beef, rather than pork, are the most popular choices in northern cuisine, due to the herding traditions of the Mongols and other neighboring nomadic tribes on the northern steppes, as well as the influence of Moslem minorities, who generally avoid pork. A few pork dishes do, however, appear on cosmopolitan Beijing menus.

    Garlic—lots of garlic—is the favorite seasoning in northern kitchens, followed closely by leeks, spring onions, garlic chives, coriander leaves and of course the great common denominator of all Chinese kitchens—ginger. Chili was not much used in northern cooking during olden times, but is often included in northern recipes today and may be added to almost any recipe. In most northern sauces, the strong, smoky flavor of sesame oil predominates, usually in conjunction with soy sauce and salt and often further embellished with balancing accents of vinegar and sugar.

    Northern food is generally regarded as an earthy, no-frills form of cooking in Chinese cuisine and therefore it lends itself well to quick and easy preparation at home. Its unpretentious style and frequent reliance on meat and wheat also make northern-style cooking familiar to Westerners who have not yet become accustomed to the refined cuisines of the south

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1