108 Chinese Dishes to Try, ASAP
Courtney Gould MillerLike any good attorney, I love lists – they are organized, linear, and motivational. Imagine my excitement when I came across a list of 100 Chinese Food to Try Before You Die by the food blog, Appetite for China. Chinese food is my passion as it is Diana’s, so I couldn’t wait to check off all of the foods I’ve tasted and start scheming to find a way to finish the rest. These are my personal favorites from her list:
No. 10: Bubble tea*
No. 14: Cha siu (Cantonese roast pork)*
No. 17: Chinese sausage*
No. 19: Chrysanthemum tea* (my favorite Chinese tea)
No. 32: Egg tart, Cantonese or Macanese*
No. 43: Hand-pulled noodles*
No. 50: Hot Pot* (extra stars for hot pot with the sesame dipping paste)
No. 54: Kung Pao Chicken*
No. 55: Lamb skewers (yangrou chua’r)*
No. 68: Peking duck* (when done right, one of my top 10 favorite foods in the world)
{All images and their sources can be found on my Pinterest page}
I love the balance of dishes Diana chose for her list, displaying so many flavors and regions of China. Still, I have to add 8 dishes near to my heart. But don't just try them before you die - try them ASAP, you'll be happy you did.
- Yu Xiang Qie Zi - fish flavored eggplant, with little bits of pork and a sauce that is out of this world.
- Sichuan peppercorns - a strange little condiment that deserves it's own post, coming soon.
- Steamed jiaozi (dumplings) - probably the only time I'll ever say this, but this is one food I prefer not fried.
- Jian bing - the best street food you could ever imagine. Super-thin pancake, crispy wonton skin, fried egg, cilantro and hot sauce, all made in a matter of minutes while you watch.
- Egg and tomato stir fry - the ultimate comfort food. Check out my video on how to make it through the link.
- Beijing Lao Mian - thick wheat noodles topped with raw veggies and more delicious pork.
- Nai wong bao - my very favorite dim sum, buns filled with custard. The best I ever ate had custard the consistency of a runny egg yolk with sugar, like the first stage of baking a cake or cookies.
- Liang Ban Huang Gua - Marinated cucumber salad, the perfect mix of hot and sour. It's so refreshing, I could eat it every day.
Reader Comments (3)
Jian bing and Nai wong bao are two of my favorites too!!! YUM!
YUM! can we have a cooking party when you come visit me in NYC???
@megan allums - I miss them every day!
@angela - of course!