Chinese food has become very popular in all parts of the globe. China is one of the oldest civilisations in the world, and its cultural influences can be seen all over the globe. You can trace the history of Chinese cuisine back thousands of years. It has continued to evolve and change from one period to another, and as the Chinese people began to migrate to different parts of the world, their food advanced as well. Local preferences, timely factors, and modernistic approaches to cooking all played an important role in making Chinese cuisine what it is today. If you are new to Chinese cuisine and have just begun exploring your taste buds, here are the best dishes that you should try.
Sweet and Sour Pork
One of the defining characteristics of Chinese food is the way in which they balance the levels of sweetness and spice in their food. Sweet and sour pork is one of the best examples of this. If you want to try Chinese in Bristol, start with this dish. The food is bright orange in colour, and has a very unique taste. It’s a dry dish, and is typically served with a bit of green vegetables on the side. You can have it with steamed rice, as is customary in most Chinese places.
Gong Bao Chicken
Originating in Sichuan, the Gong Bao Chicken is one of the most common Chinese dishes in the world. It’s consumed around the globe, and different countries have put their own spins on it. For instance, in Southeast Asia, where the people eat a lot of spice, local restaurants generally increase the level of heat. The main ingredients used in Gong Bao Chicken are fried peanuts, chilli, and diced chicken. People in Western countries often cover the chicken with corn starch and even add vegetables, sour sauce, and mashed garlic into the mix to give the dish a unique taste.
Wontons
Who doesn’t like wontons? The Ting Dynasty introduced this amazing dish to the world, and since then, wontons have become a staple food all around the globe. They are generally eaten as an appetiser before the main course arrives. The shape of the wonton generally varies, but it’s typically a triangle of some sort. The wonton is usually filled with minced chicken or beef.
Chow Mein
This is a Cantonese dish that has been adapted in different countries. It basically includes noodles that are mixed with a number of different vegetables and some sort of meat (either pork, beef or chicken). The dish is stir-fried, which gives the noodles a distinct taste. The authentic dish is made using a series of Asian spices. However, due to the demand for chow mein, many restaurants now use mainstream spices while making Chow Mein.
There are a number of other popular dishes that originated in China and have become a major part of modern cuisine. For instance, spring rolls and dumplings, consumed all over the world, were actually Chinese dishes that were eaten as appetisers in the olden days.
