Top 10 Most Popular Chinese Foods

Top 10 Most Popular Chinese Foods

Meta Description: These are the ten most popular Chinese foods. An interesting fact is attached to each.

What’s Interesting about Chinese Foods?

You might have heard about Chinese foods before. If not, then this is your opportunity to get involved. Chinese foods never disappoint and the Chinese Cuisine is the most popular cuisine in the world after Italian Cuisine. Christine Chiu writes that Chinese food is one of the healthiest in the world and is associated with superstitions.

To receive blessings, the Chinese often eat specific foods at certain events. There are many more interesting facts about Chinese foods that are worth knowing. Did you know that ice cream and pasta originated from the Chinese? These are some of the facts that come in as shocking and can make you want to know more about Chinese foods.

Chinese foods have a wide variety. You may ask: What’s the best dish to order? Well, today, we will look into the ten most popular Chinese foods. You will get a glimpse of what to expect and an idea of what to ask for when you get the opportunity. Let’s get in. What are the ten most popular Chinese foods?

1. Chow Mein

 The word Chow mein is derived from Cantonese meaning “stir-fried noodles”. This dish is made up of meat (chicken, beef, or pork), noodles, onions, carrot sticks, green pepper, and celery. In their preparation, noodles are brought to a boil and stir-fried on cooling. Here is a list of interesting recipes.  It is food eaten late in the night in China. 

 An interesting fact about chow mein: A woman invented it for preserving food for dam workers. Stir-frying aided the food to stay good for a long time. It is mostly used to date in preparing noodles.

 2. Spring Rolls

Popular in South China, spring rolls are pancakes filled with different ingredients. Spring rolls are usually filled with sweetened beans or Chinese cabbage. Other people fill them with shredded meat, seafood, chicken, pork, mushrooms, or bamboo buds. The most popular spring rolls are from Shanghai and Guangdong. You can find your preferred spring rolls recipe at Simple Chinese Food.

 An interesting fact: Spring rolls are related to the Chinese New Year. They were the main food used to celebrate the beginning of Spring. Also, while preparing spring rolls, the skins must be hard while the fillings are soft.

 3. Dim Sum

Dim sum is a renowned dish from Cantonese cuisine. It is a meal made up of small dishes. The dishes include seafood, dumplings, cakes, desserts, vegetables, beef, and pork.

More than 1,000 different types of dim sum dishes are in existence. Find Dim Sum recipes here.

 An interesting fact: Dim sum is a ritualistic food taken in families. It is a get-together meal for friends and social gatherings.

4. Dumplings

 Popular in North China, dumplings are a reunion dish on New Year’s Eve. They were invented by Doctor Zhang Zhongjing in an attempt to treat frostbitten ears. Dumpling wrappers are made from dumpling skin. Fillings include beef, chicken, mutton, pork, and vegetables. The skin is pinched to imitate an ear shape. You can find a recipe at Dumplings Recipes.

 An interesting fact: Chinese believe dumplings to be a symbol of blessings. They are eaten on the eve of the Chinese New Year. It is believed that the more dumplings one eats, the more financial blessings one will receive in the New Year.

 5. Wonton

 Also called ravioli, wontons are a type of dumplings. Their wrappers are characteristically thinner dough. Fillings include pork, beef, shrimp, or vegetables. Recipes can be found  Here.

An interesting fact: Wontons originated in the Han Dynasty. They were used in ancestor rituals as offerings for the dead spirits

 6. Kung Pao Chicken

This dish is essentially made of diced chicken. It is prepared with groundnuts, capsicums, and cucumbers. This dish is sweet and sour with a spicy taste. You can find this dish’s recipe at Simple Chinese Food.

An interesting fact: The dish has Chinese and Western versions. The latter covers diced chicken with corn-starch, vegetables, and spices.

7. Sweet and Sour Pork

 Sweet and sour pork is another popular Chinese dish. The dish is composed of starch-coated pork, peppers, and sweet and sour sauce. The pork can also be replaced with other meat types like chicken and beef. Do you want to prepare your own sweet and sour dish at home? Here is a sweet and sour pork recipe.

An interesting fact: Sweet and sour pork is locally known as Goo lo yok. However, the origin and meaning of the term are still debatable today.

 

 8. Hot Pot

Hot pot is a popular Chinese food. It is known for its spicy soup from which different foods are cooked. Meat and vegetables are tossed in a concocted soup which is heated continuously as more cooking takes place. Try out this recipe.

An interesting fact: Hot pot is popular during festivals. It symbolizes luck and success.

 9. Mapo Tofu

Mapo tofu is a dish made up of beef or pork, tofu, pepper, and chilies. They have a characteristic hot and spicy taste. The tofu is sautéed in hot and spicy soup. You may want to try out this recipe.

An interesting fact: Mapo tofu was invented by a woman named Chen Mapo. She had tasty and unique tofu which led to the name Mapo tofu.

 

 10. Yangzhou Fried Rice

Originating from Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, this dish is mainly composed of rice and eggs. Boiled rice is mixed with meat and scrambled with eggs. It can be served with shrimps, pork, ham, or peas. Here is a recipe for tasty Yangzhou fried rice.

 An interesting fact: A diplomatic official in the Qing Dynasty ordered his chef to prepare a meal that would please both Chinese and foreigners.  The chef made fried rice and that is how it came to exist.

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By now you must be interested in some of the Chinese foods. Why not try out one of the recipes?