Chinese food doesn't require a special occasion; in fact, Chinese food makes every occasion special. There’s hardly anyone existing on this planet who hasn't had a chance to praise the genius of Chinese cuisine. With only a few ingredients, some special seasonings and vegetables commonly found everywhere, you can whip up a delicious Chinese meal for yourself in no time.
No matter what season it is, there’s always an appropriate Chinese recipe to soothe the taste buds as well as complement the seasonal goods. Especially when it's summertime, and the markets are filled with an abundant supply of bright veggies, it gives you a perfect excuse to make Chinese for your family.
Chinese cuisine goes beyond the stove-top and piping hot recipes. There are cold dishes as well that are perfectly suited to the heat of summer. Check out these Summer-appropriate Chinese recipes you can make for breakfast, lunch, dinner and more.
1) Chinese Cold Salad Dressing
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In Chinese cuisine, the concept of "salad" differs a lot from the traditional leafy green and bright vegetable salads that you may know. Instead, Chinese salad consists of a broad array of cold dishes in Chinese cuisine, typically served as appetisers. You can make Chinese salad dressing at home by tempering sliced scallions, grated garlic, chillies and grated ginger with hot pepper-infused oil. Then sugar, vinegar, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, salt and five-spice powder are added. This dressing can be used in a variety of salads and cold noodle dishes.
2) Sichuan Style Cold Noodles
Sichuan-style Cold Noodles is inspired by the bald Chinese Sichuan flavours, which include a balance of savoury, spicy, and aromatic flavours with acidity from Chinese black vinegar. These noodles can be stir-fried or soup, depending on your preference, and are served chilled or at room temperature. Typically made from wheat or rice flour, these noodles give a healthy take on the instant noodles. After boiling the noodles, stir-fry them with ingredients like garlic, ginger, scallions, chilli oil, soy sauce, and sesame paste. Top it with shredded chicken, cucumber, bean sprouts, and cilantro.
3) Cold Noodles With Shredded Chicken
When there’s a brunch party, chicken remains a staple. By adding it to the classic Chinese cold noodles, you create a delectable recipe with all the umami flavours of Sichuan and give it an American touch with grilled vegetables. Serve it chilled to bring that freshness, and garnish it with fresh herbs to bring the touch of summer.
4) Ma Lan Tou Spiced Tofu
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Ma Lan Tou spiced tofu is a Shanghai dish featuring fragrant ma lan tou and cold spiced tofu, perfect for summer. It's a rare appetiser found mainly in China, particularly in Shanghai and restaurants specialising in Shanghainese cuisine. Ma lan tou resembles chrysanthemum leaves and isn't commonly available outside China. You can use celery leaves as an alternative to Ma Lan Tou. First, the leaves are blanched and then dipped in an ice bath. Then, it's finely chopped and mixed with cubed tofu, salt, sugar, and oil. Adjust seasoning to taste and refrigerate.
5) Braised Chinese Vegan Chicken
Chinese vegan chicken is made with soy, but it's different from tofu. Vegan "chicken" is made from pressed tofu sheets, which cook quickly and freeze well. This recipe is perfect for vegans at the gathering.
To make this vegan "chicken," start by heating a wok and adding oil. Pan-fry the sliced vegan chicken until lightly browned, then set aside. In the same wok, melt sugar, then add ginger, scallion, Shaoxing wine, soy sauces, and water. Simmer the sauce, then add the chicken slices and simmer again. Garnish with scallions and serve hot, at room temperature, or cold.
6) Tofu Avocado Salad
Tofu avocado salad is a nutritious, no-cook recipe served chilled with lots of soy sauce dressing. For this, avocado and tofu are sliced and drizzled with a flavourful sauce made with grated garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, vinegar, white pepper, water, and salt to taste. Storing it in the fridge for a few hours infuses the flavours well, and you can serve it right away after you take it out.
7) Spicy Bamboo Shoot Salad
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Bamboo shoot salad is again a no-cook recipe, which is typically served as an appetiser, either cold or at room temperature. This dish can be served as a side dish for other brunch recipes. Bamboo shoots are a widely used ingredient in Chinese cuisine and have lots of nutritious properties. The texture is crisp, and the flavour is mildly sweet, which makes it go well with a variety of vegetables and dressings. Spicy Bamboo Shoot Salad contains a flavourful dressing made with h spicy raw garlic and chilli flakes, salty oyster sauce and light soy sauce, a little sugar, and a dash of tart rice vinegar. Add a dash of Sichuan peppercorn oil to bring more smoke to it.