Cooking with Chinese herbs & spices
Chinese cuisine is defined by the blend of seasonings and spices that is used in Chinese cooking. Here are some basic spices and condiments that give Chinese food its distinct flavour.
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The Chinese flavour
Chilli paste - A peppery condiment that varies in intensity depending on the brand. Test before adding to food.
Five-spice powder - A blend of cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. Often used in marinades or as a seasoning for soups, stews and stir-fries.
Hoisin sauce - A dark, thick, sweet and salty sauce made from fermented soybeans. Use it in stir-fries and as a condiment served at the table.
Hot mustard - A very vinegary mustard used as a dipping sauce.
Sesame oil - Light sesame oil has a slightly nutty flavour; add it sparingly at the end of cooking. Dark sesame oil is fragrant and intensely flavoured. Nut oils tend to turn rancid in a hot environment so store in a cool place.
Soy sauce - The most important and commonly used seasoning in China and all of Asia, this salty sauce made from fermented soybeans comes in several varieties. Light soy sauce is thinner and saltier. Dark soy sauce is thicker and less salty. Chinese black
soy sauce and Japanese tamari are very dark and sweet.
Star anise - This pretty star-shaped spice has a strong aniseed flavour. It comes from a Chinese evergreen tree. Use in soups and stews.
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2 Comments |
| RD Editor on 16 April 2012 ,11:49 Hi Bernardus, you'd probably like our 'Low Fat No Fat Asian Cooking' cookbook: www.myshoptoday.com.au/low-fat-no-fat-asian-cooking |
| bernardus on 11 April 2012 ,21:01 All my life I have loved cooking. Now 83 years of age, nothing has changed, but I have one wish: to have a Chinese cook book. My love for cooking is healthy cooking, that is why people tell me I look 20 years younger, and I feel that way too. Always remember that you are what you eat. Bernardus |
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