A Chinese food craving doesn't always have to end with a takeaway order. Some familiar favourites are easy to recreate at home, especially when you have your ingredients prepped and your cooking appliances ready to go.
A versatile Usha cooktop can handle everything from boiling noodles and stir-frying vegetables to simmering a hot-and-sour soup. Meanwhile, a mixer grinder can come in handy for preparing fresh ginger-garlic or chilli mixtures and blending ingredients for homemade sauces.
So, if you're in the mood for something saucy, spicy or simply comforting, try these six Chinese recipes at home.
1. Vegetable Chow Mein
Stroll through any bustling Indian market, and you’re likely to catch a glimpse of a steaming wok filled with noodles, being expertly tossed with vibrant vegetables and sauces. Chow mein has truly found its place in India's vibrant street-food scene. These Chinese-style stir-fried noodles have been given a twist with bold spices, crunchy veggies, and just the right amount of chilli to cater to local palates. It's quick, filling, and wonderfully satisfying.
To make this Chinese meal at home, begin by boiling the noodles on your cooktop, following the instructions on the packet. Make sure to drain them thoroughly, then give them a gentle toss with a bit of oil to keep them from sticking together.
Heat some oil in a wok and then stir-fry vegetables like carrots, capsicum, and sweet corn. Add freshly ground garlic and ginger, soy sauce, chilli sauce, and a splash of vinegar. Then, add the noodles and give everything a quick toss.
To add an extra burst of flavour, make a fresh ginger-garlic-chilli mixture in the Usha mixer grinder, and then serve it with steaming-hot chow mein.
2. Hot-And-Sour Soup
When you are in the mood for something hearty and satisfying, try Chinese hot-and-sour soup. This is a delicious appetiser or light dinner.
Simmer sliced mushrooms, carrots, cabbage and tofu in vegetable stock on the cooktop to make the foundation. If bamboo shoots are available, you can also add them.
Add a burst of flavour to the boiling stock by blending minced ginger, garlic, and fresh chilli in a mixer grinder. Season with white pepper, vinegar, and soy sauce in that order.
To get that velvety texture, thicken the soup with a little cornflour slurry. While the soup is cooking, softly sprinkle the beaten egg on top if you like. Stir carefully to combine, top with spring onions, and serve.
Image Credit: Pexels
3. Manchurian With Homemade Sauce
Crispy vegetable balls wrapped in a shiny, savoury sauce are what make vegetable Manchurian a beloved dish for so many. It requires a bit more effort than just cooking noodles or soup, but is definitely worth it.
Chop or grate the cabbage, carrots, capsicum, and spring onions into fine pieces. Combine them with cornflour, flour, salt, pepper, and a touch of ginger-garlic paste. Form the mixture into small balls and fry them on the Usha hob until they’re nice and crisp and golden.
In a hot pan, gently sauté some chopped garlic, ginger, and spring onions to create a delicious sauce. Add soy sauce, chilli sauce, and vinegar, then mix in a splash of water. If you’re looking for a bolder garlic-chilli flavour, just blend some fresh garlic and chilli in your Usha mixer grinder before tossing it into the pan.
Stir in a cornflour slurry and let it simmer until the sauce turns glossy and thickens just a bit. Toss the fried vegetable balls in just before serving to keep that delightful crispiness intact.
Pair it with steamed rice or noodles for a heartier meal.
Image Credit: Canva
4. Egg Fried Rice
Egg fried rice is one of those basic Chinese classics that can transform your leftover rice into a wonderful dinner. Heat oil on the cooktop and scramble the eggs. Stir-fry spring onions, carrots, peas, and other veggies over high heat. Add cold cooked rice, soy sauce, and a little white pepper, then rapidly mix everything before returning the eggs to the pan.
For more taste, make a fresh ginger-garlic paste in the mixer grinder and add it while stir-frying. Top with spring onion leaves and a little sesame oil. Keep the skillet hot so the rice fries, not steams. Enjoy with your favourite side dishes.
5. Chilli Paneer
This recipe is probably the most ordered Chinese dish whenever we go to a restaurant. It combines two things that are hard to resist – golden, crisp paneer and a glossy sauce rich with garlic, chillies, and peppers.
Cube the paneer, toss in a little cornflour and spice, and pan-fry on the cooktop till brown. In the same pan, sauté chopped garlic, ginger, onions, and capsicum. Add soy sauce, chilli sauce, and a splash of vinegar. Toss the paneer in the sauce right before serving so the edges remain crisp and each piece gets covered in that sticky, flavourful coating.
6. Spring Rolls
Crispy spring rolls are a familiar favourite for Indian Chinese starters and evening snacks, with a crunchy wrapper hiding a flavourful vegetable filling. Stir-fry shredded cabbage, carrots and capsicum on a hot cooktop with ginger, garlic and soy sauce, then wrap the cooled mixture in spring-roll sheets. Fry until golden and crisp, and serve hot with chilli sauce for the perfect crunchy bite.
Image Credit: Unsplash
Bring the Takeaway Favourite Home
Cooking your favourite Chinese dishes at home can be a lot easier than you might think! Once you've chopped the vegetables and prepped the sauces, dishes like chow mein and Manchurian come together in a flash, while a cosy hot-and-sour soup just needs a gentle simmer to prepare.
Next time you're in the mood for some delicious Chinese food, why not set the takeaway menu aside and whip up one of these tasty recipes instead? A bit of chopping, some high-heat cooking, and a handful of pantry staples can transform your kitchen into your favourite dinner destination.