More Chinese Recipes and China Stories at Riceagain.com

January 24th, 2008

All future blogging can be found at riceagain.com

Check out my latest recipe post on how to make Chinese dumplings (jiaozi)

Supermarkets and China

January 11th, 2008

In New Zealand I never used to mind going to the supermarket. In fact it was almost a daily occurance. Given that my personality leans torward the spontaneous, random and impulsive I would often devise dinner plans whilst staring blankly at my computer monitor from the depths of cubicle hell only to stop by the supermarket to pick up the necessary ingredients for that days craving.

My kitchen is somewhat better stocked these days than the bachelor flat era. Gone are the days of the musty smelling pantry filled with dryed out half eaten packets of pasta and a few lonely cans of beans; or the freezer containing nothing but a solid block of ice cubes and an exploded beer bottle, a reminder of a hangover long passed. Infact these days I could throw together a collection of (mainliy asian) dishes on a whim without ever having to visit a supermarket. Read the rest of this entry »

Homestyle Tofu

December 26th, 2007

Otherwise known as Jia Chang Dou Fu 家常豆腐, this dish seems popular all over China although I think it may have originated in Sichuan province.

Ingredients:

Tofu /Dou Fu 豆腐
Red Bean Paste
Lots of oil
Capsicum
Spring Onion
Ginger
Garlic
Starch
Soy Sauce
Chicken Stock Powder
Finely Sliced Pork

Notes: I found the best Tofu to use is a firm one, not too moist so that the pieces stay together when Frying.  You can add fresh chilli or chilli oil to give it some punch or you can buy spicy redbean paste.

Read the rest of this entry »

CocaCola Chicken

December 26th, 2007

I always liked to write on my blog, but recently nothing has really happened that is note worthy or those things that have I don’t wish to immortalise on the intermaweb. Nonetheless I thought I’d share with you on a semi-regular basis a new “hobby” of mine.. besides drinking.. Chinese cuisine.

Cooking Chinese food is actually quite easy given the right ingredients and knowhow. For those of us actually living in Mainland China or any of the other Chinas, learning how to ask for and purchase said ingredients can be half the challenge so I’ll try to paraphrase my recipes in Chinese to make life easier.

 That said, I thought I’d start with a repost (because I’m lazy) from a previous blog of mine, Cocacola Chicken.

I like simple home cooked Chinese food. This is a tasty dish popular in China which I like because you just can’t screw it up no matter how drunk/stupid you are. (Just remember to turn off the gas when you’re finished)

Disclaimer: I’m no chef. I don’t know the correct terminology for what I’m going to describe here. But as they say in New Zealand..

She’ll be right mate. Read the rest of this entry »