On the surface, Chinese recipes possess the flavors we’ve come to know of them, particularly in the use of ginger, spring onions and garlic. But Chinese cuisine is more than these common hallmarks, as diverse as the many regions that make up the most populous country in the world.

1. Chinese Recipes
On the surface, Chinese recipes possess the flavors
we’ve come to know of them, particularly in the use of
ginger, spring onions and garlic. But Chinese cuisine is
more than these common hallmarks, as diverse as the
many regions that make up the most populous country
in the world.
In The Chinese Kitchen by Deh-Ta Hsiung, Chinese recipes rely on a
food philosophy that highlights the “freshness of ingredients” and
“balance of tastes.” That’s why in many a Chinese market, you will find
an exhaustive array of ingredients—from vegetables and fruits native to
China as well as meat, fish and poultry, waiting to be seasoned by an
even larger list of spices and seasonings.
These ingredients are transformed into the traditional Chinese meal
based on the perfect balance in
terms of color, aroma, flavor and
shape. Chinese recipes are not
merely a casual hodgepodge of
these elements, but instead a
carefully and skilfully constructed
whole and parts.
Aside from contrasts and
complementary in colors and aroma,
the ingredients of Chinese recipes
should follow uniformity in size and
shape. This is not simply for the sake of
aesthetics (although julienned bell peppers, carrots and onions do look
great together) but more rightfully, if they have the same size and
shape, they will cook together at the same time. No uneven rawness or
mushiness in your stir-fries and egg rolls.
Chinese cuisine is also based on the principle of the yin and yang since
food intake is entirely connected to one’s personal health. Yin
represents the cool quality of food while the yang
represents the hot quality. One does not outdo
the other, but instead, unite and complement
each other. You will not find a singularly rich or
cloying dish in Chinese cuisine. Everything simmers
in a delicious harmony that’s sweet, sour, bitter,
hot and salty in a plate.