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A traditional Chinese meal consists of a
number of main dishes with rice and a soup. In general. prepare two or
three dishes plus a soup for four adults, adding a main dish for every
two additional guests. For family-style meals, all these dishes are
served at once. Chinese food can also be served Western-style, with one
dish as a main course, accompanied by steamed rice.
When planning your menu, look for variety
in color and taste, and contrast in texture and temperature. You don't
need a lot of specialized equipment to prepare Chinese food, but having
the right tools, in the best quality you can afford, will give the best
results.
The term 'Chinese cleaver' is a misnomer;
we like to think of it as a Chinese chef's knife. It is cleaver-shaped,
but its blade is thinner and lighter than the tool that is used to chop
up whole chickens and large cuts of meat. The wide blade is designed to
give the cook added weight for cutting everything from meat to seafood
and vegetables. We like a high-carbon stainless steel blade; this will
not rust, and maintains a sharp edge that is easy to resharpen on a
sharpening steel.
More Chinese Recipes |
