Start Cookin’! Make Your Favorite Chinese Take Out Recipes at Home

Introducing the Best Chinese Takeout Recipes to Make at Home

Chinese takeout is one of the world’s favorite go-to meals. With just a few clicks on the phone or a quick visit to their local store, people can enjoy a delicious meal that satisfies all their cravings. But why order out when you can make it yourself at home? Making your own Chinese takeout recipes can be as satisfying as enjoying it from your favorite restaurant and much more cost-effective. Plus, homemade food is often much healthier than what you would get in takeouts, as you have full control over the ingredients you use.

It’s time to ditch the takeout menus and get busy in the kitchen! Below are some of the best Chinese takeout dishes, each with easy to follow instructions on how to make them. From wonton soup to sweet and sour pork, you’ll find everything you need to know to whip up your favorite Chinese dishes in no time. So let’s get cooking!

Recipe 1: Wonton Soup

Wonton soup is a delicious and easy-to-make takeout dish. All you need are a few simple ingredients and some time to prepare and simmer it. The result will be a flavorsome and comforting bowl of goodness that your family will love.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon ginger (minced)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1/4 cup scallions (minced)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 30 wonton wrappers
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups bok choy (chopped)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine pork, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Mix with your hands until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Lay the wonton wrappers on a flat surface. Place about one tablespoon of the pork mixture in the center of each wrapper.
3. Moisten the edges of the wrappers with water and fold them in half, forming a triangle shape. Press the edges together firmly.
4. Bring the two corners of the triangle down and press them together.
5. Repeat the process until all the pork mixture is used up.
6. In a large pot, heat the chicken stock over medium-high heat. Add the bok choy and the wontons. Simmer for 10 minutes.
7. Serve warm with extra soy sauce and sesame oil if desired.

Cooking Time & Serving Size:

It takes about 10 minutes to make wonton soup. This recipe yields 6-8 servings.

Making Delicious Fried Rice at Home

For the perfect plate of fried rice, the type of rice you use is very important. Long-grain white rice is usually the best option, however, jasmine or basmati rice can also be used if desired. To prepare the rice for frying, it should be cooked the day before and cooled in the refrigerator overnight.

Fried rice is an easy dish to make at home and requires only a few simple ingredients. To make a basic fried rice recipe, you will need: cooked white long-grain rice, two eggs, salt, pepper, light soy sauce, sesame oil, and either vegetable or peanut oil. You can also add any chopped vegetables, cooked meat, or shrimp of your choice.

To begin, heat the vegetable or peanut oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Once hot, add the beaten eggs. Cook until the eggs are lightly browned and set aside.

Next, add the cooked white rice to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Using a spatula, stir fry the rice until slightly crispy. Add the egg back into the skillet as well as light soy sauce, sesame oil, and any vegetables or meats. Continue to stir fry until everything is combined and heated through.

This dish can be served right away and is best enjoyed hot. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Suggested serving size is one cup per person. Prep time is approximately 10 minutes and total cooking time is around 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and sour pork is a classic Chinese takeout dish that makes a delicious home cooked meal. You don’t have to go out to get this delicious dish, making it can be quite easy. Here are some tips on how to make sweet and sour pork at home.

Ingredients

Here is a list of ingredients for sweet and sour pork:

• 4 boneless pork chops, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into small pieces
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into small pieces
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder (optional)

Instructions

To make sweet and sour pork, follow these steps:

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the pork cubes in 2 tablespoons of oil until they are lightly browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Add the bell peppers, onion, garlic, and ginger to the skillet and cook until vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes. Add the cooked pork back to the skillet and stir to combine.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, ketchup, soy sauce, and salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the pork and vegetables in the skillet, and stir to combine.
4. Stir the mixture constantly over low heat until the sauce thickens and the pork and vegetables are cooked through, about 8 minutes. Serve over hot cooked rice or noodles.

Cooking Time & Suggested Serving Sizes

Sweet and Sour Pork should be cooked for around 8 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and the pork and vegetables are cooked through. Ideal serving size is 4 servings. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe 4: Spring Rolls

Making homemade spring rolls is a great way to enjoy a classic Chinese takeout favorite. All you need are some simple ingredients and tools, and you’ll be on your way to creating delicious spring rolls that can rival any restaurant.

Ingredients

Spring rolls require only few ingredients: wrappers, fillings, oil for frying, and a dipping sauce. For the wrapper, you’ll want to look for a thin one made with wheat flour, such as wonton or egg roll wrappers. These can usually be found at most local grocery stores. As far as fillings go, the possibilities are endless. Some popular spring roll ingredients include cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, ginger, and garlic. Feel free to add in your own favorite vegetables for a customized flavor. You’ll also need vegetable or peanut oil for frying, and a dipping sauce of your choice, such as sweet and sour sauce.

Instructions

• Start by preparing the filling. Finely chop all vegetables and sauté them in a pan with some oil until they’re nicely browned and cooked through. Set aside to cool.
• Lay out the wrappers on a flat surface. Place about 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of each wrapper.
• Fold the bottom of the wrapper up and tuck it in so it covers the filling.
• Fold in the two sides and roll it up like a burrito.
• Fry the spring rolls in oil over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes or until they’re golden brown.
• Transfer the cooked spring rolls to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
• Serve warm with the dipping sauce of your choice.

Cooking Time and Suggested Serving Sizes

Cooking time for these spring rolls will depend on the size of the wrapper. Smaller wrappers will cook faster than larger ones. Generally speaking, spring rolls will take about 2 minutes to cook in oil. Serve the spring rolls with a small side of dipping sauce. They’re best served warm, but can be eaten cold if desired. Enjoy!

Optional Recipes

If you’re ready to expand beyond the four core recipes featured earlier, there are plenty of other Chinese takeout dishes you can make at home. Many of these dishes use the same ingredients and preparation techniques as the recipes detailed earlier.

Egg rolls are a popular choice for an appetizer or side dish. Start by combining shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, and diced onions in a bowl. Then add some soy sauce, garlic powder, ginger powder, sugar, and sesame oil. In a separate bowl, beat together two large eggs and add to the mixture. Roll the egg roll wrappers up and spoon in filling. Cook in oil at 375°F for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.

Salt & pepper chicken is another favorite. Start by cutting chicken breasts into cubes and tossing with cornstarch and salt & pepper seasoning. Heat a skillet with oil over medium-high heat and add the chicken. Stir-fry for 5 minutes and remove from heat. In the same skillet, sauté garlic, ginger, bell peppers, and onions. After 1-2 minutes add the chicken back to the skillet and stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes. Serve over white rice or your favorite noodle.

Sesame chicken is a tasty meal that is even easier to make. Combine chicken cubes, egg whites, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add oil. Add the chicken and stir-fry until cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili-garlic paste, ginger, and garlic. Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir-fry until the sauce has thickened. Serve over white rice.

These are just a few dishes you can make from the comfort of your own kitchen. With the right ingredients and step-by-step instructions, you can recreate your favorite Chinese takeout dishes in no time.

Tips & Tricks for Lightening Up Traditional Chinese Takeout Recipes

If you’re looking to make a healthier version of your favorite Chinese takeout recipes, there are few tricks you can try to lighten them up. Incorporating some of these methods can add flavor and texture while reducing the amount of fat and calories in the dish.

• Use leaner meats, such as chicken or turkey, instead of beef or pork.
• Replace any oil used in stir-fries with a low-salt chicken or vegetable broth.
• Switch out white rice for brown rice or quinoa to increase fiber and reduce calories.
• Add extra vegetables to your stir-fries, such as zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots.
• Reduce the amount of sauces used in your recipes by half.
• Try using low-sodium soy sauce as a healthier alternative.
• Replace traditional deep-fried spring rolls with lighter steamed versions.
• Substitute whole eggs for egg whites or egg substitutes.

By making these small changes, you can enjoy all of the flavors of your favorite Chinese takeout recipes without compromising the taste or nutritional value. With a little creativity and experimentation, you can customize and lighten up your favorite recipes to make healthier and more wholesome dishes.

Substitutions

Sometimes, it can be hard to find all of the ingredients needed for Chinese takeout recipes. This doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying the dish. There are plenty of substitutes that can easily be used in place of certain ingredients.

For instance, if you don’t have rice vinegar at home, you could use a mix of white wine vinegar or lemon juice combined with a tablespoon of sugar. Other options include substituting water chestnuts with jicama, which has the same crunchy texture. If you don’t have hoisin sauce for your spring rolls, try mixing peanut butter and soy sauce as an alternative.

Additionally, many takeout dishes are created using fresh ginger and garlic, but if you don’t have those on hand, feel free to use garlic and ginger powder instead. Also, if you want to lighten up the meal, you can replace some of the oil with chicken or vegetable broth.

With these easy substitutions, you can still enjoy your favorite Chinese meals without the hassle. Remember to experiment with different flavors to create unique and delicious dishes that you can enjoy at home!

Conclusion

Bringing Chinese takeout home can be a great way to enjoy the delicious flavors of your favorite restaurant dishes without having to go out. With the recipes in this guide, you can make all of your Chinese takeout favorites in the comfort of your own kitchen. You’ll find that these recipes are not only tastier and more cost effective than ordering out, but they’re also healthier, as you can control the ingredients used. So, the next time you’re feeling a craving for Chinese takeout, use this guide to create delicious dishes that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

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