Soy Rice Fire, inspirations from classic Chinese recipes and techniques - Part 12

These cold wontons, with a vegetarian filling of tofu, bok choy, and dried shiitake mushrooms and draped in a sesame sauce, are great in warm weather.

Cold dishes and salads• Dumplings, dim sum, and snacks• [Boiling/Poaching]

Vegetarian cold wontons

In this summer salad. the succulent, sweet crabmeat pairs beautifully with the silken tofu. The salty and crunchy bits of Chinese zha cai (榨菜) add nice contrasts both in flavor and texture.

Cold dishes and salads• Fish and shelfish• Soybeans and tofu• [Steaming]

Crabmeat and silken tofu salad

Packed with umami, the fermented tofu lends body and richness to the water spinach leaves and stems, and make them irresistible!

Vegetables• [Stir-frying]

Stir-fried water spinach with fermented tofu

Dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and sesame oil make the steamed chicken aromatic, flavorful, and richly colored.

Poultry and eggs• [Steaming]

Steamed soy sauce chicken

This congee (rice porridge) with shrimp, fish, and peas is quick to make and tastes wonderful.

Fish and shelfish• Rice, noodles, and grains• [Simmering]

Congee with seafood and peas

To make this refreshing chrysanthemum green salad, the leaves are steamed briefly until just wilted. The sesame dressing and toasted sesame seeds accentuate the aroma of the leaves.

Cold dishes and salads• Vegetables• [Steaming]

Chrysanthemum green salad with sesame dressing

The authentic version of this Sichuanese dish uses only chicken and peanuts as the main ingredients. The optimal ratio of sugar, Zhenjiang vinegar, dark soy sauce, and light soy sauce creates balanced and layered flavors.

Poultry and eggs• [Stir-frying]

Gong Bao chicken (宫保鸡丁)

When the noodles are tossed with soy sauce and the fragrant scallion oil, they are coated with a powerful flavor punch, a beautiful golden color, and a marvelous sheen.

Rice, noodles, and grains• [Deep-frying/Shallow-frying]

Shanghai scallion-oil noodles (上海葱油面)