Schools of Chinese Cooking

Today there are four different schools of Chinese cooking. They are divide by region, northern, southern, eastern and western. Each of them is distinctly unique.

The northern school of Chinese cooking is the most selected. This region of cooking integrates the most refined cooking of palace kitchens. They also include Mongolian and Muslim tastes. This region�s claim to fame is noodles, steamed breads, and pancakes instead of rice. Their favorite style of cooking is stir frying, pan frying, braising, and barbequing. Their favourite seasonings are garlic, chives, leeks, star anise, and sweet bean sauces. Their signature dish is Moo Shu Pork with Mandarin pancakes.

The southern school of Chinese cooking is known for combining Cantonese cooking with contemporary ingredients from the west. Cantonese cooking is considered very exotic. This region�s claim to fame is Dim Sum which are snacks. Its cooking style is a combination of great ingredients and refined technique. This region�s signature dishes are steamed salmon with black bean sauce, stir fried broccoli with oyster sauce, Hoisin barbequed chicken, and shrimp fried rice.

The eastern school of Chinese cooking is called Heaven on Earth and The Land of Fish and Rice. This region is known for vegetarian specialties and subtle, refined flavours. Its claim to fame is the best soy sauces and some of the best rice wines. This region�s cooking method is red cooking, which is braising in a soy sauce based mixture, stir frying, steaming, and fast simmering. Its signature dishes are Cinnamon Beef Noodles and Vegetarian Dumplings.

The western school of Chinese cooking is called the Land of Abundance. Its cuisine is known for its spiciness. This region�s claim to fame is tongue tingling heat. Its cooking style is known for flavourings and condiments that blend to make hot, sweet, sour, and salty in one mouthful. This region�s favourite seasonings are chiles, peppercorns, ginger, garlic, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, nuts, and mushrooms. This region�s signature dish is Sichuan style stir fried chicken with peanuts.

There are certain food items that need to be stocked in the pantry in order to create delicious Chinese cooking. These items are black vinegar, which is lighter and sweeter than western vinegar, chili paste or sauce, dark sesame oil, dried chili peppers, dried Chinese mushrooms, which are shitake or black mushrooms, fermented or salted black beans, ginger, Hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, plum sauce, rice wine, and soy sauce. These ingredients may be found in well stocked supermarkets, in any Asian market, or available online. Unless other wise stated these ingredients should be refrigerated after opening.

Christine Gray is a recognized authority on the subject of Cooking. Her website Cooking Smarter provides a wealth of information on everything you will need to know about Cooking Tips. All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted as long as the content and links remains intact and unchanged.