Duck's head is a spicy local specialty from the Chinese city of Wuhan, but it is also a snack that is commonly eaten throughout China, most notably in Shanghai. The dish is made by stir-frying a head of duck with the addition of herbs and spices.
Duck's head has a crispy taste as a result of the stir-frying method, and it is claimed to be a healthy food, with one of the duck's head store owners claiming that it helps one's brain power when consumed. Some say that the taste of the dish is not unlike eating a spicy chicken wing, while the others, such as Kellie Schmitt of CNN, describe it as one of Shanghai's weirdest foods.
When the head is served, it should be pried open with one's fingers to get to the tender meat on the interior.
MOST ICONIC Ya tou
Cantonese in origin, moo goo gai pan is an Americanized version of a pre-existing Chinese stir-fry made with mushrooms and sliced chicken as the main ingredients. Additional ingredients typically include snow peas, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and bok choy, all doused in a simple white sauce made with chicken broth and seasoned with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sometimes Shaoxing wine.
In contrast to the original Chinese version of the dish, moo goo gai pan has a thicker sauce that's more seasoned and incorporates a wider range of ingredients. In the United States, this simple stir-fry is served over steamed rice and is one of the most popular take-out foods.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Pad woon sen is a traditional noodles dish. It consists of silky glass noodles that are stir-fried with vegetables such as carrots and cabbage, then topped with Thai bird chili and cilantro. The noodles should be soaked before the preparation. The sauce is made with water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and white pepper.
Other common ingredients used in the dish include eggs, onions, garlic, bean sprouts, spring onions, and sometimes chicken, if desired. Before serving, it's recommended to garnish the dish with cilantro and sliced chili peppers.
Chūkadon is a Japanese dish which consists of stir-fried ingredients served over rice. It is believed that chūkadon originated in the 1930s in a Chinese-style restaurant in Tokyo. The dish can employ a variety of seafood ingredients, meat, and sliced vegetables which are shortly stir-fried in a thick and starchy soy-infused sauce.
Simple and easy to prepare, chūkadon is commonly found on the menus of many Japanese fast food establishments.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Among the broad group of Japanese chanpuru dishes, goya chanpuru is the most traditional version prepared with stir-fried bitter melon, eggs, pork, and tofu. It is often blended with various seasonings and vegetables. Occasionally, the dish is served sprinkled with fish flakes and accompanied by rice.
This colorful and nutritious summer stir-fry is the signature dish of Okinawa island. It has recently grown in popularity and can also be found in other parts of Japan.
Chai tow kway is a traditional dish originating from Chaoshan. The dish usually consists of radish cake (also known as turnip cake) that’s cut into cubes and stir-fried with eggs and seasonings. Radish cake is made with a combination of shredded daikon, rice flour, and water.
Chai tow kway can also be steamed and pan-fried, and the dish is typically garnished with scallions before serving. It’s also popular in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, where it’s a part of Teochew people cuisine.
In Singapore, the dish is also made in two versions – white (no soy sauce) and black (made with sweet soy sauce).
Terong balado is a traditional dish that's suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It's made with a combination of eggplants and the spicy chili sauce known as balado. It's recommended to use Chinese eggplants as they are softer than standard eggplants.
The vegetables are cut into wedges, deep-fried, then stir-fried with the balado sauce. The sauce is made with a combination of red chili peppers, shallots, palm sugar, tamarind juice, garlic, and salt. When served, terong balado is usually accompanied by lots of white rice on the side.
Nasi goreng nanas is a traditional variety of nasi goreng (fried rice). Although there are many recipes, the dish is usually made with a combination of rice, pineapple chunks, butter, garlic, shallots, scallions, carrots, prawns, peas, fish sauce, oyster sauce, curry powder, turmeric, oil, eggs, salt, and pepper.
Some ingredients are optional, such as prawns, peas, turmeric, and eggs, but they are often used to add more textures and flavors to the dish. The ingredients are sautéed in butter and stir-fried until everything is fully cooked. The dish is often served in hollowed-out pineapple bowls, especially in restaurants.
Aloo shimla mirch or aloo capsicum is a traditional dish originating from the northern parts of the country. The dish is usually made with a combination of potatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, ginger, onions, cumin, oil, fenugreek leaves, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt.
The cumin is fried in oil with onions and ginger. The potatoes are peeled, chopped, and added to the pan. The mixture is fried over low heat for a few minutes and then mixed with the rest of the ingredients. The dish is stir-fried until the bell peppers are cooked, and aloo shimla mirch is then served with rice or roti on the side.
Pancit sotanghon is a traditional type of pancit originating from the Philippines. The dish is usually made with a combination of sotanghon (cellophane or glass) noodles, shredded chicken meat, Chinese sausage, pork slices, parsley, soy sauce, carrots, snap peas, cabbage, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil.
This type of pancit is made in a wok or a large pan, and all ingredients are sautéed and stir-fried until everything becomes tender and fully cooked. This noodle dish is typically served straight out of the pan, while still hot, and it's traditionally accompanied by lemon or calamansi wedges on the side.
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