8 Regional Chinese Recipes to Ring in the Chinese New Year

This month, close to a quarter of the world will be celebrating Chinese New Year—a staggering statistic that, in addition to mainland China, also includes Chinese-speaking countries like Taiwan and Singapore, as well as ethnic Chinese populations all over the world. With such vast geographical reach, the Chinese culture isn’t always a cohesive one. This is particularly the case with Chinese cuisine, which is in essence a bunch of different regional cuisines that share a handful of ingredients and techniques. Did you know, for instance, that soup dumplings come from Shanghai, and crispy chow mein from Guangdong? Keep reading for more notable Chinese dishes from different regions.

Shanghai: Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings)

Spoon Fork Bacon

Credit the Shanghainese for the glorious, soup-filled dumplings known as xiao long bao. You’ll never guess the secret to making them: adding cubes of aspic to the filling before pinching the dumplings closed. Get the Soup Dumplings recipe.

Beijing: Peking Duck

The Woks of Life

With its crisp, fatty, crackling skin, Peking duck is truly one of the world’s culinary wonders. But while it takes mere minutes to devour a perfect Peking duck, the same duck demands three full days of preparation. Get the Easy Peking Duck recipe.

Sichuan: Mapo Tofu

Omnivore’s Cookbook

This dish of tofu and ground meat in a numbing chile sauce may be world-famous today, but it was once a humble dish served only in China’s Sichuan province. Get the Mapo Tofu recipe.

Taiwan: Gua Bao (Pork Belly Buns)

China Sichuan Food

Long before David Chang made pork belly buns famous at Momofuku, pork belly served in steamed bread was a mainstay in Taiwanese cuisine. At Momofuku, the buns are served with hoisin sauce, cucumbers, and scallions, but traditional Taiwanese toppings include pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and ground peanuts. Get the Pork Belly Buns recipe.

Hainan and Singapore: Hainanese Chicken Rice

Steamy Kitchen

This chicken and rice dish, originally from the subtropical Chinese island of Hainan, is made by poaching a chicken and using its fragrant stock to flavor the rice. Hainanese immigrants brought the dish to Singapore, where it’s now widely considered the country’s national dish. Get the Hainanese Chicken Rice recipe.

Guangdong: Pan-Fried Thin Crispy Noodles

Rasa Malaysia

This delicious dish of saucy pork and vegetables, served over a bed of crispy chow mein noodles, comes courtesy of the Cantonese. In restaurants, the noodles are usually deep-fried, but if you’re attempting the dish at home, we recommend shallow-frying them. Get the Pan-Fried Thin Crispy Noodles recipe.

Yunnan: “Crossing the Bridge” Noodles

Soy Rice Fire

The Yunnan province’s most famous dish, “Crossing the Bridge” noodles, arose out of an old tale that an imperial scholar was studying for exams on an island in Yunnan, and his wife would bring him food daily. She found that by the time she crossed the bridge to bring him soup, the noodles would be soggy. Ask for the dish today, and you’ll be presented with steaming-hot broth to pour onto ham, chicken, bean curd, chives, sprouts, and round rice noodles tableside, so everything is always consumed fresh.

Hunan: Mala Chicken

Cooking the Books

Sichuan cuisine gets all the press for its spiciness, but the food of China’s Hunan region can be just as hot. Case in point: the province’s famous mala chicken, a stir-fried dish made with chopped chicken, scallions, soy sauce, and plenty of chile peppers. Get the Mala Chicken recipe.

Hungry to try your hand at one of these recipes? Check out our guide to The Essential Chinese Cooking Tools for Homemade Chinese Food. And celebrate The Year of the Pig with Chinese pork recipes.

Related Video: Tracing the Evolution of Boston’s Chinatown with Local Chefs

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This post was originally published on February 6, 2015 and was updated with new images, links, and text on February 4, 2019.

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Good Luck Foods and Recipes for Chinese New Year

Keto Meal Ideas For Valentine’s Day (And Yes, You Can Have Dessert)

If you’re one of the millions of Americans “going keto,” you know that the diet is somewhat strict and difficult to adhere to, especially on holidays like Valentine’s Day that involve copious amounts of chocolate and Champagne. (Quick recap: The keto diet emphasizes cutting out carbohydrates and amping up foods high in fat, so that your body starts to break down fats instead of storing them.) And yet, whether you’re a champion of the low-carb, high-fat diet or just a skeptic who’s in a relationship with one, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without veering too far from the keto script.

Good Dee’s Brownie Mix, $12.34 on Amazon

Low-carb, sugar-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and maltitol-free, this mix is an easy route to keto-compliant brownies to end your evening.

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“It just takes a little bit of planning,” say Alex and Lauren Lester, the couple behind Cast Iron Keto, a site dedicated to keto-friendly recipes. Both keto acolytes for just over two years, the couple has become pros at whipping up inventive keto-compliant meals like these delicious fish tacos that make the breadless way of life seem much more doable.

For a romantic keto dinner, Alex and Lauren suggest a cast iron steak with a charred brussels sprout salad, rounded out by their keto white chocolate blondies. True to the site’s name, all of these dishes are meant to be made in a cast-iron skillet, which also cuts down on time spent in the kitchen cleaning up a bunch of pots and pans.

Cast Iron Keto’s Keto Charred Brussels Sprout Salad recipe

The reality is you don’t have to get too creative when planning a romantic keto dinner for two. A classic baked brie is a perfect, gooey appetizer that doesn’t require any adaptations. Other great options that can be starters or sides are steamed artichokes, Alex’s garlic butter mushrooms, or a light and crunchy cucumber salad. Sick of meat-and-threes? Switch things up with breakfast-for-dinner (or breakfast-in-bed). Egg muffin cups are super easy to customize. Almond flour pancakes and zucchini waffles read indulgent but are still low in carbs.

Cast Iron Keto’s Garlic Butter Mushrooms recipe

A cozy butter chicken with a side of cauliflower rice is another good option, especially paired with a naturally low-carb side of Indian raita, and a vegetable dish.

If pasta is always your thing for Valentine’s (Lady and the Tramp-style), try shirataki noodles instead of spaghetti. Also known as “miracle noodles” (the name of a common shirataki brand), they’re a popular Japanese ingredient made from water and konjac yam. Toss them with an almond butter sauce, use them in a pad thai, or even substitute in a carbonara.

Miracle Noodle Shirataki Angel Hair and Fettuccine, 6 packs for $18.37 on Amazon

Try two varieties of these soy-free, zero-carb, gluten-free, vegan noodles.

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Dessert on keto can be a bit trickier, but there are still recipes that stick to the low-carb, high-fat formula. In addition to white chocolate blondies, the Lesters recommend their keto magic bars, packed with shredded coconut, pecans, and dark chocolate chips. Peanut butter and chocolate truffles are also great, as is a tart lemon bar.

Cast Iron Keto’s Keto Magic Bars recipe

And let’s face it, maybe on Valentine’s Day, it’s okay to break from keto. While Alex and Lauren have both been fairly strict keto acolytes for the last couple years, even they say it’s necessary and in fact healthy to take a break once in awhile.

“We both believe in living your life,” says Alex. “And that includes enjoying time with each other without worrying about macros.”

Related Video: How to Make Keto Shepherd’s Pie

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Trying to Master Cooking Chinese Food at Home? Here are the 9 Must-Have Tools

How to Prepare a Hands-On Valentine’s Day Finger Food Dinner

Entertaining at home for Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with actual love. Actual love. You know, the kind that doesn’t require reservations, overblown expectations, underwhelming menus, and the casual eye-rolling of disgruntled restaurant staff. Just as in every relationship, though, you need to find ways to keep it fresh, especially if you’re someone who is already prone to routinely making lovely, home-cooked meals. To keep it really fresh this year, why not try a completely utensil-free Valentine’s Day dinner that you and your sweetie can enjoy together snuggled into the recliner, or couch, or…wherever else. That’s your business.

Here are an assortment of recipes that can easily be scaled down to two petite portions, and can be made ahead of time to free you up for maximum snuggling. We’ve assembled seven potential courses to take you all the way through from hors d’oeuvres to dessert, with nary a fork in sight. Maybe grab some napkins, though?

Hors D’Oeuvres: Oysters With Prosecco Mignonette

Chowhound

This is cheating a little, since most hors d’oeuvres, and especially oysters, are served without utensils. But this is about Valentine’s Day, and oysters definitely set a tone, if you catch my meaning. Plus there’s a delightful sparkling mignonette sauce for just a splash of decadence. Get our Oysters with Prosecco Mignonette recipe.

Salad: Pear and Feta Bites

Chowhound

These bright endive cups bring all of the elements of a beautifully composed salad together into stylish, portable bites. You have a little sweetness from pears against a little bitterness from the lettuce, plus the creaminess from the feta contrasting the satisfying crunch. Balance. Harmony. Love? Get our Pear and Feta Bites recipe.

Soup: Roasted Parsnip Soup with Beet Chips and Meyer Lemon Oil

Le Petit Eats

If you’re thinking that utensil-free soup sounds the very opposite of romantic, think again. While spoons can take a back seat here, this velvety soup can be easily sipped directly from whatever glassware you like: elegant tea cups or the souvenir mugs from your honeymoon. Crimson beet chips and a drizzle Meyer lemon oil add the perfect amount of elegance. Then you can do that clever linked-arms maneuver like you were sipping Champagne, and you can save the spooning for after dinner. Get the Roasted Parsnip Soup with Beet Chips and Meyer Lemon Oil recipe.

Lucero Crushed Meyer Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $21 at Sur La Table

Use a Meyer lemon infused oil all year long on salads, or to finish roasted vegetables and proteins, where the flavor can really shine.

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Eggs: Truffled Deviled Eggs

Chowhound

It was renowned food writer M.F.K. Fisher who once wrote, “Probably one of the most private things in the world is an egg before it is broken.” I need no more evidence than this to include eggs as a course in this Valentine’s Day dinner, since privacy is definitely what you’ll be needing after eating with your hands all night. Deviled eggs are marvelous because it’s easy to make just a couple, and they are the absolute best vehicle for little luxuries such as truffles. Get our Truffled Deviled Eggs recipe.

Alma Gourmet Fresh Italian Winter Black Truffles, 1 ounce for $79 on Amazon

Black truffles are here for all of your everyday decadence needs.

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Seafood: Smoked-Paprika and Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp

Chowhound

As long as we’re on the topic of combined food and love metaphors, these tapas-style bites are both spicy and easy. Serve them on or off the stick as pleases you most. No further comment. Get our Smoked-Paprika and Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp recipe.

Meat: Mini Beef Wellington Bites

Seduction Meals

Beef Wellington is always a showstopper, and these bite-sized versions offer showstopper appeal without showstopper effort, even while including all of the necessary layers of a classic Wellington. This recipe is offered up by a blog aptly named Seduction Meals. Seduction Meals? How did I not know this existed before now? Get the Mini Beef Wellington Bites recipe.

ButcherBox Valentine’s Deal: 2 Free Filet Mignons (and Bacon) + $10 Off!

For Valentine's Day or any day, Butcher Box delivers top quality cuts to your door.

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Dessert: Chocolate-Covered Ice Cream Bites

Chowhound

As your hands-on Valentine’s Day dinner winds up and moves towards locations other than the kitchen or living room, it just has to be classic bonbons for dessert, in all of their 1970s food trend glory. Has to be. Hand check! Get our Chocolate-Covered Ice Cream Bites recipe.

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Related Video: How to Remove Garlic Smell from Your Hands

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Savory Cheese Soufflé

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Red Velvet Cookies

Red velvet cake in cookie form—that's what you've got here with these Red Velvet Cookies! Cream cheese and white chocolate chips lend tanginess and sweetness to every bite.

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How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Eating more veggies is easy when you turn cauliflower into rice! It's not some trick—a simple whiz in the food processor and a quick turn in a hot pan, and you've got a "rice" dish in just minutes.

Continue reading "How to Make Cauliflower Rice" »

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Best Frozen Gluten-Free Pizzas You Can Order Online

Goldbelly

Can frozen, ready-to-bake gluten-free pizza that doesn’t taste “like cardboard,” be possible? The answer is yes—it’s 2019, people, and the internet and a barrage of wheat-free flours has made living gluten-free mean you no longer have to suffer the next time you have a hankering for pizza at 2 a.m.

As someone who loves pizza and was recently diagnosed with a wheat intolerance, I was quick to figure out where the best gluten-free pizzerias in New York were, as well as learn to make my own pies with this brilliant GF pizza crust flour. But let’s face it, sometimes you get home and want a gluten-free pizza to just appear magically and can’t muster the energy to battle the lines at Whole Foods. Enter the best frozen gluten-free pizzas you can order online. Buy a few, stick em’ in your freezer, and next time you need a slice on demand or to feed your fellow wheat-intolerant guests, you’re covered. Plus, you don’t have to tip anyone.

Pizzano’s Gluten-Free Sausage Pizza, 69.99 for two at Pizzano’s

Pizano’s Chicago

Just know that if you crave Chicago-style deep dish pizza, a really good gluten-free version is almost impossible to come by. Thankfully, one of Chicago’s most famous pizza joints has answered our deep dish prayers. Classic toppings like pepperoni, sausage, cheese, and a crispy crust as tall as the sky makes for an impossibly good za. Since most gluten-free pizzas usually only come in cheese or pepperoni, I recommend taking advantage of the sausage variety.

California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken,  $9.49 on Amazon

Amazon

Most gluten-free pizzas are made out of a thin crust because the dough doesn’t rise easily, but they often leave you with a mealy mouthfeel or chemical, xanthan-gum laden aftertaste. Chain pizza joint CPK’s gluten-free crust somehow bypasses this GF faux-pas and is light, fluffy (way better than Udi’s), and doesn’t have the processed science lab aftersensation. Again, because the general population doesn’t eat gluten-free and companies are limited to basics for what they can easily sell, GF pizzas often lack in varying toppings. That’s why barbecue sauce, chicken, and red onions are a great way to switch things up.See It

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, 3 for $119 at Goldbelly

Goldbelly

Goldbelly allows customers to order Tony Gemignani’s famous San Francisco pies in a gluten-free bundle which is bound to make any Neapolitan-loving mouth water. Plus, there are options: The New Yorker (mozzarella with pepperoni, Italian fennel sausage, calabrese sausage, and ricotta over red sauce), classic cheese, classic pepperoni, and of course, California Italian (gorgonzola, mozzarella, parmesan, prosciutto, fig preserve, and balsamic reduction.) It’s a bit pricier, but absolutely worth it, especially if you live somewhere where the gluten-free pickings are slim. Mangia!See It

DiGiorno Ultra Thin Four Cheese, $6.14 at Target

Target

It’s not DiGiorno, it’s gluten-free DiGiorno! That’s correct, you can enjoy the frozen pizza from your childhood just like you used to. It took this frozen pizza powerhouse until 2017 to get on board with the gluten-free trend, but I have to say its ultra-thin pies are much better than other gluten-free specific brands like Glutino that end up tasting void of actual flavor. Plus, these gluten-free pies are available for next-day delivery on Amazon with a Prime subscription.See It

Cali’flour Foods Gluten-Free, Low Carb Cauliflower Original Italian Pizza Crusts, 2 for $23.99 on Amazon

Amazon

If you’re looking for a healthier, gluten-free version of pizza, cauliflower crust is your best bet. Originated by a woman suffering from inflammatory disease, Cali’flour is a great option  for a flavorful, already spiced cauliflower dough. The only trick to a cauliflower crust pizza is that you should bake the crust before you put the toppings on to make sure it’s fully cooked and the consistency is crunchy throughout. Once you toast that base, top it off with a nice buffalo mozzarella, refrigerated marinara, and basil for an at-home margherita with a Neapolitan feel.See It

Heart-Shaped Gluten-Free Pepperoni Pizza, $86.50 for three at Detroit Pizza Company

Goldbelly

Detroit pizza is known for its rectangular shape and its particularly crispy crust and Detroit Pizza Company doesn’t disappoint. You can still have your rectangle pizza and uphold your gluten-free lifestyle by adding $7.50 to any of their flavor offerings to ensure your crust is free of wheat. Choose a D-Town Deluxe (pepperoni, mushrooms, ham, red onions, and green peppers), Motown Meat Supreme (pepperoni, ham, applewood-smoked bacon, and Italian sausage), or Margherita in the “D.”  I chose the heart-shaped gluten-free pepperoni because gluten or not, how cute.See It

Against the Grain 12-Inch Gluten-Free Pesto Pizza, $11.99 at Fresh Direct

Fresh Direct

Against the Grain Gourmet is a Vermont-based gluten-free baked goods company with the very European philosophy that food should have a shelf life, even if it’s gluten-free. Its holistic approach means these pizzas won’t last as long as a DiGiorno, but they also won’t be riddled with chemicals. These crusts are buckwheat-based and they offer some great variety in flavors like Fiesta Flatbread (black beans, fresh lime juice, sour cream, and spices), and Pesto, amongst classics like cheese and pepperoni.See It

Against the Grain 12-Inch Gluten Free Pizza Crusts (Pack of 8), $97.75 on Amazon

Build your own custom pies at home with these gluten free crusts.

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Capello’s Gluten-Free Sheep’s Milk Cheese Pizza, $14 at Capello’s

Cappello’s

Made from cage-free eggs and arrowroot flour, Capello’s Sheep’s Milk Cheese pizza is gluten-free, nut-free, grain-free, non-GMO, and paleo-friendly. Capello’s claims to have invented “The World’s Cleanest Cheese Pizza” with carefully crafted healthy ingredients to satisfy your pizza cravings on your paleo or clean-eating diet. Capello’s offers three flavors—cheese, pepperoni, and sheep’s milk cheese—but I like the latter because how often do you see sheep’s milk cheese on any frozen pizza? Plus, even the sheep’s milk is pasture-raised.

Related Video: Cardiologists Set the Record Straight on Eggs, Gluten, Coconut Oil and More

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The Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Cocktail Ingredients

Everything on Valentine’s Day needs to be extra special, which means if you’re planning on preparing a boozy beverage for your significant other, pouring the familiar old standards just won’t do. You’ll need to go above and beyond your everyday drink offerings, and these Cupid-approved additions are sure to do the trick.

Scrappy’s Chocolate Cocktail Bitters, $17.86 on Amazon

Scrappy’s Bitters/Facebook

Chocolate and Valentine’s Day are a lovely pairing, especially when it comes to cocktails.  While there are a number of chocolate liqueurs on the market, serving up a thick, milky brown beverage doesn’t exactly scream sensuality. Thankfully, these handcrafted small-batch chocolate bitters from Scrappy’s provide just the right amount of cocoa enhancement to elegant offerings like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.See It  

Combier Liqueur de Rose, $34.99 at K&L Wines

Combier

This unique offering from Combier checks off several romantic boxes: It’s pink in color, French in origin, and made from actual rose petals hand-picked from the Loire Valley. The liqueur’s sweet floral notes will help liven up a glass of Champagne or a classic martini.See It

Strawberry Cocktail Caviar, $19.99 on Total Wine

Cocktail Caviar

Class up your beverage with a dollop of caviar—strawberry-flavored, not the fish egg variety. These vodka-infused gelatin spheres provide a fun and fruity explosion to a glass of white wine or some bubbly. You can also simply indulge straight from the jar—mother of pearl spoon not required.See It  

Edible Flowers (prices vary), Gourmet Sweet Botanicals

Gourmet Sweet Botanicals

A bouquet of roses is all well and good, but why not have your flowers and eat them too? Gourmet Sweet Botanicals offers an impressive selection of edible flowers that frankly won’t add much in the flavor department but will go a long way in amping up that visual wow factor.  Keep things simple with some rose petals for a Champagne showstopper or opt for an assortment of tiki cocktail-bound orchids that will transport you back to your Hawaiian honeymoon.See It

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries, 2 jars for $35.95 at Williams Sonoma

Williams Sonoma

There’s nothing wrong with dropping a Maraschino cherry into your cocktail, but forget those bright red artificially colored and flavored abominations, especially on a day like the 14th of February. Opt instead for a jar of the original Maraschinos from Luxardo. The famed Italian brand uses dark and dense marasca cherries that are tiny yet pack plenty of flavor. The cherries and accompanying syrup are all-natural without the use of preservatives. Such high quality comes at a price, but it’s worth every penny.  (Also available on Amazon.)See It

Heart-Shaped Ice Trays, 4 for $10.99 on Amazon

Fairly Odd Novelties/Amazon

Normally having a cold heart on Valentine’s Day would be frowned upon, but here is an exception. This rubber tray is flexible for easy popping and has the capacity for 14 heart-shaped ice cubes.See It

Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur (price varies), Drizly

Domaine de Canton/Facebook

If you’re hoping to spice things up on Valentine’s Day, consider adding Domaine de Canton to the mix. The complex liqueur made with Chinese baby ginger, Tahitian vanilla beans, and French cognac provides a welcome addition of sweet heat to a variety of cocktails including a next-level Moscow Mule.See It  

Honey Simple Syrup, $12.99 at Hudson & Lee

Hudson & Lee/Facebook

If you want to give your honey a little honey on V-Day, North Carolina-based Hudson & Lee has you covered. Their all-natural simple syrup is made from four ingredients: water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and, of course, honey. Use it to add a sweet touch to a margarita or in a Bees Knees if you want to take things back to the Prohibition Era.

For more great gift ideas, visit our Valentine’s Day 2019 Gift Guide headquarters.

Related Video: American Almost Ruined Cocktail Cherries, But Italy is Brining Them Back

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