12 Not Well-known Chinese Dishes Worth a Try Next Time

Looking to spice up your palate with new flavors? Discover 12 not well-known Chinese dishes that are worth a try next time you’re ordering takeout or heading to a restaurant. These dishes may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but they are sure to delight your taste buds with tantalizing combinations of spices and textures. Say goodbye to your old routine and embark on a culinary adventure with these hidden gems. Trust us, these dishes will bring excitement to your dinner table and satisify your cravings like never before!

1. Century Egg

Also known as pidan, century egg is a traditional Chinese delicacy that dates back centuries. This egg, usually duck, chicken, or quail, is preserved in a mixture of clay, ash, and salt. The result is a unique dish with a dark greenish-black color and a strong salty flavor.

2. Jellyfish Salad

Jellyfish salad is another interesting Chinese culinary masterpiece. This dish is initially shocking given its unusual main ingredient, but its tangy, slightly salty taste and a crunchy texture will surely win you over.

3. Steamed Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Greens

Popularly known as mei cai kou rou, this mouthwatering dish includes tender pork belly steamed with preserved mustard greens. The sweet and sour taste of the mustard greens creates a delightful contrast with the fatty richness of the pork.

4. Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce

Originating from Guangdong cuisine, chicken feet with black bean sauce is a must-try. It offers a delightful mix of sweet, spicy, and sour flavors, along with a jelly-like texture, compelling anyone to love it.

5. Char Siu Bao

While these sweet steamed buns are gaining popularity worldwide, not everyone has tried them yet. Char Siu Bao is filled with barbecued pork and the soft exterior melts in your mouth, revealing a flavorful, sweet, and savory center.

6. Hot and Sour Soup (Suan La Tang)

This Chinese soup naturally gets its ‘hot’ flavor from pepper and its ‘sour’ flavor from vinegar, creating a unique blend that teases your taste buds. It usually contains ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots.

7. Mapo Tofu

Originally from the Sichuan province, Mapo Tofu is a spicy treat for those who love some heat. It consists of tofu cubes, minced meat, fermented bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns which give the dish its signature numbness effect.

8. Chinese Hamburger (Rou Jia Mo)

Also known as Rou Jia Mo, this traditional street food from Shaanxi is a lesser-known dish that rivals the classic hamburger. It’s a stuffed bread pocket with slow-cooked pork with a tantalizing mix of sweet and spicy flavors.

9. Smashed Cucumber Salad (Pai huang gua)

Pai Huang Gua, or Smashed Cucumber Salad, is a refreshing, simple dish present in many Chinese meals. It’s a vibrant mix of cucumbers smashed to absorb the garlicky and vinegary dressing, offering a cooling balance to a spicy meal.

10. Beggar’s Chicken

Beggar’s Chicken is a historical Chinese dish, traditionally baked in clay. The chicken is marinated, stuffed with herbs, covered in lotus leaves, and then sealed in clay to bake, resulting in an extremely flavorful and tender meal.

11. Duck Blood in Chili Sauce

Arguably for the more adventurous, Duck Blood in Chili Sauce is beloved in China. It’s a spicy-hot dish where duck blood cubes are cooked in a fragrant chili broth, offering a unique taste and texture.

12. Sea Cucumber

A delicacy in Chinese cuisine, sea cucumber is often used in stews, soups, and stir-fry dishes. It has a slippery texture and absorbs the flavors of the ingredients it is cooked with, providing a gastronomic adventure for those who dare.

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