Clear button-mushroom soup
Browning button mushrooms creates the flavour for this clear soup. Water and a little soy sauce turn the pan juices into a surprisingly savoury broth.
Short ingredient lists, simple moves and plenty of confidence.
Short ingredient lists, simple moves and plenty of confidence.
Browning button mushrooms creates the flavour for this clear soup. Water and a little soy sauce turn the pan juices into a surprisingly savoury broth.
Cold noodles carry a warm tingle from Sichuan pepper, with cucumber for crunch.
A toasted-sesame sauce coats these noodles, with cucumber on top for crunch.
These Chinese potato pancakes rely on the potato’s own starch to hold together. Grate, season and press the strands into thin rounds with crisp edges.
Small potatoes get two textures here: a soft middle and golden, cracked edges.
Thinly sliced Chinese leaf stays crunchy under a sharp lime-and-vinegar dressing. Peanuts and sesame bring extra texture; toss everything only when you are ready to eat.
These potato matchsticks stay lightly crisp instead of becoming fluffy.
Crack, dress, crunch. A no-cook cucumber salad with garlic, sesame and a tangy dressing.
Wood-ear mushrooms stay springy and crunchy after cooking.
These thin, soft pancakes come from a pourable egg-and-flour batter.
The trick is to heat the rice right through while keeping its grains separate.
Every swap explains what changes. Some specialist ingredients are worth finding: plain flour cannot do the job of glutinous rice, and chilli sauce cannot recreate fermented bean paste.