Anyone who knows me REALLY well knows that, out of all the food in the world, my absolute favorite thing to eat is Chinese food. I mean, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHINESE FOOD!!! Nothing makes me happier than to have a Friday night free to order in from a Chinese spot and order some wonton soup, sweet and sour chicken with house fried rice (you know, the rice with pork, chicken, beef and shrimp in it), a couple of egg or pork rolls, and a soda on the side (preferably orange or a Sprite).
But there is a major concern that I have and that's how much sodium is found in Chinese food. Chinese food is notorious for the high amount of salt and sodium included in many of its dishes. When I eat it, I feel my blood pressure going up and I get a tremendous headache - my body's way of saying I've had too much salt.
So I've had to learn how to make it at home to help me cut down on the amount of sodium in a dish. Have I perfected it yet? Not at all, but I have certainly learned a few dishes, tips, tricks and ideas that have helped me enjoy my love of Chinese food, save a few dollars along the way.
Know Your Ingredients
Authentic Chinese food is well-known for its fresh ingredients. American Chinese food doesn't always use the fresh ingredients, but when you make it at home, do you best to select the freshest choices of meat and vegetables. You also want to choose a variety of ingredients to include in your dishes for taste, balance and harmony in your dishes.
Also keep in mind that not all vegetables cook at the same speed, so be mindful which vegetables you select to good. Green leafy vegetables like broccoli and carrots cook longer than onions and garlic. The same goes with meat; fish like salmon and seafood cooks faster than chicken and certain cuts of beef cook faster than others.
One last note about ingredients; rice and noodles are the base of many Chinese dishes. So make sure you know how to properly cook these ingredients.
It's All About the Flavor
Chinese food is extremely flavorful due to the fresh ingredients included in the dishes. Fresh ginger, garlic, cornstarch, soy sauce, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil...these ingredients all infuse dishes with so much flavor. Spices will also be your friend; salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder are always good base spices to keep in your cabinet.
Flexibility is Key
One thing that I love about Chinese food is that a lot of recipes are flexible. You can switch ingredients around, a lot of the sauces can be used for other dishes, and you can be as creative as your chose to be. Especially now, with many people opting for vegan and vegetarian options, you can make some of your favorite Chinese dishes and still stick to your health goals.
Now, Chinese food isn't everybody's favorite food, but one of the biggest health benefits (when you get past the sodium content) is the fresh ingredients you can incorporate into your meals. Especially the vegetables. I love adding onion, mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, etc. into my Chinese-inspired dishes. And I know people say rice is bad and makes you fat, but only if you (like me when I indulge), over eat all the rice. But a cup of rice with your dish is just fine (and if you are still concerned, cauliflower rice works just as good).
Okay, I'm getting hungry now.
We about the love of Chinese food, let's grab the chopsticks and let's eat!
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