Main

Bird's nest soup

Edible bird's nests are bird nests created by edible-nest swiftlets, indian swiftlets, and other swiftlets using solidified saliva, which are harvested for human consumption. they are particularly prized in chinese culture due to their rarity, high protein content and rich flavor. edible bird's nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans, with nests being sold at prices up to about $3,000 per pound ($6,600/kg), depending on grading. the type or grading of a bird's nest depends on the type of bird as well as the shape and color of the bird's nest. it is usually white in color, but there also exists a red version that is sometimes called "blood" nest. according to traditional chinese medicine, it promotes good health, especially for the skin. the nests have been used in chinese cuisine for over 400 years, most often as bird's nest soup.

Main

Braised sea cucumber with scallions

Main

Clam

Clam is a common name for several kinds of bivalve molluscs. the word is often applied only to those that are edible and live as infauna, spending most of their lives halfway buried in the sand of the seafloor or riverbeds. clams have two shells of equal size connected by two adductor muscles and have a powerful burrowing foot. they live in both freshwater and marine environments; in salt water they prefer to burrow down into the mud and the turbidity of the water required varies with species and location; the greatest diversity of these is in north america.clams in the culinary sense do not live attached to a substrate (whereas oysters and mussels do) and do not live near the bottom (whereas scallops do). in culinary usage, clams are commonly eaten marine bivalves, as in clam digging and the resulting soup, clam chowder. many edible clams such as palourde clams are ovoid or triangular; however, razor clams have an elongated parallel-sided shell, suggesting an old-fashioned straight razor.some clams have life cycles of only one year, while at least one may be over 500 years old. all clams have two calcareous shells or valves joined near a hinge with a flexible ligament and all are filter feeders.

Main

Deep fried golden cicada

Main

Dezhou braised chicken

Main

Fish

Many species of fish are caught by humans and consumed as food in virtually all regions around the world. fish has been an important dietary source of protein and other nutrients throughout human history. the english language does not have a special culinary name for food prepared from fish like with other animals (as with pig vs. pork), or as in other languages (such as spanish pescado vs. pez). in culinary and fishery contexts, fish may include so-called shellfish such as molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms; more expansively, seafood covers both fish and other marine life used as food.since 1961, the average annual increase in global apparent food fish consumption (3.2 percent) has outpaced population growth (1.6 percent) and exceeded consumption of meat from all terrestrial animals, combined (2.8 percent) and individually (bovine, ovine, porcine, etc.), except poultry (4.9 percent). in per capita terms, food fish consumption has grown from 9.0 kg (19.8 lb) in 1961 to 20.2 kg (45 lb) in 2015, at an average rate of about 1.5 percent per year. the expansion in consumption has been driven not only by increased production, but also by a combination of many other factors, including reduced wastage, better utilization, improved distribution channels and growing consumer demand, linked with population growth, rising disposable incomes and urbanization.europe, japan and the united states of america together accounted for 47 percent of the world's total food fish consumption in 1961, but only about 20 percent in 2015. of the global total of 149 million tonnes in 2015, asia consumed more than two-thirds (106 million tonnes at 24.0 kg per capita). oceania and africa consumed the lowest share. the shift is the result of structural changes in the sector and in particular the growing role of asian countries in fish production, as well as a significant gap between the economic growth rates of the world's more mature fish markets and those of many increasingly important emerging markets around the world, particularly in asia.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Fried peanuts

Deep fried peanuts are a snack food created by deep frying peanuts in an oil. the resulting product is a snack food that can be eaten in its entirety, both shell and nut. the deep-frying process does not change the flavor or texture of the nutmeats, but changes the texture and flavor of the shells—especially if seasonings are used—to make them more palatable.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Fuling jiabing

Fuling jiabing (simplified chinese: 茯苓夹饼; traditional chinese: 茯苓夾餅; pinyin: fúlíng jiābǐng), also known fu ling bing or tuckahoe pie, is a traditional snack food of beijing and is an integral part of the city's culture. it is a pancake-like snack made from flour, sugar, and fuling (poria), rolled around nuts, honey, and other ingredients. the flour can be mixed with fuling (wolfiporia extensa), a kind of chinese medicine from yunnan province that is used to rid the spleen of dampness. different ingredients are rolled into the pancakes making a variety of fuling jiabing. the pancakes can be carved into beautiful patterns, too. it used to be a light snack served to the royal family or governmental officials in the qing dynasty. now it has become a must-have snack of beijing. daoxiangchun (稻香村) is the known for its fuling jiabing.

Main

Grilled squid

A squid is a mollusc with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder decapodiformes. like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, and a mantle. they are mainly soft-bodied, like octopuses, but have a small internal skeleton in the form of a rod-like gladius or pen, made of chitin. squid diverged from other cephalopods during the jurassic and occupy a similar role to teleost fish as open water predators of similar size and behaviour. they play an important role in the open water food web. the two long tentacles are used to grab prey and the eight arms to hold and control it. the beak then cuts the food into suitable size chunks for swallowing. squid are rapid swimmers, moving by jet propulsion, and largely locate their prey by sight. they are among the most intelligent of invertebrates, with groups of humboldt squid having been observed hunting cooperatively. they are preyed on by sharks, other fish, sea birds, seals and cetaceans, particularly sperm whales. squid can change colour for camouflage and signalling. some species are bioluminescent, using their light for counter-illumination camouflage, while many species can eject a cloud of ink to distract predators. squid are used for human consumption with commercial fisheries in japan, the mediterranean, the southwestern atlantic, the eastern pacific and elsewhere. they are used in cuisines around the world, often known as "calamari". squid have featured in literature since classical times, especially in tales of giant squid and sea monsters.

Breakfast

Jianbing guozi

Jianbing guozi (chinese: 煎饼馃子) or "deep-fried dough sticks rolled in a thin pancake" is a popular chinese street food originating in tianjin, and has been hailed as "one of china's most beloved street breakfasts", especially in tianjin and neighboring hebei province. it is a sub-category of jianbing. it consists of pancakes made from mung bean flour, eggs, and youtiao (fried dough sticks) or crispy "dragons", served with sweet bean sauce, diced green onion, and optionally chili sauce.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Jin Xiang Da Suan

White garlic grown in jinxiang county, shandong, china

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Longkou Fen Si

Noodles made from green beans and peas, originating from shandong, china

Main

Lurou huoshao

The donkey burger (chinese: 驴肉火烧; pinyin: lǘròu huǒshāo) is a kind of sandwich commonly eaten in baoding and hejian, hebei province, china, where it is considered a local specialty, though it may also be found in other parts of china, particularly in northeastern china. chopped or shredded donkey meat or offal is placed within a huǒshāo or shao bing, a roasted, semi-flaky bread pocket, and eaten as a snack or as part of a meal. hejian style typically serves the meat cold in a warm huoshao while baoding style serves the meat hot, they both often include green chili-pepper and cilantro leaves. donkey burger is a popular street food and can also be found on the menus of high-end restaurants. a well-known saying, especially in baoding (and elsewhere in hebei province), is "in heaven there is dragon meat, on earth there is donkey meat" (天上龙肉，地上驴肉). donkey burgers have two styles: baoding style and hejian style. baoding style uses round huoshao, while hejian style uses rectangular huoshao. also, the inside donkey burgers are different: baoding style serves hot meat, while hejian style serves cold meat.donkey burgers have been traced to the ming dynasty.

Main

Moo shu pork

Moo shu pork (木须肉, also spelled mù xū ròu, moo shi pork, mu shu or mu xu pork) is a dish of northern chinese origin, originating from shandong. it invariably contains egg, whose yellow color is reminiscent of blossoms of the osmanthus tree, after which the dish is named.

Main

Nine-coiled large intestine

Braised pork intestines in brown sauce

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Peanuts

The peanut (arachis hypogaea) also known as the groundnut, goober (us), pindar (us) or monkey nut (uk), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. it is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, being important to both small and large commercial producers. it is classified as both a grain legume and, due to its high oil content, an oil crop. world annual production of shelled peanuts was 44 million tonnes in 2016, led by china with 38% of the world total. atypically among legume crop plants, peanut pods develop underground (geocarpy) rather than above ground. with this characteristic in mind, the botanist carl linnaeus gave peanuts the specific epithet hypogaea, which means "under the earth". the peanut belongs to the botanical family fabaceae (or leguminosae), commonly known as the legume, bean, or pea family. like most other legumes, peanuts harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules. the capacity to fix nitrogen means peanuts require less nitrogen-containing fertilizer and improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop rotations. peanuts are similar in taste and nutritional profile to tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds, and, as a culinary nut, are often served in similar ways in western cuisines. the botanical definition of a nut is "a fruit whose ovary wall becomes hard at maturity". using this criterion, the peanut is not a nut. however, peanuts are usually categorized as nuts for culinary purposes and in common english more generally.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Pull out silk sweet potato

Candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato with caramelised sugar

Main

Qianzhangrou

Thinly sliced pork belly with soy paste, red preserved beancurd, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, scallions, black bean sauce

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Rolling donkey

Ludagun (simplified chinese: 驴打滚; traditional chinese: 驢打滾; pinyin: lǘ dǎ gǔn), also called as "doumiangao" or "fried chop rice cake", is a traditional manchu snack in china. it has origins from manchuria, and later became famous in beijing. the yellow soybean flour sprinkled over the pastry makes it look like a donkey rolling on the loess, which gives its chinese name "lu da gun" (rolling donkey).

Main

Scallop

Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve mollusks (saltwater clams) in the taxonomic family pectinidae, the scallops. however, the common name "scallop" is also sometimes applied to species in other closely related families within the superfamily pectinoidea, which also includes the thorny oysters. scallops are a cosmopolitan family of bivalves which are found in all of the world's oceans, although never in fresh water. they are one of very few groups of bivalves to be primarily "free-living", with many species capable of rapidly swimming short distances and even of migrating some distance across the ocean floor. a small minority of scallop species live cemented to rocky substrates as adults, while others attach themselves to stationary or rooted objects such as sea grass at some point in their lives by means of a filament they secrete called a byssal thread. the majority of species, however, live recumbent on sandy substrates, and when they sense the presence of a predator such as a starfish, they may attempt to escape by swimming swiftly but erratically through the water using jet propulsion created by repeatedly clapping their shells together. scallops have a well-developed nervous system, and unlike most other bivalves all scallops have a ring of numerous simple eyes situated around the edge of their mantles. many species of scallops are highly prized as a food source, and some are farmed as aquaculture. the word "scallop" is also applied to the meat of these bivalves, the adductor muscle, that is sold as seafood. the brightly coloured, symmetric, fan-shaped shells of scallops with their radiating and often fluted ornamentation are valued by shell collectors, and have been used since ancient times as motifs in art, architecture, and design. owing to their widespread distribution, scallop shells are a common sight on beaches and are often brightly coloured, making them a popular object to collect among beachcombers and vacationers. the shells also have a significant place in popular culture, including symbolism.

Main

Sea cucumber

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class holothuroidea (). they are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. the number of holothurian () species worldwide is about 1,717, with the greatest number being in the asia-pacific region. many of these are gathered for human consumption and some species are cultivated in aquaculture systems. the harvested product is variously referred to as trepang, namako, bêche-de-mer, or balate. sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter, after which bacteria can continue the decomposition process.like all echinoderms, sea cucumbers have an endoskeleton just below the skin, calcified structures that are usually reduced to isolated microscopic ossicles (or sclerietes) joined by connective tissue. in some species these can sometimes be enlarged to flattened plates, forming an armour. in pelagic species such as pelagothuria natatrix (order elasipodida, family pelagothuriidae), the skeleton is absent and there is no calcareous ring.sea cucumbers are named for their resemblance to the fruit of the cucumber plant.

Main

Seafood

Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including fish and shellfish. shellfish include various species of molluscs (e.g. bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters and mussels, and cephalopods such as octopus and squid), crustaceans (e.g. shrimp, crabs, and lobster), and echinoderms (e.g. sea cucumbers and sea urchins). historically, marine mammals such as cetaceans (whales and dolphins) as well as seals have been eaten as food, though that happens to a lesser extent in modern times. edible sea plants such as some seaweeds and microalgae are widely eaten as sea vegetables around the world, especially in asia. seafood is an important source of (animal) protein in many diets around the world, especially in coastal areas. semi-vegetarians who consume seafood as the only source of meat are said to adhere to pescetarianism. the harvesting of wild seafood is usually known as fishing or hunting, while the cultivation and farming of seafood is known as aquaculture and fish farming (in the case of fish). most of the seafood harvest is consumed by humans, but a significant proportion is used as fish food to farm other fish or rear farm animals. some seafoods (i.e. kelp) are used as food for other plants (a fertilizer). in these ways, seafoods are used to produce further food for human consumption. also, products such as fish oil and spirulina tablets are extracted from seafoods. some seafood is fed to aquarium fish, or used to feed domestic pets such as cats. a small proportion is used in medicine, or is used industrially for nonfood purposes (e.g. leather).

Main

Sheng jian bao

Shengjian mantou (wu chinese: ssanji mhoedhou), shengjian bao, or shengjian for short, is a type of small, pan-fried baozi (steamed buns) which is a specialty of shanghai. it is typically filled with pork and gelatin that melts into soup/liquid when cooked. within shanghai, shengjian mantou typically have thin, crispy skins while those sold elsewhere usually have thicker, bread-like skins. it has been one of the most common breakfast items in shanghai since the early 1900s. as a ubiquitous breakfast item, it has a significant place in shanghai cuisine.

Main

Shrimp

Shrimp are crustaceans with elongated bodies and a primarily swimming mode of locomotion – most commonly caridea and dendrobranchiata of the decapod order, although some crustaceans outside of this order are referred to as "shrimp". more narrow definitions may be restricted to caridea, to smaller species of either group or to only the marine species. under a broader definition, shrimp may be synonymous with prawn, covering stalk-eyed swimming crustaceans with long, narrow muscular tails (abdomens), long whiskers (antennae), and slender legs. any small crustacean which resembles a shrimp tends to be called one. they swim forward by paddling with swimmerets on the underside of their abdomens, although their escape response is typically repeated flicks with the tail driving them backwards very quickly. crabs and lobsters have strong walking legs, whereas shrimp have thin, fragile legs which they use primarily for perching.shrimp are widespread and abundant. there are thousands of species adapted to a wide range of habitats. they can be found feeding near the seafloor on most coasts and estuaries, as well as in rivers and lakes. to escape predators, some species flip off the seafloor and dive into the sediment. they usually live from one to seven years. shrimp are often solitary, though they can form large schools during the spawning season.they play important roles in the food chain and are an important food source for larger animals ranging from fish to whales. the muscular tails of many shrimp are edible to humans, and they are widely caught and farmed for human consumption. commercial shrimp species support an industry worth 50 billion dollars a year, and in 2010 the total commercial production of shrimp was nearly 7 million tonnes. shrimp farming became more prevalent during the 1980s, particularly in china, and by 2007 the harvest from shrimp farms exceeded the capture of wild shrimp. there are significant issues with excessive bycatch when shrimp are captured in the wild, and with pollution damage done to estuaries when they are used to support shrimp farming. many shrimp species are small as the term shrimp suggests, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long, but some shrimp exceed 25 cm (9.8 in). larger shrimp are more likely to be targeted commercially and are often referred to as prawns, particularly in britain.

Main

Squid

A squid is a mollusc with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles in the superorder decapodiformes. like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, and a mantle. they are mainly soft-bodied, like octopuses, but have a small internal skeleton in the form of a rod-like gladius or pen, made of chitin. squid diverged from other cephalopods during the jurassic and occupy a similar role to teleost fish as open water predators of similar size and behaviour. they play an important role in the open water food web. the two long tentacles are used to grab prey and the eight arms to hold and control it. the beak then cuts the food into suitable size chunks for swallowing. squid are rapid swimmers, moving by jet propulsion, and largely locate their prey by sight. they are among the most intelligent of invertebrates, with groups of humboldt squid having been observed hunting cooperatively. they are preyed on by sharks, other fish, sea birds, seals and cetaceans, particularly sperm whales. squid can change colour for camouflage and signalling. some species are bioluminescent, using their light for counter-illumination camouflage, while many species can eject a cloud of ink to distract predators. squid are used for human consumption with commercial fisheries in japan, the mediterranean, the southwestern atlantic, the eastern pacific and elsewhere. they are used in cuisines around the world, often known as "calamari". squid have featured in literature since classical times, especially in tales of giant squid and sea monsters.

Main

Steamed jiaji fish

Main

Stir fried large yellow croaker

Stir frying (chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo) is a chinese cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred or tossed in a wok. the technique originated in china and in recent centuries has spread into other parts of asia and the west. it is similar to sautéing in western cooking technique. scholars think that wok (or pan) frying may have been used as early as the han dynasty (206 b.c. – 220 a.d.) for drying grain, not for cooking, but it was not until the ming dynasty (1368–1644) that the wok reached its modern shape and allowed quick cooking in hot oil. well into the 20th century, while only restaurants and affluent families could afford the oil and fuel needed for stir fry, the most widely used cooking techniques remained boiling and steaming. stir fry cooking came to predominate over the course of the century as more people could afford oil and fuel, and in the west spread beyond chinese communities.stir frying and chinese food have been recommended as both healthy and appealing for their skillful use of vegetables, meats, and fish which are moderate in their fat content and sauces which are not overly rich, provided calories are kept at a reasonable level.the english-language term "stir-fry" was coined by yuen ren chao in buwei yang chao's book how to cook and eat in chinese (1945), to describe the chǎo technique. although using "stir-fry" as a noun is commonplace in english, in chinese, the word 炒 (chǎo) is used as a verb or adjective only.

Main

Stir fried pig kidneys

Stir frying (chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo) is a chinese cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred or tossed in a wok. the technique originated in china and in recent centuries has spread into other parts of asia and the west. it is similar to sautéing in western cooking technique. scholars think that wok (or pan) frying may have been used as early as the han dynasty (206 b.c. – 220 a.d.) for drying grain, not for cooking, but it was not until the ming dynasty (1368–1644) that the wok reached its modern shape and allowed quick cooking in hot oil. well into the 20th century, while only restaurants and affluent families could afford the oil and fuel needed for stir fry, the most widely used cooking techniques remained boiling and steaming. stir fry cooking came to predominate over the course of the century as more people could afford oil and fuel, and in the west spread beyond chinese communities.stir frying and chinese food have been recommended as both healthy and appealing for their skillful use of vegetables, meats, and fish which are moderate in their fat content and sauces which are not overly rich, provided calories are kept at a reasonable level.the english-language term "stir-fry" was coined by yuen ren chao in buwei yang chao's book how to cook and eat in chinese (1945), to describe the chǎo technique. although using "stir-fry" as a noun is commonplace in english, in chinese, the word 炒 (chǎo) is used as a verb or adjective only.

Main

Sweet and sour carp

Sweet and sour is a generic term that encompasses many styles of sauce, cuisine and cooking methods. it is commonly used in east asia and southeast asia, and has been used in england since the middle ages. sweet and sour remains popular in europe and the americas.

Dessert, Sweet

Tanghulu

Tanghulu () or tang hulu (simplified chinese: 糖葫芦; traditional chinese: 糖葫蘆; pinyin: táng húlu; lit. 'sugar calabash'), also called bingtang hulu (冰糖葫芦; 冰糖葫蘆; bīngtáng húlu; 'rock-sugar calabash'), is a traditional northern chinese snack consisting of several rock sugar-coated fruits of chinese hawthorn (crataegus pinnatifida) on a bamboo skewer. it is named for its calabash-like shape. tanghulu is often mistaken for regular candied fruits; however, it is coated in a hardened sugar syrup. this sweet and sour treat has been made since the song dynasty and remains popular throughout northern china.chinese hawthorn is the traditional fruit used for the skewering, but in recent times vendors have also used various other fruits, such as cherry tomatoes, mandarin oranges, strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwifruit, bananas, or grapes. the pits and seeds of the hawthorn are emptied out and are commonly filled with sweet red bean paste before being skewered and dipped.

Breakfast

Tian mo

Tian mo (甜沫) is a traditional breakfast soup from the city of jinan in the shandong province of china. the soup is made of millet powder, peanuts, vermicelli, cowpea, spiced tofu (or shredded tofu skin), and spinach. the soup has a thick texture once cooked and has a salty taste. it is normally eaten with youtiao.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Tudou si

Potato sticks with chili peppers and vinegar

Main

Yu jiao

Fish dumplings, pan-fried, in soup