Ching He-Huang's New Chinese menu
These dishes are authentic, yet there’s not a noodle or stir-fry in sight!
Rising star Ching He-Huang's dishes – which include a traditional, healthy wonton soup, a slow-cooked, meltingly tender beef stew and an East-meets-West sticky pud – are warming, comforting and easy to make. And, in the year when Beijing hosts the Olympic Games, they are the perfect way to showcase China’s gifts to the world of food.
Cinnamon, orange, honey and rosebud tea
This delicious spiced tea contains cinnamon, which is one of the
ingredients found in Chinese five-spice powder and is used to fight
colds and aid digestion. Red (the rosebuds) is the luckiest colour to
the Chinese and the orange resembles golden ‘threads’ of wealth.
Pork and prawn wonton soup
This soup makes a wonderful starter. You can buy wonton wrappers at any
Chinese supermarket (they’re usually found in the chiller cabinet or
freezer). The wontons are cooked and served in a light broth – which is
both healthy and tasty.
Roast sweet potatoes and carrots spiced with cumin, fennel and coriander
Low in calories and salt, this spiced dish is a perfect accompaniment to Chinese food.
Red-cooked or Hong Sao beef
This is a traditional slow-braised or ‘red-cooked’ dish. Use a good cut
of stewing beef, such as chuck steak, or pork. The beef is braised in a
flavoured soy broth and tea bags! Freeze the leftover sauce and use it
as the base for noodle soups.
Chocolate chip cookie and Rolo sticky rice dumplings
Glutinous rice flour is great for those with wheat intolerance –
'glutinous' means it's sticky. Traditional dumplings are served without
any fillings but there are variations. Here, the filling is modern –
the dough is stuffed with Rolos, which melt inside during cooking. Best
served hot.