For those of you who love chilli, you’ll know that chilli oil is an important condiment at Chinese tables and a useful pantry staple. Made with facing heaven peppers, chilli oil is not very spicy (for a chilli oil) and has a nutty, toasty flavour enhanced by aromatics. To make this chilli oil you will need 110g (4oz)…… Continue reading chilli oil
Tag: sichuan food
steamed fish with spicy sauce
Here’s a spicy Sichuan-style sauce for any white fish. This recipe is for 700g (1½ lbs) of fish fillets. Make a slurry of 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and set aside. Finely chop ½ an onion and mince 1 clove of garlic. Finely chop a few shiitake mushrooms and ¼ of a…… Continue reading steamed fish with spicy sauce
sichuan braised eggplant
The province of Sichuan (Szechuan) in southwestern China has a bold, pungent and spicy cuisine. It’s known for it’s liberal use of garlic, chillies, vinegar and sichuan pepper. Here’s a great example of Sichuan braised eggplant from Serious Eats. Trim ¾ kg (1½ lbs) of small Asian eggplants and cut them into quarters lengthwise then into 10cm (4″) lengths. Pour…… Continue reading sichuan braised eggplant
dan dan noodles + cold dressed eggplant
In Sichuan (Szechuan) dan dan noodles or dandanmian is any dish served with a spicy sauce containing preserved vegetables, mustard stems, chilli oil, Sichuan pepper and spring onions (scallions). This version, from Everything You Want To Know About Chinese Cooking by Pearl Kong, Tien Chi Chen & Rose Tseng, includes sesame paste, peanuts and dried shrimp and is served with a bowl of chicken…… Continue reading dan dan noodles + cold dressed eggplant
sichuan chilli chicken + smashed cucumber salad + peanuts in vinegar
Sichuan (or Szechuan) pepper from northern China has a unique aroma and flavour with slight lemony overtones which creates a tingling numbness in the mouth that sets the stage for hot spices. This traditional chicken dish demonstrates Ma la (麻辣) literally “numbing and spicy”, a combination of Sichuan pepper and chilli which is common in Sichuan cooking. Cut 650g (1½ lbs) of chicken…… Continue reading sichuan chilli chicken + smashed cucumber salad + peanuts in vinegar
hot and sour soup
This Szechuan soup makes a wonderfully satisfying meal. Take a small packet of bean thread noodles and soak them in cold water. Now take some pieces of black fungus or wood-ear fungus (available in Asian grocery stores) and cook them until tender. Meanwhile bring 1½ litres (50 fl oz) of stock to boil. Remove the…… Continue reading hot and sour soup
tofu with mushrooms + water spinach stir-fry
The people of Sichuan (Szechuan) Province in China are fond of hot and spicy food. This recipe, adapted from Eating Well Magazine, is no exception although you can moderate it to suit your taste. Drain your fresh tofu on several paper towels. Sprinkle with a little salt on each side. Place more paper towels on…… Continue reading tofu with mushrooms + water spinach stir-fry
green beans
Here are two ways to prepare green beans. This is a simple Spanish-style salad. First steam the beans for 6 minutes and then drain and rinse them briefly in cold water to stop them cooking any further. For the dressing combine 4 tablespoons of good olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons…… Continue reading green beans
michelle picker cooks 