China offers a wide range of breakfast options, such as steamed buns, dumplings, wonton soups, noodles, pan-fried dumplings and buns, baked sesame bread, fried sweet glutinous balls, rice rolls, rice pancakes, fried donut sticks, soy milk, savory pancakes, silken tofu, and congee. The options are endless.
Some of the items require effort to make, while others can be prepared at home. Let me show you how I made a simple Chinese breakfast last week.
CONGEE
Congee is a dish made by cooking rice in a large amount of water. It can be sweetened and prepared with nuts and beans or made savory with seafood, pork, or beef. Plain congee is a popular choice for breakfast as it is simple to prepare at home.
Plain Congee Recipe
2 Servings
1/2 cup of jasmine rice
5 cups of water
The suggested ratio of water and rice is 10:1 for a medium-thick consistency. Adjust the water amount for desired consistency. Instructions Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer congee for 40 to 50 minutes.
YOUTIAO
Fried Donut Sticks/Chinese Crullers
Youtiao is a crispy and slightly chewy fried stick donut that has little flavor. It can be enjoyed on its own or added to soy milk or silken tofu.
Or wrapped in baked sesame bread or glutinous rice to make rice rolls.
Thanks to online shops, I didn't have to make youtiao at home. I bought some pre-cooked ones and reheated them in the oven. I should have fried them for a crispier texture, but I'm satisfied with the quality.
There are plenty of other options for you to pick.
SALTED DUCK EGG
Soak duck eggs in salt and water solution for 20-45 days or use the traditional method by covering the eggs with salty paste then you will get salted duck eggs. You can buy uncooked salted duck eggs from street vendors in Chinatown or cooked ones from Chinese markets.
Salted duck egg is a popular breakfast item. It's also a common ingredient in stir-fry recipes. The egg yolk is used in mooncakes, zongzi, and tea pastries.
PICKLED MUSTARD GREENS
Picked mustard greens are a popular side dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It pairs well with rice, noodles, soups, buns, or whatever you like. You can also find pickled and salted vegetables in a variety of stir-fried dishes. There are also pickled/salted radishes, bamboo shoots, ginger, mushrooms, peppers, and seaweed.
Let me know if you're interested in learning more about Chinese breakfast. I would love to introduce more breakfast items and show you how to prepare them at home.
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