Chinese Restaurant-Inspired Appetizer Ideas
If you're hosting an Asian-themed dinner, birthday or holiday party, treat your guests to a variety of authentic, mouth-watering Chinese appetizers. You can either use the flavorful appetizers as a way to begin a meal or serve a mix of finger foods that guests can snack on throughout the soiree. The Asian-inspired goodies shouldn't take long to prepare, as you can make them using a combination of store-bought and homemade items. Some Chinese appetizer ideas include:
1. Lettuce Wraps
The combination of cool and crunchy and warm and savory will make Asian lettuce wraps a hit among your party guests. Start by making a stir-fry using any ingredients that you desire, such as ground pork or chicken, tofu, mushrooms, red bell peppers or garlic. Add your favorite stir-fry sauce or any combination of soy sauce, plum sauce, hoisin sauce or sesame oil for extra flavor.
Either spoon the stir-fry into washed and dried iceberg lettuce cups, or have your guests assemble their own during the event.
2. Egg Rolls
You may think egg rolls are too complicated to make at home, but you can make the popular Chinese restaurant appetizers in a matter of minutes using a variety of fresh ingredients. Start by sauteing your preferred ingredients, such a tofu, chopped chicken breast, minced garlic, bamboo shoots, julienned carrots or cabbage, and water chestnuts in canola oil in a frying pan.
Next, lay out the egg roll wrappers, which you can buy at a grocery store, and begin filling them halfway with the sauteed mixture. Fold each filled wrapper into a 5-inch-thick egg roll and seal the edges closed with a bit of egg white. Fry each egg roll in a pan filled with oil or deep fryer for about five minutes, or until they are golden brown. Serve the egg rolls with sweet and sour sauce for dipping.
3. Vegetable Dumplings
If all of your other appetizers contain meat, make vegetable dumplings for your vegetarian friends and family members. Make the filling by combining ingredients such as chopped scallions, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms and tofu in a bowl. Stir in a bit of sesame oil, soy sauce and cornstarch, as well as ground black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste.
Lay out packaged dumpling skins and fill 1/2 of each one with the mixture. Wet your fingers with a little water and close each dumpling by folding them in half and pinching the edges together to create a secure seal. Pan-fry the dumplings in vegetable oil until they start to turn light brown, and then add a few tablespoons of water to the pan. Place a lid on the pan and allow the dumplings to steam for about two minutes, or until the water has evaporated. Serve the dumplings with any type of Asian dipping sauce.
If you'd rather eat out for Chinese food tonight, try out Ginger Beef Restaurants Coach Hill.