What would you guys suggest should be a must have list of spices/sauces/utensils if we are to cook Chinese Cuisine every now and then.
I have got a voucher to spend in a Chinese store and am keen to get some spices and sauces , keen to introducing more Chinese food in my family in the coming days , hence all help will be appreciated . I want to ensure I bring in the right stuff that will get used in most chinese recipes
Thanks so much
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
Very quickly:
Chopsticks (used whilst preparing/cooking the food)
Light and Dark Soy Sauce
Oyster Sauce
Chinese Rice Vinegar
Potato Flour
I’d also look into what vegetables are actually used in Chinese dishes - things like pak choi, lotus root, different mushrooms (e.g. enokitake, shiitake, etc)
Also depends if you’re actually wanting to cooking pakistani style chinese or more authentic.
Chinese herbs and spices
^ this! There is a huge difference in real Chinese cooking and what we desis (or even here in America) consider to be Chinese recipes
With what Stoppit recommended, I’d also add Sichuan peppers, Chinese 5 spice powder, black bean paste/sauce, bean sprouts, rice noodles and sesame seed oil.
A good quality wok is essential too.
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
*wanting to cook 
Ah yes, sesame seed oil. I also use peanut/groundnut oil.
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
What are those 5 spices?
2 tablespoons ground star anise
2 tablespoons ground fennel seeds
2 teaspoons crushed cassia
2 teaspoons crushed Szechuan peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Place a dry pan over medium high heat, place spices in pan, breaking up cinnamon and star anise.
When the spices get warmed up,
Take the pan off the heat and pour the spices onto a plate to cool.
Once cooled, place in spice grinder and buzz it up.
Store in a airtight jar
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
Cassia bark like cinnamon? Thanks a lot!
So in what dishes it is used? I suspect that they use it in housion sauce?
I have noted that the Chinese eat more Pork than the West!
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
Can anyone please tell me what they use for stir fry veggies - I get these from the local Chinese shop (by Chinese people - halal) - the sauce is like a transparent one.
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
whenever i make stir fry or chow mein, i add salt, pepper, garlic powder, ginger powder, soy sauce, oyester sauce, sugar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, rice vine vinegar.
different chinese recipes require different ingrediants but these are a must for most chinese recipes.
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
Hmm does oyster sauce taste fishy?
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
no not at all. but it has a very strong flavor so its usually used in little quantities. Also i like mixing a bit of hoisin, oyster, soy sauce with sugar. gives it that restaurant taste
Re: Chinese herbs and spices
^thanks