Yunnan is one of the most diverse regions in China in terms of cuisine. It is home to over 25 tribes and communities, each with its own cuisine and distinct ingredients. However, in extremely general terms, there are four main characteristics of the cuisine in this region: Sour: This is derived from pickled vegetables and vinegar. Spicy: The use of fresh chillies and Sichuan peppercorns is common. Herb: The cuisine is heavily scented with fresh herbs, perilla, sawtooth, and c

Wok frying is an art: the high heat that singes the food, the fast Maillard reactions, and charring are a must. It is a technique referred to as Wok Hei, or "breath of the wok". The concept is simple: high heat cooks the ingredients quickly, searing the outsides and leaving the insides tender and, in the case of vegetables, crunchy. Cooking on high heat in a wok is not about stirring but about pushing the vegetables from the base, where it is hottest, to the sides, where it i

This is a quintessential dish in any Indo-Chinese restaurant and one of the most ordered dishes on the menu. The history of Indo-Chinese...