Celebrate Chinese New Year With These Recipes

Chinese cooking has complex, technique-driven elements, which makes it a bit daunting for the average home cook. But, practice makes perfect. Get a great cookbook, and cook a new dish twice a week. Next, make sure you have the right equipment (a good wok, a bamboo steamer) and the proper vinegars, oils, spices and ingredients (and yes, this means you’ll need to go to your local Asian market). Here are a few of my favorite recipes to get you started.

Chengdu-Style Chicken with Peanuts, Chiles & Black Beans

This chile-spiked Chengdu-style chicken is a mainstay at my house. Get the recipe >>>

Cumin-Crusted Goat Leg

This dish is inspired by the cumin-crusted lamb racks I ate in China’s northwest Xinjiang province. Get the recipe >>>

Chicken Stir-Fry with Celery & Peanuts

This recipe involves more work than your average stir-fry, but the result is infinitely more nuanced and delicious. Get the recipe >>>

Hot & Sour Soup

Traditional hot and sour soup from China’s Sichuan region. Get the recipe >>>

Wok-Tossed Clams in Black Bean Sauce

Once you prep all of your ingredients for this recipe, it comes together very quickly. Get the recipe >>>

Pearl Rice Balls with Ginger-Sesame Sauce

This is the type of recipe you always see in restaurants and don’t think you can do yourself, but it will become one of your go-to showstoppers. Get the recipe >>>

Pork & Asparagus with Chile-Garlic Sauce

Fermented beans supply all the punch of authenticity and honesty you need to make some great Chinese food at home, starting with this recipe. Get the recipe >>>

Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles

Topped with fresh cilantro, scallions and crunchy-cool cucumbers, these cold peanut sesame noodles have become a favorite meal in the Zimmern household. Get the recipe >>>

Ma Po Eggplant

This is one of my favorite dishes, made easy for the home cook. It’s a superb all-in-one meal and a great way to use a small amount of meat to accent a vegetable. Get the recipe >>>