Chinese cuisine is one of the most beloved forms in America, boasting 45,000 restaurants nationwide and being exceptionally versatile.
Whether it’s your favorite or something new, here are ten dishes you should order when ordering Chinese food in Burlington, New Jersey. Trust us: you’ll thank us later!
Chow Mein
Chow mein is a popular Chinese dish consisting of noodles, vegetables, and your protein of choice cooked together in one skillet with seasonings and sauces for easy one-pan meals that utilize any leftover meat or produce from previous days.
Chow mein sauce can be created from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and aromatic ingredients such as garlic or ginger to add umami flavor and bring out the deliciousness of both noodles and ingredients.
Chow mein is not only tasty but also highly nutritious as it provides carbohydrates and fiber from its noodles and proteins from chicken, beef, or tofu – essential ingredients for building and maintaining muscle mass.
Add variety to your chow mein to maximize its nutritional value. Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and bean sprouts all offer unique textures and nutrients, such as Vitamin A and K, with distinct tastes, textures, and nutritional advantages.
Mapo Tofu
Mapo tofu can be found on Chinese restaurant menus or even at friends’ houses, but making your own at home is pretty straightforward. Combine soft tofu with minced meat (or vegetables if vegans wish) in a flavorful sauce for an irresistibly tasty combination.
Key to this dish is its chili bean sauce, made with salted chile peppers and broad beans (fava beans). This sauce can be found at most Asian grocery stores.
Sichuan peppercorn powder gives this dish its signature spicy kick; more peppercorns mean a spicy bite.
To help the tofu hold up in spicy sauces, blanching it is vital – place the cubes of tofu in simmered water for several minutes before stirring and frying them – this will season and firm it up so it won’t disintegrate while stir-frying and also better absorb the flavor of sauce.
Hot Pot
Hot pot dining is an enjoyable Chinese experience that involves sitting around a simmering pot of soup with family and friends, often for hours. Most hot pot restaurants will offer an assortment of appetizers, drinks, desserts, meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and dumplings that can be added to the broth to create delicious meals.
Hot pot recipes typically feature beef, chicken, and pork as the primary meat options; lamb and mutton can also be famous. All these meats should be thinly sliced for faster and easier cooking in boiling broth while offering lower calories per bite!
Hot pot restaurants usually feature an impressive variety of vegetables that offer plenty of nutrients, including leafy greens, bok choy, cabbage, and taro as excellent choices. Some offer high levels of fiber, while others provide additional protein sources.
Spring Rolls
Vegetarian spring rolls are deliciously refreshing treats, served with an irresistibly tasty dipping sauce, and can contain everything from noodles and tofu to fresh herbs. When visiting any Chinese Burlington, NJ restaurant for these rolls, ensure they offer top-of-the-line cuisine!
Add warm water to a bowl to create a spring roll, and quickly dip one rice paper wrapper into it to soften. Next, work on a flat surface (preferably wet to keep the wrapper from sticking), starting with 1/3 section closest to you – layer lettuce leaves followed by noodles, then veggies and herbs with shrimp as desired before finishing up by covering your roll in a plastic wrapper and rolling up tightly.
Once completed, place seam-side down onto a serving plate and cover with a damp paper towel to maintain freshness. Enjoy alongside hoisin peanut or Vietnamese fish sauce as dipping options!
Sweet and Sour Pork
Sweet and Sour Pork is one of America’s most beloved Chinese dishes, featuring lean pork, vegetables, and pineapple for an Asian-inspired dish full of health, goodness, and flavor. While this can also be made with other forms of protein like chicken or fish, a quick-cooking protein such as pork is required to ensure success!
This recipe calls for cubed pork tenderloin coated in a light batter low in sodium and fat content, followed by a sweet-and-tangy sauce featuring pineapple chunks and onions for an irresistibly delicious dish that will surely become a family favorite! Try this delicious alternative to takeout for dinner tonight – your family won’t thank you later!
This recipe calls for ketchup, but apple cider vinegar provides an authentic yet less sugary alternative. Adding one drop of red food coloring may enhance its appearance for added vibrancy and color intensity, although this step is optional. You can use this sauce over rice or serve it alongside vegetables such as Chinese broccoli or carrots.
Char Siu
Char siu is a Chinese restaurant-style barbecued pork dish. The name, meaning “fork roasted,” refers to its traditional cooking method where strips of season pork were threaded onto wooden forks and slowly roasted in either an oven or over fire before the chef constantly basted it with sugary glaze for a glossy appearance.
Different cuts of pork are used, though shoulder cuts are the most popular. Marinades generally contain five spice powders: soy sauce, red fermented bean curd, hoisin sauce, and maltose for optimal results.
Char siu is usually prepared in an oven set to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, though some chefs rely on their experience and sense to tell when the pork has reached optimal roasting temperature. When done right, the resultant dish is deliciously succulent with a subtle char on its exterior, often served alongside rice noodles or steamed bun fillings.