Total 231 recipes
Home-cooking Staple Food recipes. Pick a dish from the list and cook it at home.
A home-style, quick, and spicy appetizer dish. The noodles are chewy and coated in the black bean and savory spicy aroma of Lao Gan Ma, while the soy sauce enhances the umami taste. It is simple yet full of flavor. As a main meal, it quickly replenishes carbohydrates and energy, and the capsaicin helps stimulate the appetite. There are no barriers to making this; even beginners can easily handle it, and the whole process from boiling water to serving takes about ten minutes.
This is a rustic, unpretentious home-cooked staple that creates soft and palatable rice using only a regular pot. White rice mainly provides carbohydrates for a quick energy boost to the body. The method is extremely simple; beginners can easily master it by keeping an eye on the heat throughout the process. The total time from adding rice to serving is approximately 25 minutes.
This North Indian home-style dish is a traditional favorite in Punjab and Delhi. The tomato-onion gravy is rich and spicy, the slow-simmered kidney beans become soft and flavorful, and mixed with hot rice it's warm and filling. Beans are rich in protein, dietary fiber and trace minerals, making for a balanced meal. It's simple and beginner-friendly, taking about 40 minutes of cooking, though the dried beans need to soak 8 hours in advance. A rich, homey flavor that tastes like mom's cooking.
Old Friend Pork Noodles are sour, spicy, fresh, and savory. The rice noodles are smooth and textured with the rich aroma of fermented black beans and pickled bamboo shoots, representing the typical Nanning home-cooking taste. Pork provides high-quality protein, while the rice noodles quickly replenish carbohydrates. This has a medium cooking difficulty; remember to soak the rice noodles in advance. Skilled cooks can have the dish ready in about 40 minutes.
This is a home-cooked fusion dish using Japanese-style cooked rice techniques. The rice absorbs the aroma of the butter and salmon, resulting in a rich and savory texture. Salmon provides high-quality protein and unsaturated fatty acids, while combined with mushrooms adds dietary fiber. The operation is extremely simple; just use the rice cooker to finish it with one button. From preparation to serving, it takes about 45 minutes and is perfect for beginners.
This simple mixed rice is full of southern Chinese home-cooking charm: each grain is coated in melted lard, with the savory note of soy sauce and the freshness of scallions. It's a comforting go-to for many kids with a poor appetite. It mainly provides quick carbohydrate and fat energy, but it's high in cholesterol, so don't eat it too often. There's no skill required at all; even if you can't cook, with freshly cooked rice you can mix up a fragrant bowl in a few minutes.
This Japanese-style Teriyaki chicken rice features a rich, sweet and salty sauce, with the surface baked slightly crispy and the inside soft, tender, and juicy, which goes very well with rice. The chicken and eggs provide rich quality protein, but the amounts of soy sauce and sugar are relatively high, so it is better suited for occasional flavor upgrades. The method is simple; just mix the ingredients and let the air fryer do the work. Beginners can easily handle it; from preparation to serving, it takes about 1 hour.
Teriyaki Chicken Thigh Rice is a delicious, slightly sweet and savory meal. The thighs, seared until crispy and infused with a rich sauce, offer a silky, tender meat texture. Chicken meat is rich in high-quality protein, and paired with broccoli and carrots, it adds dietary fiber and vitamins. While the preparation requires a bit of deboning technique, it is overall not complex, and beginners can succeed by following the steps. From prep to serving, it takes about 30 minutes to get on the table.
Hot Dry Noodles is one of the most representative snacks in Wuhan and belongs to the Hubei cuisine. The alkaline noodles are firm and smooth, coated in thick sesame paste, paired with pickled beans, pickled radish, and minced meat. It is savory with a slight spiciness and a rich flavor. It primarily provides carbohydrates and protein, and the sesame paste is also rich in calcium. The preparation is simple and quick; beginners can easily get started, taking only about ten minutes from boiling to mixing.
Instant ramen with egg is a convenient and speedy main dish. It has a smooth texture and rich soup flavor, making it suitable for satiating hunger anytime. It primarily provides carbohydrates and protein, allowing for a quick energy boost. The method is extremely simple, requiring only boiling water, cooking the noodles, and cracking in an egg to cook. It is easy for beginners to master and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
Fried mantou is a savory, crispy home-cooked noodle dish, typical of Northern Chinese cuisine. When stir-fried to golden color, the cubes have a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The addition of cumin and five-spice powder makes the flavor richer. It pairs well with eggs for protein and scallions for a fresh aroma. The difficulty is moderate, making it fast and easy for beginners; estimated cook time is about 15 minutes.
Zhajiang noodles are a traditional Beijing home-style noodle dish with a rich, savory sauce and chewy noodles, served with fresh vegetable toppings, balanced between salty and sweet. The main nutrition comes from lean-meat protein and vegetable vitamins, providing plenty of energy. It's beginner-friendly and takes about 30 minutes; once you're practiced, you can shorten the time by prepping the vegetables while the sauce cooks.
This stir-fried pasta is soft and refreshing, paired with fatty beef and sauce for an rich flavor. It is a home-style staple with a Western touch. It is rich in carbohydrates and protein, which helps replenish energy quickly. The method is simple and easy to master, even for beginners. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.
These stir-fried instant noodles are springy and chewy, savory and well seasoned — a quick home-style dish adapted from the usual boiled noodles. Eggs and ham sausage add protein and energy. It's simple; just remember to rinse the noodles in cold water to keep the texture. Beginners can easily make it, and it takes about 15 minutes in total.
This is a Fujian-style staple dish. The rice cakes are soft, sticky, and chewy, carrying the roasted aroma of scallion oil. It is a hearty home-cooked meal. Rice cakes made from rice flour provide sufficient carbohydrates, while pairing them with eggs and vegetables supplements protein and vitamins for a balanced diet. The method is simple and friendly to beginners, taking approximately 30 minutes from preparation to serving.
Fried Beancurd Jelly is a specialty snack from the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. It is smooth and tender with a savory-salty, slightly spicy flavor, featuring aromas of garlic and soy sauce. Made primarily from starch, it provides rich carbohydrates for a quick energy boost. The cooking difficulty is moderate, suitable for beginners with some experience; the entire process takes about 15 minutes.
A simple and fast Japanese-style rice ball with savory ham paired with salad dressing and nori, offering a rich texture and satisfying fullness. Rich in carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins, it provides a quick energy boost. The difficulty level is extremely low, even beginners can get started easily, with the process taking about 1 hour from cooking to completion.
Tengzhou Vegetable Pancakes are a traditional snack from Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, created in the Qing Dynasty by Wang Niugao. They consist of a wheat flour pancake wrapped around seasonal vegetables like Chinese cabbage, glass noodles, and tofu, sometimes paired with eggs or ham sausage, and pan-fried with oil and spices. The finished product is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, savory and refreshing, ideal as a main dish or breakfast. It takes approximately 15 minutes from preparation to serving.
Noodle soup is a free-form home staple with a light broth and soft, smooth noodles. It works with any meat or vegetables and can be rich or mild. It is rich in carbohydrates and quality protein, and the vegetables add vitamins and fiber for a balanced, filling meal. It is very easy and needs no cooking skills, so beginners can handle it easily. From prep to serving it usually takes about 30 minutes.
Spaghetti bolognese is a simple, quick home-style Western dish with a rich sauce and firm pasta, perfect for busy days. Minced meat and onion combined with ready-made pasta sauce quickly provide protein and carbohydrates, and the onion adds dietary fiber. It's very beginner-friendly, needing only simple chopping and frying; once practiced you can have it on the table in 15 minutes, more satisfying than instant noodles.
Handmade dumplings are a classic Chinese staple. They feature thin skins, generous filling, and are both filling and easily customizable to personal taste. The pork provides high-quality protein and fat, while the chives also supplement vitamins and dietary fiber. This dish is quite difficult for beginners, requiring mastery of dough making, rolling, filling preparation, and cooking timing. Estimated cooking time is about 3 hours.
This dish uses cola as a seasoning substitute, bringing a unique caramelized, slightly sweet flavor. The rich sauce coats every grain of rice. This is a creative home-style fried rice. Eggs and sausage ham provide high-quality protein and energy, paired with rice as a staple, making for a nutritionally balanced and filling meal. The steps are intuitive and suitable for beginners; generally, it takes about 20 minutes to serve.
This is a simple and speedy Cantonese-style main dish. The rice absorbs the oils from the sausage, becoming moist, savory, and rich in flavor. Paired with tender vegetables and carrots, the texture is layered. Rich in carbohydrates, protein, and multiple vitamins, offering a balanced diet. The microwave operation is very beginner-friendly, with an estimated total cooking time of just 15 minutes.
A home-style staple full of old Shanghai alleyway charm: the mellow aroma of salt pork and the sweetness of greens, brought together by lard, soak into every grain of rice. There's a crispy crust at the bottom while the stems stay crisp and tender, with distinct layers. Bok choy is rich in vitamins and fiber, and the salt pork provides protein and energy, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables. It isn't complicated, but adding the leaves separately takes a little technique, so it's slightly challenging for beginners. It takes about 1 hour from prep to table.
Indian Biryani is a royal dish from the Mughal Empire. The grain is long and slender with a rich aroma of spices. The chicken is tender, the rice is distinct, and the layers are rich. It is rich in protein and spice essence, which boosts appetite. The process is tedious and not beginner-friendly, taking about 90 minutes total (chicken needs to marinate for 1 hour).
An Indian-style leavened flatbread, lightly charred and crisp outside, soft and chewy inside, the perfect partner for curry. It's rich in carbohydrates and protein, and the yogurt makes it easier to digest. It's slightly tricky: watch the dough consistency and the heat, but a frying pan is all you need. Allow 1 hour for proofing, about 1.5 hours total.
Litti Chokha is a traditional staple from the Indian state of Bihar, consisting of roasted wheat balls topped with a smoky savory vegetable mash. It features a texture that is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a rich aroma. The roasted chickpea flour filling is rich in plant protein and dietary fiber, paired with vegetables like eggplant, tomato, and potato, making it highly nutritious. This recipe involves kneading, filling, baking, and vegetable preparation, so it is a bit challenging for beginners. It takes about 60 minutes to complete.
This pie has a slightly crispy outer skin and a soft interior, with a savory filling. It belongs to the category of home-style flour dishes. Rich in carbohydrates and protein, it is more nutritious when paired with carrots and eggs. It has an intermediate difficulty level; beginners need to master the heat, but the steps are clear and easy to follow. It takes about 1 hour from preparation to completion.
Mung bean jelly is a traditional snack originating from Sichuan Province. It is icy, cool, smooth, and sour-spicy, making it very appetizing and perfect for summer heat relief. The main ingredient is mung bean starch, which is rich in carbohydrates and can quickly replenish energy for the body. The making process is not complicated but requires patience in stirring and boiling, as well as long refrigeration time to set. The difficulty level is medium for beginners. It takes about 3-4 hours from start to finish, mostly spent waiting for refrigeration; active preparation time is approximately 30 minutes.
Crowned with thin skins and tender fillings, clear soup, and fresh taste, frozen dumplings are a convenient home-cooked noodle dish. They mainly provide carbohydrates and protein, making them easy for a quick energy boost. The preparation is simple and very beginner-friendly. This can be completed using only an electric rice cooker, taking approximately 55 minutes from boiling water to serving.
This is a convenient home-style dish that saves time. The wings are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with their own natural fatty aroma, suiting the appetite better than fast food. Wings are rich in high-quality protein and fat, providing plenty of energy.
Frozen Tangyuan is a quick and convenient microwave dessert. The skin is soft and glutinous, and the filling is sweet, classified as a traditional Chinese snack. It mainly provides carbohydrates to quickly replenish energy. The method is very beginner-friendly; beginners can complete it easily, with preparation to serving time taking approximately 6 minutes.
This is a classic home-style noodle dish from China using ready-made frozen dumplings. They have thin skins and generous fillings with a fresh, savory texture. Paired with dipping sauces like vinegar, ginger, or garlic, the flavor is enhanced. As a meal, it provides ample protein and carbohydrates and is filling.
This recipe is very lazy-friendly. The air fryer helps force out excess grease, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender interior with a rich garlic flavor. The flavor mainly depends on the quality of the lamb chops themselves. Lamb is rich in high-quality protein and trace elements like iron and zinc, which helps warm the blood and Qi and strengthen the body. Moderate difficulty, beginners can easily master it. Actual hands-on cooking takes only 10 minutes, and with marinating, you can have it ready in about 40 minutes.
This Chongqing Hot Pot base uses a large amount of beef tallow as its foundation, blending fried chili paste and various spices. The resulting base is numbingly spicy, mellow, and aromatic-near., which is the soul of boiling and dipping ingredients like tripe and duck intestines. Beef tallow and lard provide rich energy, while chili and peppercorn warm the body and drive appetite. However, the fat content is high, so consumption should be moderate. The cooking process requires precise control of oil temperature and stirring heat; it poses a certain challenge for beginners. It takes about 1 hour from preparation to completion.
Quantities: - As a main dish, 400 g per person per meal (pre-cooked weight) - As a snack, 1/4 of the main-dish amount ± 50 g per person per meal
This is a quick Western-style meal made from store-bought ready-made pasta; the noodles are springy and chewy, and the ready-made sauce gives rich flavor. It is mainly carbohydrates, providing quick energy, and also contains protein. It is extremely easy, beginners cannot go wrong, and it takes only about 2 minutes from heat to plate.
This dessert utilizes ready-made egg tart shells and liquid. With a crispy, fragrant crust and a smooth filling topped with caramelized spots, it is the easiest version of a classic Cantonese pastry. The main ingredients, eggs and milk, provide quality protein and calcium, making it suitable as a small home snack. The entire process only requires assembly and baking, which is very friendly to absolute beginners. From preheating the oven to taking it out, it takes about 40 minutes.
Liangpi is a home-style snack from Shaanxi: chewy and smooth, tangy and spicy, with a rich sesame paste aroma. Sesame paste and gluten provide plenty of plant protein and calcium, and crisp cucumber and bean sprouts add vitamins and fiber. The overall difficulty is moderate: just blanch, julienne and mix the sauce, which most beginners can manage calmly. From prep to table it takes about 40 minutes, perfect for summer.