What chinese recipes to start with?

[Maria2007loveshersleep]

Was listening to Ken Hom on Woman's Hour the other day & I found him really inspiring, made me want to try chinese cooking which I've never really got into.

So I bought one of his books & am a bit overwhelmed. What should I try, to start with, in your opinion? (not just Ken Hom recipes, any good chinese recipes). And what equipment and/or ingredients do you think are absolutely necessary?

Dead easy:

Sticky pork ribs.

Black bean stir-fry (have a look in an Asian shop for black beans in salt, soak and handful, rinse and chop up to use. The rest of the tub keeps for a year in the fridge.)

Crispy duck and pancakes.

His lemon chicken is very easy and delicious although I find you need to add a little more lemon juice.

There's a beef with orange recipe in his classic book which is lurrvely

Thanks for these suggestions, they do look doable.

But what about equipment that I absolutely need (and other equipment that I can do without?) What have you found more useful?

I have nothing special - just normal pots and pans.

And chopsticks to eat it all with!

A chinese friend of my mum recommends just having a nice big wok like the one Ken Hom puts his name to - not a non-stick one. Also a big, flexible spatula to stir it all around with.

here's a nice simple one to have a go at

Chicken with cashew nuts (serves 4)

mix 3tblsp dry sherry or chinese cooking wine (optional), 1 egg white, 1 teaspn cornflour.

Cut 2 chicken breasts into bite size pieces and toss in the mix above.

Heat 2 tblsp plain veg oil (not olive) in wok, add two chopped spring onions & stir fry for 30 seconds. Then add Chicken and cook for 3 minutes.

Then add 1 chopped green pepper, 125g canned bamboo shoots, 1 tblsp soy sauce, 125g unsalted cashews (these can be lightly toasted before hand if you like)

Cook for 2 mins then pile onto warmed plates. Nice with rice or noodles.

Or, this one is great and super easy

Chicken in Foil (serves 4 to 6)

Mix 1tblsp EACH of soy sauce, sesame seed oil, dry sherry or chinese cooking wine. Add 500g boneless chicken cut into 16 equal sized bits. Leave to marinate for 15 to 20 minutes

Shred each of the following into - 4 spring onions, 1 celery stick, 2 x1cm pieces of root ginger.

Cut 16 pieces of foil, each large enough to easily wrap around 1 bit of chicken. Brush the foil with oil and place a piece of chicken in the centre. Put bits of the shredded things on top of the chicken, seal the packages and steam for 10 - 12 mins. Serve in the packets with rice and a nice braised veg like pak choi with a bit of soy or oyster sauce. Yum!

VenusInfers thanks for that, I'll definitely try this. Do you think then that the Ken Hom wok is a fairly good one?