Home China Guide Chinese Culture China Regional Cuisines Zhe Cuisine

Zhe Cuisine

Zhejiang cuisine, called Zhe cuisine for short, is originated from South China's Zhejiang Province. It is famous for its mellow, yet not greasy, taste.

It consists of three major styles, namely Hangzhou style, Ningbo style and Shaoxing style. Among them, Hangzhou style is the most notable. It has good taste as well as delicate appearance. It requires expertise in the cooking techniques of quick frying, stir-frying, braising and deep-frying and features clearness, freshness, tenderness, delicateness and purity. Besides seafood and freshwater fish, Hangzhou style exhibits a fondness for bamboo roots. About half the dishes on a Hangzhou menu contain bamboo roots, which add a tender element to the food. Ningbo chefs are especially skillful in making seafood. The best-known Ningbo cooking techniques are stewing, baking and steaming. The taste is moderate in freshness and saltiness. Ningbo chefs' specialties are making dishes fresh, tender and soft. Emphasis is placed on its original flavor. Shaoxing style is fragrant, crisp, soft and glutinous, with thick soup and pure flavor. Shaoxing style specializes in poultry and freshwater fish.

Zhejiang Province, located at the Yangtze River Delta, is the famous "land of milk and honey" in China. Using the rich assortment of local ingredients, Zhe Cuisine has an extensive selection of materials and a precisely matches these materials. Emphasis is placed on the season and variety of main ingredients. The choice of supplementary ingredients and seasonings is aimed to give prominence to the main ingredients, strengthen freshness and fragrance and get rid of the smell of fish and greasiness. Most emphasis is placed on moderation in duration and degree of cooking as well as seasoning.

Zhe Cuisine Menu

English	Chinese	Pronunciation	Characters
Dongpo Pork (Stir-Fried Pork)	Dongpo Rou	Dong-por roh	东坡肉
Beggar's Chicken	Jiaohua Tong Ji	Jyaoww-hwaa tong jee	叫化童鸡
West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy	Xihu Cu Yu	Sshee-hoo tsoo yoo	西湖醋鱼
Splendid Fish	Jinxiuyu	Jin-sshyoh yoo	锦绣鱼
Fish Balls in Clear Soup	Qing Tang Yuyuan	Ching-tung yoo-ywen	清汤鱼圆
Sliced Fried Eel	Sheng Bao Shan Pian	Shnng baoww shan pyen	生爆鳝片
Braised Croaker Soup	Da Tang Huangyu	Daa tung hwung-yoo	大汤黄鱼
Fried Cuttlefish Rolls	Bao Moyu Juan	Baoww mor-yoo jwen	爆墨鱼卷
Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea	Longjing Xiaren	Long-jing sshyaa-rnn	龙井虾仁