Why You’ll Love Szechuan Cooking
Updated: Jul. 13, 2022
Every place from McDonald's to Trader Joe's is embracing Szechuan cuisine. And, no, it's not just another form of Chinese takeout.
It used to be that the only place to experience Szechuan cooking was China’s Sichuan province—a region located in the southwestern part of the country. Now, however, you can belly up to the counter at McDonald’s for McNuggets with a side of Szechuan sauce or even pop a frozen Trader Joe’s dinner in the oven for a quick Szechuan fix. This style of Chinese food is growing in popularity, which makes us wonder what the hype all about.
It’s distinct from other Chinese food
When it comes to Chinese food, we’re most familiar with our favorite takeout dishes. But that’s just a drop in the ocean of Chinese cuisine. Regional specialities, like sweet Cantonese dishes and hot and sour Hunan foods, are all delicious in their own right. Szechuan cooking, though, is particularly unique. Sichuan is known for its dishes loaded with beef, rice, vegetables and, of course, Szechuan (or Sichuan) pepper. We can get down with that.
Try these Asian-inspired dishes.
Slow-Cooker Mongolian BeefThis Mongolian beef is a Taiwanese stir-fry dish that's saucy and flavorful thanks to garlic, red pepper flakes, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil. If you're a spicy food fan, add a drizzle of Sriracha for an extra kick.
Crispy Crab RangoonThanks to store-bought wonton wrappers, crab rangoon is deceptively easy to make at home. To prevent the filling from leaking during the frying process, freeze the filled crab puffs before you cook them.
Quick Chicken Lo MeinThanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken, quick chicken lo mein is ready faster than your family can shout, "We're hungry!" The combination of oyster sauce, lime juice and chili sauce makes this dish taste just like takeout.
Quick Ginger PorkSuper quick dinner recipes are a lifesaver on busy weeknights, so keep this ginger pork in your back pocket. It goes from fridge to table in 20 minutes. Add sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds to make it extra fancy.
Ginger-Pork WontonsYes, these wontons are fried, but don't be too intimidated by the cooking process. With a deep cast-iron or electric skillet, each batch cooks up in less than three minutes.
Asian Chicken DumplingsDid you know that dumplings are a lucky Chinese New Year food? Use minced fresh ginger and Chinese five-spice powder to give these chicken-filled dumplings a flavorful kick.
Broccoli Beef Lo MeinThose who are short on time can prep some of this lo mein in advance. Cook and drain the noodles, slice the mushrooms and chop the broccoli up to three days ahead of time and store them in the fridge in airtight containers until you're ready to cook.
Crab Egg Foo YongAlthough egg foo young looks complicated when you eat it at a Chinese restaurant, it's pretty easy to whip up at home. After all, it is essentially an omelet! Just make sure to have a seasoned cast iron pan or nonstick skillet on hand to keep the egg from sticking.
Garlic Chicken & BroccoliWe love a good slow-cooker chicken recipe. Prep this flavorful dish in the morning, then cook for several hours until it's ready to serve.
Pork & Rice MeatballsThe best part of these cute meatballs? Teriyaki sauce, ginger, rice vinegar, lemon zest and Sriracha chili sauce transform into an addictive dipping sauce you'll want to eat on everything.
Chinese Spinach-Almond SaladWhip up this salad for a light lunch, or serve it as a starter. Either way, you're getting a dish packed with vitamins A and K, plus 24 grams of protein.
Asian WrapsWhat's better than ordering Chinese takeout for lunch? Whipping up these crunchy and refreshing Asian wraps the night before with leftover pulled chicken.
Healthier-than-Egg RollsCut down on cooking time by using instant brown rice, or even ready-to-eat brown rice, which you can find in the freezer aisle and heat up in the microwave. We love a good shortcut!
Baked Pot Stickers with Dipping SauceYour dinner guests will never guess how low-maintenance these tasty appetizers are. Thanks to pre-cooked chicken breast and store-bought wonton wrappers, they're ready in less than an hour. If you have any extra wonton wrappers, we have more recipe ideas to use them up.
Easy Chow MeinUsing powdered brown gravy mix as a shortcut helps get the Chinese-inspired main on the table in a flash. But if you don't have the packets on hand, a blend of dark and light soy sauce and oyster sauce works too.
Pineapple Shrimp Stir-FryFor the weeknight time-saving version, open a can of unsweetened pineapple tidbits. For the weekend showstopper, cut a fresh pineapple.
Chinese-Style RibsYour guests won't be able to put their finger on the complex flavor of the sauce on these ribs. Believe it or not, it's sherry, orange marmalade and pumpkin pie spice.
Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Sour PorkTa-da: Only 15 minutes of prep time. Toss the ingredients in the slow cooker before work, then come home to a complete dinner. You can even prep it in advance; freeze the pork, onion, green pepper and pineapple in a freezer bag, then thaw in the fridge for 48 hours before adding it to the slow cooker.
Saucy Beef with BroccoliIt's so easy to make this entree a complete meal: Add lots of extra veggies, like red peppers, mushrooms and carrots, then serve on a bed of cauliflower rice.
Spicy Orange ChickenLove General Tso's chicken? This citrusy version with some heat includes fresh navel oranges and lemon juice for a sweet sauce that's also packed with vitamins.
Baked Crab RangoonsIf this Chinese takeout favorite is something you'd never dream of making at home, think again. It's actually ready in less than an hour, thanks to our trusty secret weapon; store-bought wonton wrappers.
Healthy Steamed DumplingsThis dish is much healthier than its takeout counterpart and more fun, too. The whole family can fill and fold the dumplings together and, of course, eat them together once they're finished!
Ginger Steak Fried RiceThere's a trick to cutting steak into thin, even slices. Pop the steak in the freezer until it's partially frozen to keep the meat firmer and easier to slice.
Mushroom Pepper SteakMarinate the steak for up to an hour to make it extra tender and flavorful. While you're waiting for the meat to do its thing in the fridge, cook white rice or cauliflower rice to make this dish a complete meal.
Asparagus Beef Lo MeinBelieve it or not, asparagus beef lo mein comes together with only five ingredients. Thanks to hoisin sauce, minced garlic and beef ramen noodles, it doesn't get much easier than this!
Zesty Orange BeefDon't skimp on the orange zest, as it really brings out the depth of flavor in the dish. If you don't love spicy food, just skip the hot chiles.
It’s perfectly spicy
Szechuan pepper is the trademark ingredient in Szechuan cuisine. Unlike the engine-hot chili peppers that spring to mind, Szechuan pepper doesn’t carry a lot of heat. That’s because it’s not even a pepper at all, instead the regional spice is made from tiny peppercorn made from the dried husk of an ash shrub. These tiny pink peppercorn provide a kick of citrusy flavor that marries well with ingredients like ginger, soy and steamed veggies. Szechuan pepper is also unique as it gives off a tingling—almost mouth-numbing—sensation. (Kind of like when you eat a lot of peppermint!) Because of this, the spic pairs exceptionally well with hotter chilis, another common ingredient in Szechuan cooking.
Szechuan peppers are the main component of the popular Chinese five-spice blend, which includes cinnamon, cloves, fennel and anise. Want to give it a try? These five-spice chicken wings are a great place to start.
It’s great for garlic-lovers
Mashed garlic is often combined with chili oil and soy sauce in Szechuan cooking. It’s a great flavor combo for garlic-lovers (and here are some of our favorite garlic recipes). This mash-up makes a good base for traditional dishes like kung pao chicken, though it’s referred to as gong bao ji ding in China.
Get our kung pao recipe right here.
Szechuan cooking is great comfort food
On a cold day, there’s no beating an authentic hot pot. This dish consists of a simmering pot of broth filled with various tasty ingredients like egg noodles, eggs, meats, veggies, tofu and even dumplings—we’ve got a great recipe right here. What makes this dish so distinct, however, is the addition of Szechuan peppers and chilis incorporated in the broth. It helps all those basic ingredients come alive.
Feeling inspired? Get experimenting! Pick up a jar of Chinese five-spice at the store, or learn how to make your own (plus 12 more seasonings) here.
When you’ve whipped up a crowd-pleasing recipe, be sure to submit it to Taste of Home to share with cooks across the country! Learn how to submit a recipe today.
Up Next: How to Make Baba’s Chinese Beef Noodle Soup
Originally Published: June 07, 2018
