Chinese New Year is just around the corner and if you are craving Chinese takeout but want a healthier, more budget-friendly option, here are 6 easy Chinese fakeaway recipes that you can make at home.
Chinese Fakeaway: A Healthier, Budget-Friendly Alternative To Takeaway
Who doesn’t love a good Chinese takeaway? From sweet and sour to spicy Sichuan dishes, they are so hard to resist. If you are looking for healthier and more budget-friendly alternatives, the good news is that you can easily recreate your favourite Chinese takeaway meals at home. It’s the ideal solution for anyone who enjoys a hearty takeaway but wants better control over ingredients and cost.
When it comes to meat-free Chinese takeaways my two plant-based protein options of choice are tofu and tempeh. Tofu absorbs the flavours of the ingredients it is cooked with or marinated in, and works so well when paired with the bold flavours of Chinese cuisine. Tempeh has a much firmer and chewier texture than tofu and is the ideal meat substitute when you want a bite more bite or in recipes calling for ground meat.
If you are not a fan of tofu or tempeh, you can still enjoy a healthy meat-free Chinese fakeaway, using hearty cauliflower or tender jackfruit.
Essential Pantry Ingredients for Chinese Fakeaway
One of the key elements to recreating delicious Chinese dishes at home is to stock up on a few essential pantry ingredients. These staples are the building blocks for bold, authentic flavours that rival your favourite takeaway. Here’s a guide to the must-have items for your fakeaway pantry:
1. Soy Sauces
- Light soy sauce: Salty and versatile, perfect for seasoning and marinades.
- Dark soy sauce: Richer, thicker, and slightly sweeter, adding colour and depth to dishes like stir-fries.
- Tamari sauce: Less salty and gluten-free, tamari is a rich, umami-packed sauce made from fermented soybeans.
2. Rice Vinegar – This tangy vinegar adds brightness and balance to sauces, marinades, and dressings. It’s less acidic than Western vinegars, making it ideal for sweet and sour dishes or dipping sauces.
3. Sesame Oil – Whether plain or toasted, sesame oil packs lots of wonderful flavours. It is ideal for adding to dipping sauce, dressing or finishing dishes like stir-fried noodles. Choose light sesame oil or blended sesame oil for stir-frying and frying due to their higher smoke point.
4. Hoisin Sauce – This thick, sweet, and savoury sauce is a go-to ingredient for stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces. It adds a rich umami kick to classics like Kung Pao Tofu or vegan Peking-style dishes.
5. Chilli Paste and Sauce – For a spicy kick, keep chilli paste or chilli garlic sauce handy.
6. Cornflour (Cornstarch) – Cornflour is key for thickening sauces and giving stir-fried tofu or vegetables a glossy finish. It’s also used in battering for crispy textures.
7. Chinese Five-Spice Powder – A blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seeds, and Szechuan peppercorns, five-spice powder infuses dishes with warm, aromatic flavour. It is my key ingredient to flavour fried rice or in my Easy Pumpkin Soup with Chinese Five-Spice.
8. Garlic and Ginger – Fresh garlic and ginger are non-negotiable aromatics when it comes to Chinese cooking. Grate or mince them finely in stir-fries, sauces, and marinades.
9. Noodles and Rice – No fakeaway pantry is complete without noodles and rice. I keep stock of egg noodles, rice noodles, and different types of rice.
10. Oyster Sauce (vegetarian / vegan) – This thick, savoury sauce with a hint of sweetness is ideal to infuse stir-fried dishes. I like Lee Kum Kee Mushroom Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce which brings plenty of umami.
11. Black Bean Sauce – Made from fermented black soybeans, this another of my go-to sauce to add a deep umami flavour (with a hint of sweetness) to a variety of dishes.
Essential Equipment for meat-free Chinese Cooking
While you don’t need a professional kitchen to create delicious Chinese fakeaway, here are some tools that can make the process easier:
- Wok: The quintessential Chinese cooking pan, perfect for stir-frying and deep-frying. A large frying pan can be a good alternative.
- Tofu Press: Ideal to prep tofu and squeeze out any excess liquid.
- Bamboo Steamer: Ideal for steaming dumplings, vegetables, and tempeh.
- Rice Cooker: Not essential, but convenient for perfectly cooked rice every time.
- Tongs and Spatula: For easy handling of food while stir-frying.
- Mortar and Pestle: Useful for grinding spices and making pastes.
6 Easy Chinese Fakeaway Recipes
Stir-fried Cauliflower Rice with Sticky Tofu
Bursting with flavours this stir-fried cauliflower rice with sticky tofu, makes a healthy and gluten-free vegan meal. Serve it with extra vegetables and added sprinkles of sesame seeds and red chillies. So so good!
General Tso’s Tempeh (with Cauliflower Rice)
This General Tso’s tempeh recipe is a vegan twist on the Chinese-American classic. Sweet and savoury with a slightly spicy kick, this is a deeply satisfying dish that I like to serve with cauliflower rice and some extra sauteed greens on the side.
This Kung Pao tofu is a plant-based take on the classic Sichuan-inspired Kung Pao chicken, delivering a delicious balance of sweet, salty, and spicy flavours. Made with stir-fried tofu, dried chillies, peppers, and peanuts all doused in a delicious sauce.
Quick and easy, this tasty vegan sweet & sour cauliflower recipe will soon become a family favourite. It is a great meat-free twist on sweet & sour chicken or pork and a great alternative to a fatty Chinese takeaway.
“No Duck” Hoisin Jackfruit Wraps
Looking for a delicious and easy vegan lunch or light dinner option? These hoisin jackfruit wraps are a must-try! Made with jackfruit, a popular meat substitute, and a flavorful homemade hoisin sauce, these wraps are a tasty and healthy option for any meal. Plus, they’re quick and easy to make, making them perfect for busy weekdays or lazy weekends.
![Crispy Sesame Tofu [vegan] by The Flexitarian](https://theflexitarian.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Crispy-Sesame-Tofu-vegan-by-The-Flexitarian-v8.jpg)
This baked crispy sesame tofu recipe is ideal for dinner when you want something healthy and light. You can serve it with rice or noodles on a bed of stir-fried vegetables.
This is an easy and straightforward recipe but you need to allow some extra time for pressing the tofu and marinating it.
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