Chinese cuisine is so varied and depending where you travel to in China, you’re going to get different flavours. Whether it’s sweet, salty, spicy, bitter or sour – they’re all incorporated into raw ingredients delightfully. As someone who has been cooking Chinese food for over 10 years, I’m always trying to perfect my craft. Over the years I’ve come to know what essential ingredients I must always have in my kitchen for the most authentic Chinese cooking.

But I’m here to tell you that even if you’re a beginner in cooking Chinese dishes or a seasoned one – once you have the right ingredients, you’ll be able to create awesome and tasty Chinese food. So, let’s dive into what the top nice ingredients that every Chinese food enthusiast should have in their kitchen. These key components are the building blocks of countless Chinese recipes and are sure to elevate your culinary adventures.

Shaoxing Wine

Shaoxing wine is a variety of Chinese rice wine and is an essential ingredient in Chinese cooking. It is made from fermented glutinous rice and often referred to as the “Chinese cooking wine.” I like to use Shaoxing wine for my meat marinades, sauces, and stir-fry dishes (like fried rice) to enhance the flavour and remove any unwanted odours from meats or seafood. It has a subtle sweetness which adds depth to your dishes, making it a crucial component in achieving authentic Chinese flavours.

Where can I buy Shaoxing wine?
You can look to buy Shaoxing wine at your local Asian grocery store or purchase it online like Amazon if it’s not readily available in your area. This is the one I always buy which can be bought from Amazon.

What’s an alternative ingredient to Shaoxing wine?
If you don’t want to buy Shaoxing wine, then there are a number of alternatives that you can use instead, such as apple cider vinegar or stock.

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is the foundation of Chinese cuisine. It comes in various types, but two are especially important: light soy sauce and dark soy sauce. Light soy sauce is the everyday seasoning, providing a salty and umami flavour to your dishes. Practically all of the Chinese dishes I cook require light soy sauce where dark soy sauce may not be needed, so it’s essential you buy it. These are the brands of soy sauce I typically buy. Here and Here.

Dark Soy Sauce

Dark soy sauce on the other hand, is thicker, sweeter, and often used for colouring and enhancing the overall flavours. It’s great for achieving rich caramelized hues and flavours of many Chinese dishes, such as braised meats (check out my braised pork recipe) and dark sauces.
Note! Not all dark soy sauce is made equally. I usually buy this brand of dark soy sauce and when it had run out I replaced it with a supermarket branded one and it was not the same! This product was watery and didn’t have that ever so slightly syrupy texture I was used to. So word of advice make sure you get dark soy sauce that is of premium quality!

Oyster Sauce

Oyster sauce is a flavourful and savoury condiment commonly used in Chinese cooking, particularly Cantonese cuisine. Despite its name, it doesn’t have a pronounced oyster flavour but rather adds a unique umami depth to your dishes. It’s an essential ingredient for stir-fries, vegetables, and various meat-based dishes. I always use oyster sauce when making my family’s favour egg and cucumber dish (stay tuned for this recipe).

Get all three on Amazon! Soy sauce + Dark Soy Sauce + Oyster Sauce

Cornflour

Cornflour, or cornstarch (as is known in other countries) is an important thickening agent in Chinese cuisine. It’s used to create velvety sauces and to coat meat and vegetables before frying or stir-frying. The “velveting” technique involves marinating proteins like chicken, beef, or shrimp in a mixture of cornflour and other seasonings, resulting in a tender and succulent texture. Cornflour is indispensable for creating the right consistency in Chinese sauces and stir-fry dishes. Cornflour is also used for coating and deep-frying, giving off a flawlessly crisp and crunchy texture (yum!). Alternatives to corn starch include flour or potato starch.

Ginger

Ginger is a universal ingredient in Chinese cuisine. It adds a zesty, aromatic flavour to a wide range of Chinese dishes. Fresh ginger is preferred for its strong taste, and it’s often used in stir-fries, soups, and marinades. What’s great about using ginger is that it is packed with loads of nutrients and anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Sliced, grated, or minced, ginger is a versatile ingredient that brings warmth and freshness to your Chinese dishes.

Garlic

Just like ginger, garlic is a staple ingredient in Chinese cooking. Its pungent and slightly sweet flavour is used to enhance both meat and vegetable-based dishes. Garlic is often minced or finely chopped and like ginger added to stir-fries, sauces, and soups. It’s a fundamental element for building layers of flavour in Chinese cuisine.

White Pepper Powder

Now before, when cooking other cuisines, black pepper was my go to for seasoning. It wasn’t until I started actively cooking Chinese food more that I found myself constantly using white peppers. Interestingly I find that white pepper has a spicier taste when used in abundance than black pepper and is great to use generously when making KFC style fried chicken. White pepper is an essential seasoning for achieving the distinct Chinese flavour profile, especially in Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines.

Extras – Equipments

Wok

Having a wok is an indispensable tool in Chinese cooking. Its unique shape and design allows for evenly distributed heating and efficient stir-frying. A good-quality wok, typically made of carbon steel or cast iron, is essential for achieving the characteristic smoky aroma and quick cooking times in Chinese dishes – one that I’ll soon invest in. Proper wok handling and seasoning are crucial skills to master for authentic Chinese cuisine.

Rice Cooker

A rice cooker may not be a traditional Chinese cooking tool, but it’s a modern essential for preparing perfectly cooked rice, which is a staple in Chinese meals. The majority of Chinese household have one. Whether you’re making fluffy jasmine rice, sticky glutinous rice, or fragrant fried rice, a rice cooker ensures consistent results with minimal effort. I love the one we have which is by Yum Asia and can be bought from Amazon. You can even make meals and desserts in it.

Kickstart your authentic Chinese cooking!

And there you have it! Having the right ingredients is crucial to cooking authentic Chinese recipes. Once you have all these ingredients at your disposal, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of Chinese cooking and delighting your taste buds with homemade Chinese dishes. Happy cooking!

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