The Food of Northern China

The cuisines of the North might be different from what you expect from Chinese food. There’s no rice here, no spice either. The subtly of Southern cooking seems dainty and fussy compared to the big chunks of fatty pork, sausages and bacons of the North-East (dongbei) and racks of lamb ribs smoking over the fires from Inner Mongolia. Then there’s the thick wheat noodles of Xi’an and Lanzhou proudly served alongside meat-stuffed Chinese hamburgers (roujiamo). Xinjiang food is different again, relying on cumin-spiked lamb dishes and oven-roasted naan breads.

This is food with a backbone, made for winter, but eaten throughout the year.

If you want to get a more rounded understanding of Chinese cooking, I’d recommend a few places to start. First, any cookbook by Fuchsia Dunlop. Online, try Omnivore’s Cookbook, Woks of Life and Red House Spice.

Orange-Pickled Radishes (橘子腌萝卜)

Orange-Pickled Radishes (橘子腌萝卜)

Chinese Shredded Chicken Soup (鸡丝汤面)

Chinese Shredded Chicken Soup (鸡丝汤面)

Mongolian Potato Noodles (土豆泥拌莜面)

Mongolian Potato Noodles (土豆泥拌莜面)

Sweet Snow Fungus Soup (雪耳汤)

Sweet Snow Fungus Soup (雪耳汤)

Stuffed Cabbage Leaves (白菜牛肉卷)

Stuffed Cabbage Leaves (白菜牛肉卷)

Xinjiang Fried Lamb & Naan (炒羊肉馕)

Xinjiang Fried Lamb & Naan (炒羊肉馕)

Shredded Carrot ( 胡萝卜丝)

Shredded Carrot ( 胡萝卜丝)

Pumpkin Pancakes (南瓜饼)

Pumpkin Pancakes (南瓜饼)

Pumpkin & Red Date Flowering Buns (南瓜枣开花馒头)

Pumpkin & Red Date Flowering Buns (南瓜枣开花馒头)

Pumpkin Noodles (南瓜面)

Pumpkin Noodles (南瓜面)

Shredded Beans (扁豆丝)

Shredded Beans (扁豆丝)

Radish Fritters (香煎萝卜饼)

Radish Fritters (香煎萝卜饼)

Crispy Fried Broad beans (香酥蚕豆)

Crispy Fried Broad beans (香酥蚕豆)

Pickled Broccoli Stems (酸花菜茎)

Pickled Broccoli Stems (酸花菜茎)

Ginseng Chicken Soup (人参鸡汤)

Ginseng Chicken Soup (人参鸡汤)

Old Beijing Chicken Wraps (老北京鸡肉卷)

Old Beijing Chicken Wraps (老北京鸡肉卷)

Battered Winter Melon (香煎冬瓜)

Battered Winter Melon (香煎冬瓜)

Garlic Broad Beans (蒜香蚕豆)

Garlic Broad Beans (蒜香蚕豆)

Braised Winter Melon (红烧冬瓜)

Braised Winter Melon (红烧冬瓜)

Wheat Gluten Salad (麻酱面筋)

Wheat Gluten Salad (麻酱面筋)

Braised Tofu with Spring Onions (小葱焖豆腐)

Braised Tofu with Spring Onions (小葱焖豆腐)

Eggplant 'Sandwiches' (炸茄盒)

Eggplant 'Sandwiches' (炸茄盒)

Smashed Eggplant (茄泥)

Smashed Eggplant (茄泥)

Red-Braised Eggplant (红烧茄子)

Red-Braised Eggplant (红烧茄子)

Beijing Rolling Donkeys (驴打滚)

Beijing Rolling Donkeys (驴打滚)

Pan-Fried Manto Slices (炸馒头)

Pan-Fried Manto Slices (炸馒头)

Fried Pancake Noodles (炒饼)

Fried Pancake Noodles (炒饼)

Dry-Pot Potatoes (干锅土豆片)

Dry-Pot Potatoes (干锅土豆片)

Enoki Mushrooms Wrapped in Tofu (金针菇豆皮卷)

Enoki Mushrooms Wrapped in Tofu (金针菇豆皮卷)

Garlic Okra (蒜蓉秋葵)

Garlic Okra (蒜蓉秋葵)

Braised Chicken Legs (香鸡腿)

Braised Chicken Legs (香鸡腿)

Garlic-Dressed Eggplant (蒜泥茄子)

Garlic-Dressed Eggplant (蒜泥茄子)

Old Beijing Sesame Buns (老北京麻酱烧饼)

Old Beijing Sesame Buns (老北京麻酱烧饼)

Chinese Toon with Fried Eggs (香椿炒蛋)

Chinese Toon with Fried Eggs (香椿炒蛋)

Stewed Beans with Ribs (的排骨炖豆角)

Stewed Beans with Ribs (的排骨炖豆角)

Flower Rolls (花卷)

Flower Rolls (花卷)

Beijing Jujube Cake 枣糕

Beijing Jujube Cake 枣糕

Qinglong Cabbage 乾隆白菜

Qinglong Cabbage 乾隆白菜

Deep Fried Tofu 炸豆腐

Deep Fried Tofu 炸豆腐

Shredded Celtuce 凉拌莴笋丝

Shredded Celtuce 凉拌莴笋丝

Braised Pork & Sauerkraut 内蒙古猪肉烩酸菜

Braised Pork & Sauerkraut 内蒙古猪肉烩酸菜

Hu Bing / Beijing Pizza 糊餅

Hu Bing / Beijing Pizza 糊餅

Dry-Fried Green Beans 干煸四季豆

Dry-Fried Green Beans 干煸四季豆

Spinach & Peanut Salad 老醋菠菜花生

Spinach & Peanut Salad 老醋菠菜花生

Stuffed Pie (Xian Bing) 馅饼

Stuffed Pie (Xian Bing) 馅饼

Egg & Tomato 西红柿鸡蛋

Egg & Tomato 西红柿鸡蛋

Smashed Cucumber Salad 拍黄瓜

Smashed Cucumber Salad 拍黄瓜

Black Rice Pudding 黑米布丁

Black Rice Pudding 黑米布丁

Pumpkin Soup 南瓜汤

Pumpkin Soup 南瓜汤

Tea Eggs          茶鸡蛋

Tea Eggs 茶鸡蛋