A festive Chinese board, often referred to as a Chinese appetizer or snack board, is a beautiful and tasty spread that showcases various Chinese-inspired appetizers and snacks. Here’s a recipe and process to create a festive Chinese board:
Ingredients:
For the Board:
- Large wooden board or serving platter
For the Appetizers and Snacks:
- Spring Rolls:
- Spring roll wrappers
- Shredded cabbage
- Carrots, julienned
- Bean sprouts
- Cooked and shredded chicken or tofu
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Oil for frying
- Steamed Dumplings (Dim Sum):
- Dumpling wrappers
- Minced pork or chicken
- Shrimp, chopped
- Green onions, finely chopped
- Ginger, minced
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Chicken Skewers:
- Chicken breast or thigh, cut into cubes
- Soy sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Garlic, minced
- Ginger, minced
- Skewers
- Pork Ribs:
- Pork ribs
- Soy sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Honey
- Garlic, minced
- Ginger, minced
- Sesame Noodles:
- Chinese egg noodles
- Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
- Sauces and Dips:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce
- Sriracha
- Plum sauce
- Garnishes:
- Sliced cucumbers
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Sliced red chilies
- Lime wedges
Process:
- Preparation:
- Prepare all the ingredients for each appetizer and snack.
- Preheat the oven for the ribs or prepare a fryer for the spring rolls.
- Soak skewers in water if using wooden ones.
- Cooking:
- Spring Rolls: In a pan, sauté shredded cabbage, julienned carrots, bean sprouts, and shredded chicken or tofu with soy sauce and sesame oil. Place a spoonful of the mixture on a spring roll wrapper, fold and roll tightly. Seal the edge with water. Fry until golden brown.
- Steamed Dumplings: Mix minced pork or chicken, chopped shrimp, green onions, minced ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Place a spoonful of the mixture in the center of a dumpling wrapper, fold and seal the edges. Steam for about 8-10 minutes.
- Chicken Skewers: Marinate chicken cubes in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger for at least 30 minutes. Thread the chicken onto skewers and grill or broil until cooked through.
- Pork Ribs: Marinate pork ribs in soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, minced garlic, and minced ginger for at least 2 hours. Bake in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 45 minutes or until tender.
- Sesame Noodles: Cook Chinese egg noodles according to package instructions. Drain and toss with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sliced green onions, and sesame seeds.
- Assembly:
- Arrange all the cooked appetizers and snacks on the wooden board or serving platter.
- Place the sauces and dips in small bowls around the board.
- Garnish with sliced cucumbers, fresh cilantro leaves, sliced red chilies, and lime wedges for added freshness and color.
- Serve:
- Serve the festive Chinese board as an appetizer or snack for guests to enjoy. Encourage them to try different combinations of appetizers with the various sauces and dips provided.
Enjoy your festive Chinese board! It’s a delightful way to showcase a variety of Chinese-inspired flavors and dishes.
