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Home » Main Dishes

25 Healthy Authentic Chinese Recipes You Must Try

Published: Oct 2, 2024 by Yuan

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When it comes to delicious and nourishing meals, healthy authentic Chinese recipes have so much to offer! Authentic recipes are both delicious and satisfying. 

Traditional dishes like shrimp mei fun, and chicken congee present fresh ingredients, lean protein, vibrant vegetables, and flavorful seasonings. If you and your whole family are craving authentic Chinese dishes that are both healthy and delicious, you're in the right place!

healthy authentic chinese recipes
Jump To
  • Appetizer and soup
  • Beef and pork
  • Chicken
  • Fish and seafood
  • Snack and treats
  • Tofu
  • Vegetables
  • Final thoughts
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Read on to learn more about the following 25 authentic and healthy Chinese recipes:

Appetizer and soup

1. Easy Chinese Seaweed Egg Drop Soup Recipe (紫菜蛋花汤)
Chinese seaweed soup, also known as "zi cai dan hua tang"(紫菜蛋花汤) in Mandarin, is a light and nourishing soup commonly found in Chinese cuisine.
Check out this recipe
Chinese seaweed soup

Seaweed soup is one of the traditional recipes people serve in any Chinese household. This simple Chinese Seaweed Egg Drop Soup is comforting, nutritious, quick, and flavorful. The silky strands of egg blend perfectly with the umami-rich seaweed, creating a light chicken broth that's incredibly soothing. It is a great healthy addition to any meal. It is worth mentioning that adding in some homemade wontons is another great way to enjoy this soup!

2. Traditional Chinese Meat Pie With Beef (Xian Bing)
Chinese meat pie typically consists of a flavorful filling encased in a soft, slightly crispy bread-like dough.
Check out this recipe
chinese meat pie

Chinese authentic  Xian Bing is a delicious, savory pastry with a crispy, golden brown exterior and a juicy, flavorful filling. The contrast between the crunchy dough and the tender, seasoned ground beef stuffing makes every bite satisfying!

3. Instant Pot Chicken Congee
6 simple ingredients to make this soul-soothing tasty Instant Pot Chicken Congee (Pressure Cooker Chicken Congee). Frugal, easy, comforting one pot meal especially great for those cold, under the weather or sick days.
Check out this recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Congee is creamy, comforting, and packed with savory chicken flavor. It is an easy way to serve a Chinese breakfast and a hearty dish perfect for a cozy meal anytime.

4. Bitter melon soup with pork ribs 苦瓜排骨湯
This Taiwanese soup is comforting and easy to make. The pork ribs balance out the bitter melon with each bite. You can cook it two ways here - one on the stove for a shorter time and also in my trusty Tatung cooker 大同鍋 so you can set it and forget it.
Check out this recipe
bitter-melon-soup-1

Bitter melon soup with pork is a flavorful and nourishing dish that balances bitterness with savory richness. The tender pork spare ribs complement the melon's unique, slightly bitter taste, making it a comforting choice for a wholesome meal.

Beef and pork

5. Cantonese Ground beef And Eggs (Under 30 Minutes)
Cantonese ground beef and eggs is a classic Chinese dish that combines the hearty flavor of ground beef with creamy eggs.
Check out this recipe

This Cantonese ground beef and eggs are excellent and easy to make. The seasoning adds a touch of umami, making this simple yet hearty dish perfect over white rice for a homestyle style meal. Feel free to add spicy sauce if you enjoy spicy food!

6. Chinese Tomato Beef Egg Recipe
Chinese tomato beef egg recipe combines tender strips of beef, fresh tomatoes, and scrambled eggs in a flavorful sauce. 
Check out this recipe
chinese tomato beef egg

The Chinese tomato beef egg recipe is one of the most well-known healthy recipes. The tender beef slices, juicy tomatoes, and silky scrambled eggs create a comforting dish for a hearty meal. 

7. Air Fryer Char Siu
Char siu is a sweet and savory Chinese roasted pork often glazed with sauces. An air fryer is one of the best ways to make your char siu.
Check out this recipe
char siu

Char Siu is a flavorful, lean protein option for those looking for healthier Chinese takeout. You can serve it with steamed vegetables or brown rice for a balanced meal.

Chinese BBQ Pork (Char Siu) is delicious because of its tender, juicy meat coated in a sweet, savory glaze that's caramelized to perfection. The blend of raw honey, oyster sauce, fermented red bean curd, and five-spice creates a rich, flavorful experience with every bite. You can serve it as a main dish, in "char siu bao," or over rice.

Chicken

8. Delicious Chinese Zucchini Stir Fry: With Chicken
Chinese zucchini stir fry is a delicious dish typically made with sliced zucchini, chicken breast, and various Chinese seasonings and sauces.
Check out this recipe
Chinese zucchini stir fry

This delicious chicken stir fry dish features tender chicken slices and crisp zucchini in a light, savory sauce. The dish perfectly balances textures and flavors, with the juicy chicken and slightly crunchy zucchini absorbing the garlicky, umami-rich sauce, making it a fresh, healthy, and satisfying stir-fry.

9. Mouth-Watering Chinese Salt And Pepper Chicken Wings
These marinated wings are typically coated with a light dusting of corn starch before frying, which helps to create a crispy exterior while keeping the meat juicy and tender on the inside!
Check out this recipe
Chinese salt and pepper chicken wings

Chinese salt and pepper chicken wings have a crispy, golden exterior with a blend of flavorful Asian seasoning. You can always use an air fryer to cook the wings instead of frying them in oil for a healthier version.

10. Strange Flavor Chicken (Bang Bang Chicken / Guài wèi jī sī 怪味鸡丝)
A classic, cold Sichuanese chicken dish with an unusual name. Strange Flavor Chicken (also known as Bang Bang Chicken) targets all of your taste buds with a combination of salty, sweet, sour, nutty, hot, and numbing flavors.
Check out this recipe
Strange-Flavor-Chicken-11

Strange Flavor Chicken doesn't taste strange at all! The name actually comes from the unique combination of flavors that blend seamlessly together. Strange Flavor Chicken offers a unique and addictive mix of flavors—sweet, salty, tangy, spicy, and nutty—all in one bite.

Fish and seafood

11. Shrimp Scrambled Eggs Recipe (滑蛋虾仁, Quick And Easy)
Shrimp scrambled eggs is a classic Cantonese style dish that bursts with flavors. They are delicious and quick to make with a few easy steps.
Check out this recipe
shrimp scrambled eggs

Shrimp scrambled eggs combine tender, succulent shrimp with soft, fluffy eggs, creating a light yet flavorful dish. It is a protein-packed meal that is perfect for any time of day.

12. Easy Shrimp Mei Fun Recipe (Stir Fry Rice Noodles)
Shrimp mei fun, also known as shrimp rice noodles, is a mouthwatering and widely beloved Chinese noodle dish.
Check out this recipe
shrimp mei fun

This shrimp mei fun recipe is one of my favorite noodle recipes. It features thin, delicate rice noodles stir-fried with juicy shrimp, crisp vegetables, and savory seasonings. The dish has a delightful texture and is loaded with flavors.

13. Tomato Fish
Tomato Fish is a delightful and comforting dish that combines the rich flavors of fresh tomatoes with tender pieces of fish. This dish is a favorite in many Chinese households especially for its vibrant color and nutritions.
Check out this recipe
tomato-fish-close-horizontal-320x321

The tender, flaky fish absorbs this recipe's tangy, savory tomato juice, creating a perfect balance of flavors. 

14. Authentic Shrimp Fried Rice (Better Than Takeout!)
This authentic shrimp fried rice is made with leftover rice and stir-fried with eggs, mixed vegetables, and shrimp.
Check out this recipe

Shrimp Fried Rice combines succulent shrimp with leftover rice that's stir-fried to create a delicious flavor. Each bite offers a mix of textures, with juicy shrimp, rice, and mixed veggies. You stir fry everything together and a hint of wok hei, making it irresistibly delicious!

Snack and treats

15. Steamed Red Bean Paste Buns ( Dou Sha Bao, 豆沙包)
Red bean paste buns, or "Dou Sha Bao" in Chinese, are steamed buns filled with sweet red bean paste. They are popular treats in Chinese cuisine.
Check out this recipe
red bean paste buns

Steamed Red Bean Paste Buns are soft, fluffy dough paired with a sweet, smooth red bean paste filling. The contrast between the soft bun and the rich, velvety filling makes them an irresistible treat.

16. Chee Cheong Fun (Steamed Rice Noodle Dim Sum Rolls)
An easy-to-follow method to make perfect Chee Cheong Fun! Steamed, filled with crispy fried dough & served with sweetened soy sauce and fried shallots.
Check out this recipe
chee-cheong-fun

Chee Cheong Fun is so good because of its silky, smooth rice noodle rolls with a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It is a comforting and flavorful dish.

17. Scallion Pancakes
Scallion pancakes are made with scallions, flour, water, and oil, then pan-fried until golden brown.
Check out this recipe
scallion pancakes

Chinese scallion pancakes are one of the Chinese classic dishes. It is crispy on the outside, chewy inside, and packed with savory scallion flavor. You can serve it with dipping sauce or as is!

Tofu

18. Authentic Hunan Tofu Recipe (Stir-fry In Hunan-style)
Hunan tofu is characterized by its bold and spicy flavor profile, with the tofu serving as a mild base to absorb the flavors of the sauce. 
Check out this recipe
hunan tofu

Authentic Hunan Tofu features silken tofu that absorbs the bold, spicy flavors of the Hunan-style sauce. It is a satisfying and vibrant option for those who love a bit of spice in their healthy meals. 

19. Buddha's Delight: A Chinese Vegetarian Feast
Buddha's Delight (luohan zhai) is a Chinese vegetable-beancurd medley, traditionally eaten after Lunar New Year. This loaded one-pot meal is a vegetarian feast!
Check out this recipe
buddhas-delight-2.jpg

Buddha's Delight is a vibrant and nutritious dish that combines a variety of fresh vegetables, tofu, and vermicelli noodles, all cooked in a light, savory sauce. It is a satisfying and wholesome choice that's comforting and packed with nutrients.

20. Chinese home-style tofu
Chinese home style tofu typically features simple ingredients and cooking methods commonly found in Chinese households.
Check out this recipe
home style tofu

Chinese home style tofu features tender tofu cooked in a savory sauce, often with fresh vegetables and aromatic spices. It is a must-try hearty meal.

Vegetables

21. Old Fashioned Chinese Chive Pocket Recipe (韭菜盒子)
Chinese Chive Pocket is a delicious pocket filled with a fragrant mixture of fresh Chinese chives, seasonings, and other ingredients.
Check out this recipe
chinese chive pocket

Chinese Chive Pockets have crispy, golden exteriors filled with aromatic chives, creating a delightful contrast of textures. The chives' fresh, pungent flavor makes these pockets satisfying and refreshing, perfect as a snack or side dish.

22. Stir Fry Mung Bean Sprouts Recipe (Vegan Friendly)
If you're looking for a quick side dish that's healthy and delicious, stir-fry mung bean sprouts are the answer.
Check out this recipe
stir-fry mung bean sprouts

Stir fry mung bean sprouts recipe offers a crisp, crunchy texture that retains freshness even after cooking. Quickly stir-fried at high heat with garlic and soy sauce, they develop a light, savory flavor that complements many dishes.  

23. Homemade Chinese Zucchini Pancakes Recipe (糊塌子)
Chinese zucchini pancakes are bursting with the flavors of different vegetables. They are a great way to enjoy a vegetable-packed meal.
Check out this recipe
Chinese zucchini pancakes

Chinese Zucchini Pancakes are so good because they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a deliciously savory flavor enhanced by fresh zucchini, carrot strips, and green onions.

24. Chinese Long Beans Recipe (Stir Fried With Garlic)
This Chinese long beans recipe is a must-try if you love Chinese food. It offers a crunchy texture and is loaded with flavors.
Check out this recipe
Chinese long bean

Chinese long beans stir-fried with garlic combine the crunchy texture of fresh long beans with garlic's rich, aromatic flavor. These green beans are a simple yet delicious dish that's both nutritious and satisfying as a side or main course.

25. Stir Fry Taiwanese Spinach with Garlic
Simple, easy Taiwanese Spinach stir fry is a classic Chinese vegetable dish.
Check out this recipe
stir fry Taiwanese spinach

This is a must-try spinach dish! The fresh, tender spinach absorbs the rich aroma of the garlic, resulting in a flavorful and healthy dish.

Final thoughts

Exploring healthy, authentic Chinese food is both flavorful and nourishing. By adding these recipes to your meals, you can enjoy the rich tastes of Chinese cuisine while prioritizing health and wellness without compromising flavor!

So, dive into Chinese cooking with these recipes and try them out. Happy cooking!

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me

Hey there! Welcome to SassyChopsticks.com!

I'm Yuan, a writer, world traveler, web developer, and photographer based in the U.S. My journey has taken me across multiple countries, from Malaysia to England, before I settled in Tennessee, where I've called home for nearly two decades.

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