Homestyle Chinese Cooking

Rice is the staple food for the Chinese on a national basis, although noodles and steamed breads and buns are just as important a staple food for people in northern China. All Chinese dishes are eaten with rice—plain, boiled white rice as a rule. But, by all means, serve some of the dishes in this book with noodles, spaghetti, potatoes, or whatever staple food takes your fancy.

Unless otherwise stated, every dish in this book yields about six helpings. The Chinese always share the dishes, which are put on the table together. Even a piece of fish, such as a fish steak, would be broken up with chopsticks and everyone would help themselves. For an everyday meal I would suggest making two, and at the most three, dishes to serve four people.