Garlic is one of the core flavours in Chinese takeaway food — alongside ginger, soy sauce, and spring onion. It adds punch, aroma, and that mouthwatering “wok hei” when it hits hot oil.
⸻
🔥 1. Garlic Oil Base (for almost any stir-fry)
This is how most takeaways start their dishes.
How: 1. Heat 1–2 tbsp of oil in a wok. 2. Add 1–2 cloves finely chopped garlic. 3. Stir until fragrant (about 5–10 seconds). 4. Then add your vegetables, meat, or sauce.
Used in: • Chow Mein • Fried Rice • Garlic Chicken • Beef and Black Bean
Tip: Don’t brown the garlic — once it turns golden, it gets bitter. Keep it light golden and aromatic.
⸻
🍤 2. Garlic with King Prawns
Garlic pairs beautifully with seafood.
Method: • Sauté garlic in oil until fragrant. • Add prawns, soy sauce, sugar, and a splash of Shaoxing wine or rice vinegar. • Toss with spring onions or chilli for a fast, glossy sauce.
Optional: Add your special Chinese curry paste for fusion-style prawn curry.
Steps: 1. Marinate chicken in soy sauce and cornflour. 2. Fry until golden, set aside. 3. In the same wok, fry minced garlic until fragrant. 4. Add oyster sauce, a splash of stock, and a pinch of sugar. 5. Return chicken to coat in sauce.
Result: Sticky, glossy garlic chicken that’s perfect with fried rice or noodles.
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🌶️ 4. Garlic and Chilli Stir-Fry
A takeaway favourite for people who love spice.
Ingredients: Fresh garlic, red chillies, soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar.
How: 1. Heat oil, fry garlic and chilli together. 2. Add meat or veg and toss on high heat. 3. Finish with soy and a drizzle of sesame oil.
Goes great with beef, tofu, or king prawns.
⸻
🍜 5. Garlic Fried Rice
How: 1. Use leftover rice (cold). 2. Fry chopped garlic in oil until golden. 3. Add rice, soy sauce, and a touch of salt. 4. Optional: Add egg, spring onion, or diced roast pork.
Simple, cheap, and full of flavour.
⸻
🍶 6. Garlic Sauce for Dipping or Drizzling
Mix: • 2 cloves crushed garlic • 1 tbsp soy sauce • ½ tsp sugar • 1 tbsp vinegar • A dash of sesame oil
Perfect with dumplings, crispy chicken, or chips.
⸻
🧊 Chef’s Tips for Garlic Use • Crushed garlic = stronger flavour, sliced = milder. • Add garlic early for aroma, later for punch. • Mix fresh and fried garlic for more depth. • Store ready-chopped garlic in oil (short-term) for quick takeaway prep.
Mrchang
🧄🧄 Garlic in Chinese Takeaway Cooking
Garlic is one of the core flavours in Chinese takeaway food — alongside ginger, soy sauce, and spring onion. It adds punch, aroma, and that mouthwatering “wok hei” when it hits hot oil.
⸻
🔥 1. Garlic Oil Base (for almost any stir-fry)
This is how most takeaways start their dishes.
How:
1. Heat 1–2 tbsp of oil in a wok.
2. Add 1–2 cloves finely chopped garlic.
3. Stir until fragrant (about 5–10 seconds).
4. Then add your vegetables, meat, or sauce.
Used in:
• Chow Mein
• Fried Rice
• Garlic Chicken
• Beef and Black Bean
Tip: Don’t brown the garlic — once it turns golden, it gets bitter. Keep it light golden and aromatic.
⸻
🍤 2. Garlic with King Prawns
Garlic pairs beautifully with seafood.
Method:
• Sauté garlic in oil until fragrant.
• Add prawns, soy sauce, sugar, and a splash of Shaoxing wine or rice vinegar.
• Toss with spring onions or chilli for a fast, glossy sauce.
Optional: Add your special Chinese curry paste for fusion-style prawn curry.
⸻
🍗 3. Garlic Chicken (Classic Takeaway Style)
Ingredients:
Chicken breast, cornflour, garlic, soy sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, chicken stock, and sesame oil.
Steps:
1. Marinate chicken in soy sauce and cornflour.
2. Fry until golden, set aside.
3. In the same wok, fry minced garlic until fragrant.
4. Add oyster sauce, a splash of stock, and a pinch of sugar.
5. Return chicken to coat in sauce.
Result: Sticky, glossy garlic chicken that’s perfect with fried rice or noodles.
⸻
🌶️ 4. Garlic and Chilli Stir-Fry
A takeaway favourite for people who love spice.
Ingredients:
Fresh garlic, red chillies, soy sauce, sugar, and rice vinegar.
How:
1. Heat oil, fry garlic and chilli together.
2. Add meat or veg and toss on high heat.
3. Finish with soy and a drizzle of sesame oil.
Goes great with beef, tofu, or king prawns.
⸻
🍜 5. Garlic Fried Rice
How:
1. Use leftover rice (cold).
2. Fry chopped garlic in oil until golden.
3. Add rice, soy sauce, and a touch of salt.
4. Optional: Add egg, spring onion, or diced roast pork.
Simple, cheap, and full of flavour.
⸻
🍶 6. Garlic Sauce for Dipping or Drizzling
Mix:
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• A dash of sesame oil
Perfect with dumplings, crispy chicken, or chips.
⸻
🧊 Chef’s Tips for Garlic Use
• Crushed garlic = stronger flavour, sliced = milder.
• Add garlic early for aroma, later for punch.
• Mix fresh and fried garlic for more depth.
• Store ready-chopped garlic in oil (short-term) for quick takeaway prep.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 7