Best Indo-Chinese Cuisine Dishes To Try First-Time

Indo-Chinese cuisine is an example of what happens when two cultures collide. Many of the dishes served at Indo-Chinese bars in Franklin Park NJ may be unknown to the Chinese. This is because these dishes emerged within India from small Chinese communities settling in Kolkata. These immigrants were mainly of the Hakka region who came to the Indian city for better prospects.

Indo-Chinese dishes retain some aspects of Chinese cooking while taking heavy influences from Indian cuisine. They make use of many ingredients and spices from both cuisines. Over the years, the techniques for cooking them have developed in their unique way. This makes it a unique cuisine in its own right. If you get the chance, here are some Indian-Chinese dishes you should try:

Chili Chicken

Chili chicken is a good appetizer to start your meal. It consists of chicken chunks marinated with soy sauce. The chunks are usually boneless though some people have them bone-in. The chunks are coated in a paste made with hot chili, garlic, ginger and other spices. They are sauteed with onions and green chili. 

They can be served with or without gravy. The dry version is usually deep-fried. The chicken can be replaced with other ingredients like shrimp, fish, cottage cheese or potatoes. So seafood lovers and vegetarians can also enjoy the spicy goodness of this dish.

Hakka Noodles

Hakka noodles are among the most popular Indo-Chinese dishes. It’s made with boiled noodles stir-fried with sauces and other ingredients. It can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian depending on the ingredients added. Chili flakes and garlic may also be used. The noodles are made from an unleavened dough cooked in a boiling liquid. It’s a wholesome meal that hits the spot.

Manchurian

The name can be deceptive, Manchurian bears no resemblance to Manchu or traditional Chinese cuisine. It’s an Indo-Chinese dish made by Nelson Wang in Mumbai. The original dish includes chopped garlic, green chilies and ginger combined with soy sauce, cornstarch and chicken. The veg variant usually replaces chicken with cauliflower. Mushroom, baby corn and veggie balls may also be used.

There are two main variants of Manchurian, dry and gravy. The dry version includes fritters that can be enjoyed with ketchup as snacks or appetizers. The gravy version has a thick sauce coating the fritters.

Chicken Lollipop

Chicken lollipop is a well-known appetizer and snack from Indo-Chinese cuisine. It’s the frenched version of chicken winglets. The meat is cut loose from the bones and pushed down for a lollipop-like appearance. It’s coated with a spicy red batter consisting of ingredients like red chili and turmeric. The lollipops are then deep-fried or baked.

Schezwan sauce is usually served on the side for taste. The exposed bone may be wrapped in aluminum foil for aesthetics.

Fried Rice

Fried rice is a simple yet wholesome dish with various versions across the world. The Indo-Chinese version uses red chili powder, garam masala and green chilies for the spiciness. Vegetables and sauces are also commonly used. The rice is usually steamed before frying with other ingredients. You can have it with many dishes like Manchurian, chili chicken, etc.

Schezwan

Schezwan is a spicy sauce made with dried red chilies, shallots and lots of garlic. It can be added to various dishes to make it hot and spicy. It’s commonly used to prepare noodles, chicken, fried rice and more. It’s a must-try for people who love hot and spicy dishes.

Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are a popular party snack loaded with vegetables and deep-fried. It tastes best with some tea and other snacks. 

Chowmein

Chowmein is one of the most popular Chinese dishes in India. The Indian version of it is usually pan-fried and tends to be spicy. It’s usually cooked with chopped vegetables though chicken or omelet may also be added.

These are some popular dishes you should try if you’re curious about Indianized Chinese food in Franklin Park.