Cold Appetizer Recipes

Cold Appetizer

Cold Houttuynia with Fermented Bean Curd

A refreshing Sichuan-style cold appetizer featuring tender houttuynia (also known as fish mint) dressed in a creamy fermented bean curd sauce. The blanching tames the strong raw flavor while keeping a pleasant crunch.

27 min

Cold Appetizer

Sour and Spicy Chicken Feet

Tender chicken feet marinated in a bold, tangy sauce with a pleasant numbing heat. This classic cold appetizer is perfect for summer snacking or as a starter.

30 min

Cold Appetizer

Perilla and Pine Nut Jellyfish Salad

A refreshing cold appetizer featuring tender jellyfish strips paired with crisp cucumber, fragrant perilla leaves, and crunchy pine nuts. This light salad is perfect for summer and showcases a beautiful balance of textures and flavors.

25 min

Cold Appetizer

Chili Oyster Sauce Lettuce Strips

A quick and bold Chinese-inspired cold appetizer featuring crisp lettuce drizzled with a savory-sweet combination of oyster sauce and spicy chili oil. Ready in minutes.

10 min

Cold Appetizer

Black Pepper Pork Skin Jelly

A silky, translucent Chinese cold appetizer made by slowly cooking pork skin until it releases its natural gelatin. The soy milk maker method yields a remarkably smooth texture, while black pepper adds warm, aromatic depth. This dish is served chilled and sliced, perfect for summer or as a sophisticated appetizer.

2 hours

Cold Appetizer

Spicy Pickled Chicken Feet

Tender chicken feet steeped in a tongue-tingling brine of pickled chilies and aromatic spices. This cold appetizer delivers a numbing Sichuan-style heat that pairs perfectly with cold beer or as a crunchy snack.

45 min

Cold Appetizer

Cold Marinated Chicken Feet

A refreshing Sichuan-style appetizer featuring tender chicken feet tossed in a zesty sauce with bell peppers. Perfect as a snack or party starter.

35 min

Cold Appetizer

Cold Wild Chives with Garlic and Sesame Oil

A crisp, refreshing appetizer from northern China featuring tender wild sand chives quickly blanched and dressed with aromatic garlic-infused sauce. This simple yet flavorful dish showcases the delicate onion flavor of沙葱 (sand chives), a prized ingredient from the Mongolian plateau.

15 min

Cold Appetizer

Sesame Wild Fernbrake Salad

A light, refreshing spring salad featuring tender wild fernbrake tossed with aromatic sesame oil and bright scallions. This foraged fern is prized in Chinese cuisine for its unique grassy flavor and delicate texture.

20 min

Cold Appetizer

Cold Bitter Melon Salad with Sweet and Savory Dressing

A refreshing Chinese cold dish featuring thinly sliced bitter melon blanched and tossed in a sweet-savory dressing. The name 'bitterness ends, sweetness comes' reflects the beautiful balance between the melon'S natural bitterness and the sweet dressing.

20 min

Cold Appetizer

Cold Mixed Vegetable Salad with Tangy Dressing

A refreshing Chinese cold appetizer featuring crunchy potatoes, cucumber, and peanuts dressed in a tangy, slightly spicy vinaigrette. Perfect for summer or as a palate-cleansing side dish.

35 min