Staple Food

Teriyaki Chicken Thigh Rice Bowl

Difficulty：★★★★☆ 1670 kcal

Teriyaki Chicken Thigh Rice is a delicious, slightly sweet and savory meal. The thighs, seared until crispy and infused with a rich sauce, offer a silky, tender meat texture. Chicken meat is rich in high-quality protein, and paired with broccoli and carrots, it adds dietary fiber and vitamins. While the preparation requires a bit of deboning technique, it is overall not complex, and beginners can succeed by following the steps. From prep to serving, it takes about 30 minutes to get on the table.

Instant Ramen with Egg

Difficulty：★☆☆☆☆ 550 kcal

Instant ramen with egg is a convenient and speedy main dish. It has a smooth texture and rich soup flavor, making it suitable for satiating hunger anytime. It primarily provides carbohydrates and protein, allowing for a quick energy boost. The method is extremely simple, requiring only boiling water, cooking the noodles, and cracking in an egg to cook. It is easy for beginners to master and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.

Fried Mantou (Leavened Bread Cubes)

Difficulty：★★☆☆☆ 767 kcal

Fried mantou is a savory, crispy home-cooked noodle dish, typical of Northern Chinese cuisine. When stir-fried to golden color, the cubes have a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The addition of cumin and five-spice powder makes the flavor richer. It pairs well with eggs for protein and scallions for a fresh aroma. The difficulty is moderate, making it fast and easy for beginners; estimated cook time is about 15 minutes.

炸酱面

Difficulty：★★★☆☆

Zhajiangmian is a traditional Beijing home-style noodle dish known for its rich sauce and chewy noodles, paired with refreshing toppings and a balanced salty-sweet taste. The main nutrition comes from lean meat protein and vegetables, providing sufficient energy. Beginners-friendly with a prep time of about 30 minutes. Once skilled, the process can be shortened by doing prep and sauce cooking in parallel.

Lao Bing (Flatbread)

Difficulty：★★★★☆ 1185 kcal

This homemade Lao Bing features distinct layers, a crispy crust, and a soft interior, infused with the fragrant aroma of the oil paste. It is a common staple on northern Chinese dining tables. It primarily provides carbohydrates and energy, making it suitable for serving alongside main dishes. While the technique requires a bit of practice—especially during the oil wrapping and rolling stages—following these steps makes it easy to master, even for beginners. The entire process, from mixing to cooking, takes about 1 hour.

Stir-fried Rice Cakes

Difficulty：★★☆☆☆ 960 kcal

This is a Fujian-style staple dish. The rice cakes are soft, sticky, and chewy, carrying the roasted aroma of scallion oil. It is a hearty home-cooked meal. Rice cakes made from rice flour provide sufficient carbohydrates, while pairing them with eggs and vegetables supplements protein and vitamins for a balanced diet. The method is simple and friendly to beginners, taking approximately 30 minutes from preparation to serving.

Stir-fried Pasta

Difficulty：★★☆☆☆ 406 kcal

This stir-fried pasta is soft and refreshing, paired with fatty beef and sauce for an rich flavor. It is a home-style staple with a Western touch. It is rich in carbohydrates and protein, which helps replenish energy quickly. The method is simple and easy to master, even for beginners. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.

Stir-fried Instant Noodles

Difficulty：★★☆☆☆ 789 kcal

This stir-fried instant noodle texture is chewy and springy, savory and flavorful. It is a homemade fast-paced main dish, a modified version of traditional boiled noodles. Paired with eggs and ham sausage, it enriches the source of protein and energy. The method is simple; just pay attention to rinsing the noodles with cold water to maintain the texture, making it easy for beginners to complete. The entire process takes about 15 minutes to finish.

Henan Steamed Noodles

Difficulty：★★★★☆ 3066 kcal

Henan Steamed Noodles are a homemade snack from Henan Province. The noodles are steamed, then fried, and then steamed again. They are oily, flavorful, and have a chewy and smooth texture. Pork belly and garlic scapes provide rich protein and dietary fiber, pairing with the staple food to bring balanced nutrition. The steps are slightly more numerous, but as long as you follow the order, beginners can be successful. From preparation to serving, it takes a total of about 40 minutes.

Tengzhou Vegetable Pancakes

Difficulty：★★☆☆☆ 800 kcal

Tengzhou Vegetable Pancakes are a traditional snack from Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, created in the Qing Dynasty by Wang Niugao. They consist of a wheat flour pancake wrapped around seasonal vegetables like Chinese cabbage, glass noodles, and tofu, sometimes paired with eggs or ham sausage, and pan-fried with oil and spices. The finished product is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, savory and refreshing, ideal as a main dish or breakfast. It takes approximately 15 minutes from preparation to serving.

Ham Rice Balls

Difficulty：★★★★☆ 665 kcal

A simple and fast Japanese-style rice ball with savory ham paired with salad dressing and nori, offering a rich texture and satisfying fullness. Rich in carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins, it provides a quick energy boost. The difficulty level is extremely low, even beginners can get started easily, with the process taking about 1 hour from cooking to completion.

Fried Beancurd Jelly

Difficulty：★★★☆☆ 567 kcal

Fried Beancurd Jelly is a specialty snack from the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. It is smooth and tender with a savory-salty, slightly spicy flavor, featuring aromas of garlic and soy sauce. Made primarily from starch, it provides rich carbohydrates for a quick energy boost. The cooking difficulty is moderate, suitable for beginners with some experience; the entire process takes about 15 minutes.