Healthy Chinese Recipes and Menus

Featured Recipes

Salt & Pepper Prawns

Spice-crusted stir-fried shrimp top a cool, crisp Asian-style slaw for an easy supper. Many traditional versions of this recipe use Sichuan peppercorns. We've opted to use Chinese five-spice powder, which contains Sichuan peppercorns and is more readily available. Make it a Meal: Serve with rice noodles or brown rice and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

» Salt & Pepper Prawns

Vegetable Fried Rice

Nothing could be easier than this light version of fried rice. We've used instant brown rice, but if you have leftover cold rice or can pick some up at a Chinese restaurant on the way home, use that instead and skip Step 1.

» Vegetable Fried Rice

Honey-Soy Broiled Salmon

A sweet, tangy and salty mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey does double-duty as marinade and sauce. Toasted sesame seeds provide a nutty and attractive accent. Make it a meal: Serve with brown rice and sautéed red peppers and zucchini slices.

» Honey-Soy Broiled Salmon

Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice

In about the time it takes to order and pick up Chinese takeout, you can make this much healthier version of sweet & sour chicken. Our version loses all the saturated fat that comes from deep-frying, along with the extra sugar and salt. If you prefer, use tofu instead of chicken, and use your favorite vegetables; just be sure to cut them into similar-size pieces so they all cook at about the same rate.

» Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice

Orange Crisps with Citrus Fruit Salad

These ultra-thin, crisp cookies are a snap to make and have a fortune cookie-inspired flavor. Serve alongside a homemade or purchased fruit salad to increase your fruit servings for the day while still satisfying your sweet tooth.

» Orange Crisps with Citrus Fruit Salad

Sichuan-Style Chicken with Peanuts

The piquant Sichuan Sauce (which doubles easily) works well with almost any stir-fry but particularly enhances dishes with meat, fish and poultry. When stir-frying chicken, always spread the pieces in the wok and let them cook undisturbed for 1 minute before stirring. This allows the chicken to sear and prevents sticking. To smash the ginger, use the side of a cleaver or chef's knife.

» Sichuan-Style Chicken with Peanuts

Scallop & Shrimp Dumplings

People along the Yangtze River enjoy dumplings with a variety of fillings, from seafood to red meat, eggs to vegetables. In Wuhan, dumplings may be served at any meal. Crisp, pan-fried dumplings don't have to be loaded with fat. Cooking them in a mix of water and oil makes them crisp on the bottom, tender and juicy inside.

» Scallop & Shrimp Dumplings

Enjoy your favorite Chinese recipes guilt-free!

Take-out from your neighborhood Chinese restaurant is certainly quick and easy. But the typical sauces can be sugary-sweet or way too salty, and a lot of options come battered and deep-fried—hardly the most nutritious fare. EatingWell’s healthy Chinese recipes are makeovers of traditional favorites, such as Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice and Scallop & Shrimp Dumplings. Skip the white rice—instant brown rice is quick and more nutritious—and you’ll have a crowd-pleasing meal ready in no time. Don’t forget the chopsticks!