Ep 13. Chinese Comes Home

In Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen season 8 episode 13, titled "Chinese Comes Home," the show explores how to recreate the flavors of classic Chinese takeout dishes in the comfort of your own home. Hosts Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison share their recipes and techniques for creating delicious dishes like pork fried rice, egg rolls, and General Tso's chicken.

The episode begins with a segment on making perfect pork fried rice. The hosts explain how to properly cook rice to get the right texture and discuss the importance of using cold, day-old rice. They also share tips for stir-frying the rice and adding the right balance of seasonings to create an authentic flavor.

Next, the show tackles egg rolls, a staple of Chinese takeout menus. Bridget and Julia demonstrate how to make the filling, which includes ground pork, cabbage, carrots, and other ingredients, and how to properly wrap and fry the egg rolls. They also share tips for avoiding common mistakes, like overfilling the egg rolls or not sealing them properly.

Finally, the hosts turn their attention to General Tso's chicken, a popular dish that many people think of as a guilty pleasure. Bridget and Julia show how to make a lighter, healthier version of the dish without sacrificing any of the flavor. They discuss the best way to coat and fry the chicken, as well as how to make the sweet and spicy sauce that gives the dish its signature taste.

Throughout the episode, Bridget and Julia also share interesting facts and history about these dishes, as well as tips for adapting them to suit individual tastes and preferences. Viewers will come away with a greater understanding of how to make classic Chinese takeout dishes at home and the knowledge and confidence to experiment with their own variations.