America's Test Kitchen Season 18 Episode 22 Chinese Classics

In the latest episode of America's Test Kitchen, season 18, episode 22, the focus is on Chinese Classics. The team takes on the challenge of simplifying traditional Chinese dishes that normally require multiple steps and ingredients, making them more accessible for cooks at home.

The episode starts off with host Julia Collin Davison walking viewers through the making of Chinese Hot and Sour Soup. She demonstrates how to properly cut tofu and cook it to remove the excess water, as well as the importance of using specific Chinese ingredients such as Shaoxing wine and black vinegar. With her guidance, viewers can recreate this popular soup at home with ease.

Next, the team tackles one of the most popular dishes in Chinese cuisine: General Tso's Chicken. However, this dish often suffers from being overly sweet and greasy at restaurants. The America's Test Kitchen team perfects the recipe by using boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breast, and adjusting the sauce ingredients to create a more balanced flavor.

Another classic Chinese dish that is often found in restaurants is Beef and Broccoli. This dish can be daunting to make at home due to the need for tender beef and perfectly cooked vegetables. The team demonstrates how to properly marinate and cook the beef, as well as the best way to cook broccoli, to ensure a flavorful and tender dish.

The episode also features a recipe for Dan Dan Noodles, a spicy and savory noodle dish that is popular in Sichuan province. Viewers learn the best type of noodles to use for this dish, as well as how to create the spicy sauce from scratch.

No Chinese meal is complete without steamed dumplings, but they can be quite time-consuming and difficult to make. America's Test Kitchen solves this problem by creating a simplified recipe for Pork and Cabbage Dumplings that uses store-bought wrappers and a quick cooking method.

Lastly, the episode features a dessert recipe for Egg Custard Tart, a classic Chinese dessert that can be challenging to make at home. The team demonstrates how to create a smooth and silky egg custard filling that pairs perfectly with a flaky pastry crust.

Throughout the episode, the America's Test Kitchen team provides helpful cooking tips and techniques, as well as information on where to find specialty Chinese ingredients. By the end of the episode, viewers will have the knowledge and confidence to recreate classic Chinese dishes at home.