Must-Try Autumn Homestyle Dishes That Will Blow Your Mind

1. Carrot Steamed Egg

This restaurant-style dish will surprise you with its simplicity and elegance. Thinly slice carrots, then cut into fine strips. Blanch in boiling water for one minute, then drain thoroughly. Beat six eggs with starch water and salt, then mix in the carrot strips, chopped scallions, and a pinch of thirteen-spice powder. Pour into an oiled mold and steam over low heat for 15 minutes. Cut into pieces once cooled - this carrot steamed egg disappears instantly from dinner tables!

2. Perfect Blanched Chinese Broccoli

Say goodbye to tough, fibrous stems with this professional technique. Blanch broccoli stems in salted, oiled water for one minute before adding the leaves. Prepare a savory sauce by pouring hot oil over minced garlic and red pepper strips, then mix in light soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Pour over the arranged broccoli - the result is vibrantly green and perfectly crisp.

3. Restaurant-Style Boiled Beef

Achieve that authentic restaurant flavor at home with this secret technique. Slice beef loin thinly, then marinate with salt, pepper, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and scallion-ginger water (skip the料酒!). Mix until sticky, then add starch. Sauté ginger, garlic, chili, hot pot base, and bean paste until fragrant. Add water and seasonings, then blanch your favorite vegetables. Turn off heat before adding beef slices one by one, cooking just until color changes. Top with garlic, dried chilies, scallions, sesame seeds, and sizzling oil for incredibly tender, spicy beef.

4. Refreshing Carrot Salad

Move beyond roasting and stir-frying with this surprisingly delicious preparation. Slice carrots into thin strips, then mix with generous sugar and marinate for 30 minutes. Rinse off excess sugar, then squeeze dry. Add garlic, chili, light soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and cilantro, then mix thoroughly. The result is a sweet-sour, crisp carrot salad perfect with steamed buns or rice.

5. Egg and Tofu Scramble

This unconventional combination creates extraordinary comfort food. Crumble firm tofu finely, then pan-fry until golden on both sides. Mix light and dark soy sauce, salt, chicken essence, pepper, starch, and water for the sauce. Sauté minced pork until fragrant, add scallion, ginger, and garlic, then return tofu to the pan with the sauce. Simmer for two minutes, thicken the sauce, and garnish with scallions. The creamy tofu and eggs create incredible texture.

6. Bitter Melon Steamed Egg

Bitter melon's health benefits shine in this creative preparation. Halve bitter melon lengthwise, remove seeds, then pour in beaten eggs. Steam covered for 8 minutes. Create a dressing of garlic, scallions heated with oil, then mixed with salt, chicken essence, oyster sauce, and light soy sauce. Slice the steamed bitter melon, arrange beautifully, and drizzle with dressing for a nutritious, visually stunning dish.

7. Beijing-Style Shredded Pork

This classic dish delivers incredible flavor with simple preparation. Wrap cilantro, scallions, onion, carrot, and cucumber in tofu skin, roll tightly, and slice diagonally. Marinate pork shreds with cooking wine, salt, pepper, egg white, and starch, finishing with oil to seal in moisture. Mix sweet bean paste, dark soy sauce, sugar, starch, and water for the sauce. Stir-fry pork until cooked, add the sauce, coat thoroughly, and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving with the vegetable rolls.

8. Lotus Root Meatball Soup

This autumn proverb rings true: "Autumn lotus roots surpass dragon meat." Mix minced lotus root with pork, carrot, scallions, egg, starch, salt, and scallion-ginger water, then knead vigorously. Sauté scallion and garlic until fragrant, add boiling water, then form meatballs with your hands. Once they float, add light soy sauce, greens, and goji berries for a nourishing soup that's both delicious and healthy.

9. Perfect Blanched Okra

This million-dollar technique preserves okra's nutrients and vibrant color. Soak okra in salted water for 10 minutes to remove impurities. Blanch in oiled, salted water to maintain green color, then cool in cold water. Remove ends, halve lengthwise, then dress with a sauce of garlic and red pepper strips activated with hot oil, mixed with light soy sauce. The result is appetizing, nutritious okra that's perfect as a side.

10. Nourishing Herbal Bone Soup

This restorative soup combines nutritious ribs, strengthening Chinese yam, calming lotus seeds, moisturizing peanuts, blood-enhancing red dates, and aromatic ginger. Simmer with salt for 50 minutes, then serve with a fermented tofu and leek flower sauce. Finish with chopped scallions - perfect for enjoying both the meat and broth for autumn wellness.

11. Homestyle Boiled Fish

Restaurant-quality boiled fish is achievable at home! Marinate fish slices with salt, pepper, scallion-ginger water, egg white, and sweet potato starch. Sauté scallion, ginger, garlic, dried chilies, hot pot base, and bean paste until oily. Add water, light soy sauce, salt, and chicken essence, simmering for 2 minutes before straining out solids. Blanch vegetables as a base, then gently cook fish slices until just done. Top with garlic, scallions, Sichuan peppercorns, chili powder, sesame seeds, and sizzling oil for the final aromatic touch.

12. Edamame Fried Egg

This restaurant favorite combines edamame's freshness with eggs' comfort. Blanch edamame in oiled, salted water for one minute to preserve color, then cool. Mix with beaten eggs, green and red peppers, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pan-fry until golden and cooked through. The result is fragrant, tender, and perfect with rice or drinks.

13. Pepper and Egg Stir-fry

The secret to perfect pepper and eggs lies in the technique. Remove pepper stems, flatten with a knife for even cutting. Beat eggs with starch water and salt for tenderness. Stir-fry peppers until tender, then pour eggs over without immediately stirring. Flip once set, then break into pieces. Add light soy sauce and stir-fry briefly. The eggs remain tender and fluffy while peppers stay crisp.

14. Onion Steamed Egg

This surprising combination creates incredibly smooth steamed eggs. Cut onion with chopsticks as a guide to prevent cutting through, creating a grid pattern. Mix beaten eggs with 1.5 times warm water, then pour over the onion. Steam for 20 minutes, then garnish with scallions, hot oil, and light soy sauce. The onion-infused egg is amazingly tender and aromatic.

15. Steamed Tofu with Shrimp

This festival-worthy dish combines elegance with simplicity. Quarter tender tofu and arrange on a plate. Freeze shrimp for 30 minutes for easy peeling, then make a slit along each back before arranging on the tofu. Beat three eggs with salt and 1.5 times warm water, then pour around the tofu. Steam for exactly 8 minutes to prevent overcooking. Finish with sizzling scallion oil and light soy sauce or steamed fish soy sauce for a dish that's fragrant, tender, and nutritious.

These fifteen autumn dishes showcase the season's best flavors through various cooking techniques. Which one will you try first as the weather cools down?