Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Cooking: Stir-Fry Techniques
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Cantonese with Fexingo. I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. We are back at the kitchen table. Lucas: Yes. Last time we talked about boiling and steaming. Luna: Very gentle methods. Today is different. Lucas: Today is loud. Today is fast. Luna: Stir-frying. The heart of Cantonese cooking. Lucas: Exactly. It requires speed and heat. Luna: I love stir-fry. But I never get the flavor right. Lucas: That is because you are missing the secret. Luna: The secret? Lucas: There is a special word for that flavor. Luna: Tell me. Lucas: It is called Wok Hei. Luna: Wok Hei. Lucas: Let's say it slowly. Wok Hei. Luna: Wok Hei. Lucas: Again. Wok Hei. Luna: Wok Hei. Lucas: In Chinese characters, it is written as 鑊氣. Luna: Jut3 hei1. Lucas: Yes. Jut3 hei1. Luna: Jut3 hei1. Lucas: It means the breath of the wok. Luna: The scent of the fire. Lucas: It is the smoky, charred aroma. Luna: I want that smell. Lucas: To get Jut3 hei1, you need two things. Luna: What are they? Lucas: First, intense heat. Luna: Hot fire. Lucas: We call this Meng Huo. Luna: Meng Huo. Lucas: Let's practice. Meng Huo. Luna: Meng Huo. Lucas: Again. Meng Huo. Luna: Meng Huo. Lucas: In Chinese characters, it is 猛火. Luna: Mung3 fo2. Lucas: Yes. Mung3 fo2. Luna: Mung3 fo2. Lucas: This is strong fire. Very hot. Luna: My stove is not this hot. Lucas: You can imagine it though. Luna: Okay. So I have the fire. Lucas: Good. Now the action. Luna: The movement. Lucas: You must move quickly. Luna: Fast tossing. Lucas: We say Kuai Chiu. Luna: Kuai Chiu. Lucas: Let's say it. Kuai Chiu. Luna: Kuai Chiu. Lucas: Again. Kuai Chiu. Luna: Kuai Chiu. Lucas: In Chinese characters, it is 快炒. Luna: Faai3 chiu2. Lucas: Correct. Faai3 chiu2. Luna: Faai3 chiu2. Lucas: This is the act of stir-frying rapidly. Luna: Toss the vegetables. Lucas: Flip the meat. Keep it moving. Luna: Never let it sit still. Lucas: Exactly. If it sits, it burns. Luna: Oh no. Lucas: So you have Meng Huo. Luna: Strong fire. Lucas: And you have Kuai Chiu. Luna: Quick fry. Lucas: Put them together. Luna: Meng Huo Kuai Chiu. Lucas: Yes. High heat, quick fry. Luna: That creates the Wok Hei. Lucas: But there is one more step. Luna: The taste test. Lucas: Before you serve, check the flavor. Luna: Add more salt if needed. Lucas: We say Si Mei. Luna: Si Mei. Lucas: Let's practice. Si Mei. Luna: Si Mei. Lucas: Again. Si Mei. Luna: Si Mei. Lucas: In Chinese characters, it is 試味. Luna: Si3 mei6. Lucas: Right. Si3 mei6. Luna: Si3 mei6. Lucas: This means to taste the food. Luna: To see if it is good. Lucas: Yes. Adjust the seasoning. Luna: Make sure it is perfect. Lucas: Now put all four phrases together. Luna: Let's try. Lucas: Start with the goal. Luna: Wok Hei. Lucas: Use the fire. Luna: Meng Huo. Lucas: Do the action. Luna: Kuai Chiu. Lucas: Check the result. Luna: Si Mei. Lucas: Perfect sequence. Luna: Wok Hei, Meng Huo, Kuai Chiu, Si Mei. Lucas: You sound like a pro chef. Luna: I feel confident. Lucas: Tonight you cook. Luna: Tonight I make dinner. Lucas: Remember the heat. Luna: High heat, quick motion. Lucas: And always taste first. Luna: Si Mei before serving. Lucas: That is the key. Luna: Thank you, Lucas. Lucas: Thank you, Luna. Luna: Thanks for listening. Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, consider supporting us. Luna: A couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. Lucas: You can visit buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: It helps keep the episodes coming. Lucas: Back to the kitchen now. Luna: Grab your spatula. Lucas: Heat up the wok. Luna: Practice these phrases while you cook. Lucas: Meng Huo. Luna: Kuai Chiu. Lucas: Si Mei. Luna: Wok Hei. Lucas: See you next time. Luna: Bye for now.