Kosher Chinese food is diverse and can be made in a kosher kitchen. Kosher Chinese restaurants require certification, and ingredients must be kosher. Dairy is not a significant concern, but pork and shellfish are not allowed. Menus vary by restaurant and may include non-Chinese Asian foods and Chinese twists on Jewish dishes.
The types of kosher Chinese food are extremely varied, as it is possible to produce a wide variety of Chinese dishes using kosher ingredients while in a kosher kitchen. Many typical Chinese recipes are easy to prepare in a home kitchen and commercial kosher Chinese food restaurant. These foods include appetizers, soups, and main courses. Due to kosher restrictions on keeping some utensils and cooking and serving dishes separate from others, the main issues faced by those desiring kosher Chinese food is ensuring that it is properly prepared under kosher conditions.
There are many kosher Chinese restaurants in areas where there is a high Jewish population. The process of becoming a kosher restaurant can be quite exhausting, as a specially trained rabbi must typically inspect and certify the kitchen and its food supply. All ingredients used in cooking must be certified kosher. Since Jewish dietary laws prohibit the consumption of meat and dairy products together, most kosher restaurants specialize in serving one type of kosher cuisine, one that includes meat while the other type sells foods that include or may be served with dairy products, including fish and vegetarian dishes.
As a general rule, dairy products don’t play a significant role in many Chinese cuisines, so eliminating dairy ingredients in kosher Chinese foods may not be a significant concern. What can get complicated, however, is that some condiments and processed foods may have dairy components that shouldn’t be included in kosher dishes. A more significant restriction on kosher Chinese food is that pork and shellfish are not kosher foods, and because these ingredients are often staples in many Chinese cuisines, a kosher Chinese chef will need to adjust or drop some favorites under kosher rules. Another concern is that not all parts of a kosher animal are necessarily kosher to eat. For example, kosher meat dishes should be prepared with cuts of meat that are acceptable for consumption under kosher rules.
Every Chinese restaurant that offers kosher food has its own menu and can reflect the preferences and ethnicity of its chefs and owners. As such, patrons of these restaurants may find that some have a greater emphasis on Mandarin, while others may specialize in Szechuan cuisine. It’s also not uncommon for kosher Chinese restaurants to offer Asian foods that aren’t Chinese, such as sushi or sashimi. Some will even include some Chinese twists on traditional Jewish foods, like pastrami eggrolls, on their menus.
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