Food
Fact-checked

At DelightedCooking, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are the Different Types of Halal Chinese Food?

Brandon May
Brandon May

Halal Chinese food is Chinese food that follows the laws of the halal lifestyle, as used by many Muslims. The exclusion of pork and omnivorous animals and birds are two examples of the dietary laws that can be applied to any type of Chinese meal. Fried rice is often made with chicken, a halal food that is commonly consumed in the halal way of life, often sauteed and cooked in oil or broth. Dumplings, noodle bowls and egg rolls can also be made halal, using ingredients that follow the dietary laws of the Islam religion.

Stir-fried beef and vegetables is a popular halal Chinese food, using ground beef stir-fried with vegetables like broccoli, snap beans and mushrooms. The dish is often sauteed in a neutral-tasting vegetable oil, and soy sauce or tamari is often added to give it flavor without adding salt. These types of dishes in halal Chinese cuisine are often served alongside steamed white or brown rice, acting as a bed for the stir-fried beef and vegetables. Fresh ginger and garlic are powerful anti-inflammatory spices used in this type of halal Chinese food for its health-promoting properties, as well as its taste.

Oyster mushrooms are popular in Chinese food.
Oyster mushrooms are popular in Chinese food.

Chicken is a common halal food, often cooked by sauteing in oil or broth, baked in the oven, fried in vegetable oil or roasted over low heat. Often accompanying vegetables and whole grains, chicken is a popular protein source in many halal Chinese food recipes both for its taste and affordability. Barbecue chicken and sauteed vegetables like broccoli and mushrooms are often served alongside rice or noodles for a Chinese dish using all halal ingredients. Chicken fried rice can be made into a halal dish, using soy sauce, cooked egg, cubed chicken and white rice.

Flour from the buckwheat plant is used to make soba noodles.
Flour from the buckwheat plant is used to make soba noodles.

Chinese egg rolls are also popular halal Chinese food choices, filled with various vegetables such as carrots, cabbage and cilantro, all wrapped in a white rice wrapper. Sometimes, shredded chicken or beef is placed in a Chinese egg roll, avoiding the common placement of shredded pork, which is a meat that is not eaten in the halal lifestyle. Chinese dumplings made with wanton wrappers can be filled with cooked ground beef and shredded cabbage, served in soup or over noodles. Vegetarian noodle bowls are also considered halal foods, using soba or buckwheat noodles, combined with steamed or sauteed vegetables like snap peas, green beans and broccoli.

Discussion Comments

ysmina

@ddlohn-- That's a great question. Since I love Chinese food, I looked into this and discovered that all soy sauces are not halal. There is a type of soy sauce called "brewed soy sauce" containing wheat in addition to soy. What this means is that the soy sauce contains alcohol. So it is not halal.

The good news is that most of the soy sauce on the market is all purpose soy sauce which is not brewed. So these are halal. They are made just from soy protein and not wheat.

The risk with other Chinese sauces is again alcohol. What's difficult is that labels usually don't mention how the product is made and whether it contains alcohol. Fermented sauces (such as rice wine or rice vinegar) definitely contain alcohol.

Some flavored sauces may also contain pork.

ddljohn

Is soy sauce halal? And what about other sauces usually used in Chinese dishes?

donasmrs

Chicken is halal but only if it is slaughtered according to Islamic rules and drained completely of blood. So unfortunately, the chickens at the grocery store are not halal. First of all, they are not usually treated humanely and they are killed with electrocution and other methods. And the blood may not be drained properly.

So even though chicken itself is a permitted food, most chicken in the US is not halal. Only those certified halal and sold at halal groceries can be used.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Oyster mushrooms are popular in Chinese food.
      By: Africa Studio
      Oyster mushrooms are popular in Chinese food.
    • Flour from the buckwheat plant is used to make soba noodles.
      By: Vidady
      Flour from the buckwheat plant is used to make soba noodles.
    • In a general sense, "halal" means "lawful" in Arabic, and refers to that which is permitted under the rules of Islam.
      By: Aleksandar Todorovic
      In a general sense, "halal" means "lawful" in Arabic, and refers to that which is permitted under the rules of Islam.
    • Halal Chinese food must be prepared in accordance with Islamic law.
      By: Orhan Çam
      Halal Chinese food must be prepared in accordance with Islamic law.
    • Egg rolls can be made using chicken or beef instead of pork.
      By: Jose Gil
      Egg rolls can be made using chicken or beef instead of pork.
    • Sauteed vegetables are acceptable under the laws of the halal lifestyle.
      By: Nitr
      Sauteed vegetables are acceptable under the laws of the halal lifestyle.