Hey Lykkers, are you ready to try some simple yet delicious dishes that will make your rice meal even more satisfying?

These home-cooked favorites will not only elevate your rice experience but also make you feel like a pro in the kitchen! Let's dive right into these tasty options!

Mapo Tofu

Ingredients: Soft tofu (or silken tofu), ground meat, fermented black beans (optional), green onions (scallions work best), minced ginger, minced garlic, spicy bean paste, cornstarch slurry.

How to make it:

1. Start by chopping the green onions into small pieces. Mince the ginger and garlic, with garlic being twice the amount of ginger (2:1 ratio).

2. Cut the tofu into small blocks. Bring some salted water to a boil, gently add the tofu, and heat it up on medium-low. Once it reaches boiling, use a strainer to drain the tofu.

3. In a separate pan, cook the ground meat without oil. Stir it slowly until it turns a deep brown and becomes crispy. Add the minced ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Then, add a tablespoon of spicy bean paste to fry out the oil.

4. Throw in some fermented black beans and broth, then gently add the tofu (make sure the broth covers the tofu). Add a bit of drinks and soy sauce for color. Let it simmer for 5-6 minutes on low heat, making sure the tofu doesn't split.

5. Once it boils, add the cornstarch slurry in two stages. After the first stage, sprinkle in the green onions, then thicken the sauce with the second stage.

6. Finish by adding a little hot oil along the sides of the pan, turn up the heat, and let it bubble up.

7. Serve with a sprinkle of Sichuan pepper powder, but be careful not to overdo it.

Fish-Flavored Eggplant

Ingredients: 1 eggplant, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, garlic, cooking drinks, rice vinegar, cornstarch, pickled red peppers, sugar, vegetable oil.

How to make it:

1. Wash the eggplant and cut it into irregular cubes. Chop the pickled peppers, green onions, ginger, and garlic finely.

2. Mix together soy sauce, rice vinegar, cooking drinks, sugar, and a bit of cornstarch to make a flavorful sauce.

3. In a hot pan with no oil, dry fry the eggplant pieces, stirring constantly until they turn dark and shriveled. Set them aside.

4. In the same pan, add a little oil and sauté the garlic, ginger, and pickled peppers until fragrant. Add the pre-fried eggplant and stir well.

5. Pour in the sauce and continue to stir until it thickens. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Stir-Fried Potato, Eggplant, and Green Pepper

Ingredients: 1 potato, 2 eggplants, 1 green pepper, cooking oil, soy sauce, sugar, salt, green onions, garlic, cornstarch, and broth.

How to make it:

1. Peel and cut the potato and eggplant into irregular chunks. Tear the green pepper into pieces with your hands.

2. Heat oil in a pan to 70% heat. First, deep fry the potato cubes until golden and slightly transparent. Set aside.

3. Fry the eggplant in the same oil until golden brown. Then, fry the green pepper and set all aside.

4. In a separate pan, heat a little oil and sauté the green onions and garlic. Add in the broth, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Toss in the potatoes, eggplant, and green pepper, and let it simmer for a bit.

5. Add cornstarch mixed with water and cook on high heat until the sauce thickens. Serve hot!

Braised Clams

Ingredients: 500g clams, 35g chili peppers, 8g green onions, 8g ginger, 8g garlic, 15g cilantro, 10g chili sauce, 15g rice drinks, 5g dried chili peppers, 5g salt, 5g chicken powder, 4g white pepper powder, 4g sesame oil.

How to make it:

1. Soak the clams in water for 3 hours to let them spit out any sand.

2. Heat a pan and fry the dried chili peppers. Add the clams and a splash of rice drinks.

3. Add the chili peppers, green onions, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings. Cover the pan and cook until the clams open.

4. Before serving, drizzle a little sesame oil and add cilantro. Enjoy!

Stir-Fried River Shrimp with Leeks

Ingredients: Sliced garlic, leeks cut into sections, river shrimp cleaned and dried with paper towels.

How to make it:

1. Heat oil in a pan until it's very hot. Fry the river shrimp until they're crispy.

2. Take them out and set them aside.

3. In the same pan, heat some oil, sauté the garlic until fragrant, then add the leeks and cook them until they soften. Add soy sauce, white sugar, and pepper for flavor.

4. Add the shrimp back in, toss everything together, and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt to taste, and serve.

Braised Meat Belly

Ingredients: Meat belly with skin (1 piece), 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 tbsp cooking drinks, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 pieces of star anise, 1 piece of dried tangerine peel, 1 piece of cinnamon stick, 2 bay leaves, water, a pinch of salt.

How to make it:

1. Wash the meat belly and cut it into small blocks. Boil them in water for 15 minutes to remove blood, then let them cool.

2. Heat a pan with some oil and cook the meat belly until it turns golden and crispy. Set it aside.

3. In a clean pot, add sugar and stir it until it turns bubbly. Add the meat belly, soy sauce, and cooking drinks. Stir for 2 minutes.

4. Add some water, star anise, tangerine peel, cinnamon, bay leaves, and a pinch of salt. Let it simmer for 1 hour on low heat.

5. The meat should be tender, and the sauce rich and flavorful. Serve it hot!

These 6 dishes are perfect companions for a bowl of rice. They're simple to make, yet packed with flavor that will impress anyone at the table! Try them out, and we promise you'll love how easy it is to transform a simple meal into something extraordinary. What's your favorite rice dish? Let us know in the comments! Happy cooking, Lykkers!