What Life Costs in China 🇨🇳 | Cheap Local Market Haul & Easy Snacks (Must Try!)

On a rare sunny day in Chengdu, I’m taking you to a local Chinese market. Experience the most authentic local life, from homegrown fresh produce to the unbelievable price of 8 corns for just $1.38. I also shared a "big mistake" I made—regretting not buying more of those amazing plums! Back home, I prepared some classic Chengdu home-cooked dishes using my $20 market haul, including scrambled eggs with green peppers and my favorite childhood snack: deep-fried peanuts. No rice needed—just a simple meal and a little wine. This is what I call a cozy, contented life. —————————— 1.Deep-Fried Peanuts Recipe Ingredients Raw peanuts, appropriate amount of cooking oil, a little salt or sugar Cooking Steps 1. Dry the peanuts thoroughly after washing. Make sure no moisture is left on the surface to avoid oil splattering during frying. 2. Pour cooking oil into a cold pot with the oil level about 1 centimeter above the peanuts. Put in the dried peanuts and one garlic clove without turning on the heat. 3. Turn on medium-low heat and stir the peanuts constantly for even heating. Keep an eye on the garlic clove throughout the frying process. 4. Remove the peanuts from the oil immediately when the garlic turns golden and light brown. The whole frying process takes 6 to 8 minutes. Do not wait for the garlic to turn dark yellow, because the residual heat will burn the peanuts. 5. Spread the fried peanuts flat to cool down and avoid stacking them. Season with salt while they are hot. Add a small amount of sugar if you prefer a slightly sweet taste. 6. Store the peanuts in an airtight jar after they cool completely and turn crispy to prevent moisture and softening. Flavor Variations 1. Salt and Pepper Peanuts: Mix the peanuts with salt and white pepper powder. 2. Honey Butter Peanuts: Toss the freshly fried peanuts with melted butter and a little honey. Key Tips 1. Always fry peanuts in cold oil over medium-low heat to prevent burnt exterior and undercooked interior. 2. Completely dry the peanuts before frying to prevent hot oil splashing. 3. Judge the peanuts’ doneness by the color of the garlic clove for a perfect result every time. -------- 2.Scrambled Eggs with Green Peppers (Homemade Recipe) Ingredients 2-3 green peppers, 3 eggs, cooking oil, salt, monosodium glutamate Cooking Steps 1. Prepare ingredients: Remove the seeds from green peppers, wash them clean, and cut into chunks or shreds. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add a little salt and stir well for later use. 2. Fry green peppers: Heat a small amount of oil in the pan until it smokes. Add the green peppers and stir-fry on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with a little salt and cook until the peppers are tender-crisp and slightly soft. 3. Add eggs: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the green peppers. Wait for the eggs to set completely, then flip them to cook the other side. Add a little monosodium glutamate and mix well. Take out the dish when both sides of the eggs turn light brown. Key Summary Use high heat throughout the cooking process. Heat the oil thoroughly. Fry the green peppers first before adding the eggs. ------ 3.Steamed & Mixed Eggplant, Pepper and Tomato Recipe Ingredients Eggplant, green pepper, tomato Cooking Steps Steam the eggplants and tomatoes over water until fully cooked. Pan-fry the green peppers until blistered and charred. Chop all the prepared vegetables finely and place them in a bowl. Add minced garlic, chopped green onions, sesame oil, light soy sauce, salt and chili powder. Pour hot oil over the seasonings and stir everything well to combine. —————————— 00:00 Highlights & Preview 00:17 Arriving: 8 Corns for $1.38 02:38 Market Street Food 03:47 Authentic Local Breakfast 05:01 Shopping: A Regrettable Mistake 06:53 Fresh Vegetable Haul 08:41 Treasure Hunting: Farm Eggs & Figs 10:29 Tallying Up the $20 Haul 12:07 Dinner: Eggplant & Tomatoes 14:44 Easy Snack: Deep-Fried Peanuts 17:34 Scrambled Eggs with Peppers 19:03 Final Seasoning & Plating 22:24 Dinner Time: Cozy Contentment ———————— #LifeInChina #food #markethaul #WhatLifeCostsInChina #ChineseFood #SlowLiving #streetfoodchina #streetfood