油yóu多duō不bù壞huài菜cài

What does 油多不壞菜 (yóu duō bù huài cài) mean?

油多不壞菜 (yóu duō bù huài cài) is a colloquial saying (súyǔ 俗語). Word for word it reads "Extra oil won't ruin a dish." In use it means: In Chinese cooking, generous use of oil enhances flavor and texture rather than spoiling the food. By extension, having more resources or preparation than strictly necessary provides a cushion against failure. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Fire note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Rooster.

Literally: "Extra oil won't ruin a dish."

The reading

The frugal instinct says to use less, but the experienced wok cook knows that a generous pour of oil serves multiple purposes. Oil prevents sticking, conducts heat evenly, carries aromatics across the surface of every ingredient, and gives vegetables a sheen that signals freshness. Skimping produces dry, stuck, uneven results. This kitchen wisdom has a broader application: investing a little more than the minimum, whether in materials, preparation time, or the quality of tools, rarely causes problems and frequently makes the difference between adequate and excellent.

What kind of proverb it is

• Typesúyǔ 俗語
• FocusPresent-minded
• Element火 Fire
• Zodiac tie雞 Year of the Rooster

Source Chinese kitchen folk proverb

Sits beside

Keep reading

Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Wealth, Work & Diligence, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Rooster, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.