Book excerpt: One of the great cuisines of the world, the cooking of the Sichuan (Szechwan) region of south-west China is legendary for its sophistication and diversity, but is known in the West for just a few dishes. Real Sichuanese food is unlike any other. Famously spicy and exciting (thanks to the liberal use of red chillies and Suchuan pepper), its twenty-three distinct combinations of flavour, applied to a wide variety of ingredients, create an extraordinary range of foods - including many cooler dishes. With Fuchsia Dunlop's fascinating, practical and comprehensive book you can now create authentic Sichaun dishes at home. Twice-cooked Pork, Pock-marked Mother Chen's Beancurd, Sichuanese hotpot, spicy 'Zhong' Dumplings - these are just a few of the delicious recipes to be found in this definitive guide to an often overlooked cuisine.