Asian cuisine: A trip around the South East

When one wants a new and exotic dish, what cuisine comes to mind first? Asian, right? That is not surprising at all as it’s a widely popular and delicious cuisine. There is this kind of fascination and devotion to not only the recipes the Asian continent offers, but also the cooking methods, which may be innovative to some.

Nowadays, it is easier and easier to find gourmet Asian restaurants locally, and it has become increasingly popular to take their methods to home kitchens.

Coming to be so widely known and consumed, it is a bit unfair to keep calling it Asian cuisine and not knowing anything about the different groups and cultures that are included in this umbrella term. That is why this article takes a trip around the most popular cuisines that contribute to the bigger term.

Common features in Asian cuisine

In general, Asian cuisine came to be known under this name because they the foods from the wide-ranging regions share some things. For example, most cuisines in Asia have similar cooking methods. Take, for example, coconut rice: its origin is not certain, however, there will most probably be a particular version of it according to the country visited or honoured. To try this dish, visit this link and follow the recipe: https://mahatmarice.com/recipes/easy-coconut-rice/.

Moreover, Asian cuisines share the spices they use and, in short, the ingredients. This makes sense, although the continent offers not only different physical features, but different cultures and customs.

Chinese cuisine

Soups, noodles and rice – these are the things one thinks about when considering Chinese gastronomy, as it comes from the Eastern part of Asia. And that’s alright, because they owe their popularity largely to these dishes.

Rice is, of course, largely produced in this country and, as such, it is used in as many guises as one can imagine. Another element very common in this cuisine is noodles and, just like rice, they have come up with many ways to include them in their diets.

Seasoning in this cuisine is unique. Some traditional elements in the group are ginger, cilantro and spring onions, and cinnamon is also quite frequently found in these recipes.

Thai cuisine

Coming from the southeast, this is almost a classic in any big city. Thai cuisine is spicy as it is fresh and it has one particular characteristic: its fragrance. Balanced rich dishes are created using vegetables and spices, with jasmine rice being a classic choice for many recipes.

It is very common to find Thai food in the street, both in their country and in the big cities around the world. There, one can buy fried dishes and delicious desserts.

Indian cuisine

Taking a turn to the south, one finds this varied and rich cuisine. Indian food is spicy with a clear tendency to use a variety of herbs and spices in all their dishes. In this case, meat-based dishes are often found together with lentils and a good share of vegetables. As for the presentation, it is not uncommon to find salad-styled meals, where all the ingredients are mixed ahead of eating.

Indian cuisine also makes good use of coconut milk, yogurt and dairy products. This cuisine in particular might be one of the most savoury and flavour-packed options.

The secret to Asian cuisine

Of course, there are many more groups included in Asian cuisine – this is just a first approximation. For many, Asian cuisine is the go-to for an exciting meal, but one can take the experience up a notch by fully diving into their customs and traditions. It is not always about the ingredients, it is also about the tools and the methods.

The secret to Asian cuisine is to take it as a whole experience: exploring, learning and experimenting will allow these rich and diverse cuisines to sweep diners off their feet.

The editorial unit