Chinese gastronomy
Contents
- 1 Typical ingredients of Chinese cuisine
- 2 Some recipes of Chinese cuisine
- 3 What to order in a Chinese restaurant
- 4 Beverages and desserts typical of China
- 5 Chopsticks, Chinese eating utensils
The Chinese culinary tradition enjoys worldwide popularity, being one of the most appreciated worldwide . Given the expansion of Chinese restaurants, few are those who have not had any contact with the typical food of the Asian country. Most of those who try repeat, and many even become lovers.
Before even entering to value the raw material or the culinary procedures to which it is subjected, Chinese cuisine deserves respect for being the result of an ancient tradition . Chinese cuisine seeks balance, differentiating even between yin and yang foods that must be responsible for providing all the nutrients the body needs. Like other diets, such as the Mediterranean, it promotes healthy and balanced eating habits, serving the concept of yin and yang as the basis of known diets such as macrobiotics.
But in addition to the balance between nutrients to contribute to the organism, Chinese cuisine also seeks total harmony in terms of flavors , the basic ones being sweet, salty, acid, bitter and spicy. The care that is put into the elaborations, even fulfilling codes according to the event and the context in which the food is being served, makes Chinese cuisine a culinary experience for those who enjoy it.
Typical ingredients of Chinese cuisine
China is a very large country and agriculture is part of the base of its economy. Of the total arable land that the country owns, a large part is concentrated in the humid monsoon areas, which include these emblematic rice plantations that are in the ideals of the world population in terms of Chinese landscapes.
Rice, yes, is a staple food, but so are wheat, corn or the famous soy , so present in many of its dishes. In addition, China supplies much of the world with cereals, meat and fruits, among other non-culinary ingredients.
The good use of condiments is a fundamental pillar of Chinese cuisine. In many of their dishes there is no lack of curry, understood the concept as a mixture of spices. Among other varieties, the Five Spices Powder is famous. Bean sprouts, seaweed, ginger, sesame oil or rice wine are also ingredients widely used in Chinese cuisine, not forgetting rice noodles.
Many of these condiments, which were previously only used in Chinese restaurants, are now part of any kitchen in Western countries. Who does not consume soy sauce or Chinese noodles?
Some recipes of Chinese cuisine
Chinese food establishments are characterized by a peculiar decoration, exotic to our eyes, that which combines gold and red with other warm colors , with the presence of animals such as the dragon. Given how fast they serve, their staff seems to be the most disciplined. However, you don't always feel like eating out, or the economy doesn't always allow it.
It is always a good time to prepare the famous sweet and sour pork at home. Pork, flour, red green pepper, onion, carrot, pineapple in its juice, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup and cornstarch are required. It is about cutting the meat into pieces and passing them through flour, then frying them. The vegetable also needs to be cut and sauteed so that, when it is ready, add the pineapple. Then, you have to match the vegetables with the meat.
The last thing would be to add the sauce , which is done as follows: mix in a saucepan the pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey, vinegar and ketchup and heat. Then you have to add some cornstarch and stir. The taste of the dish can be corrected by adding some salt or sugar.
For those who do not want to start without a good salad , the Chinese are delicious and easy to prepare. Although each one uses the ingredients they like best, we suggest you use lettuce, bean sprouts and strips of ham , a mixture to which you can then add the sweet and sour sauce. You have already learned how to make it.
Chinese noodles , meanwhile, are ideal as a main dish or as an entree. You can cook them with chicken and vegetables such as zucchini, green pepper or onion, and it is only about hydrating or boiling them for a short time (as specified on the package) and then adding the meat with the vegetables, all already cooked. Don't forget to add a dash of soy sauce.
What to order in a Chinese restaurant
The expansion of Chinese cuisine has caused chefs to adapt the dishes to the taste of consumers in the West. In any case, there are dishes that must be missed if you ask them if we have the opportunity to go to a Chinese.
If you want to really eat as one of them you should always start with white rice . It is common to find it sauteed with mushrooms, meat or vegetables, even if it is not the traditional way.
After the rice, the next dish to try are dumplings or empanadillas , and yes, you can also opt for the classic spring roll. In all three cases they can be stuffed with meat or vegetables, and they are a great option to start the meal. They are usually served with hoisin sauce, soy sauce or even spicy.
Soy is a fundamental ingredient in Chinese cuisine, proof of this is that one of the most valued foods is tofu , also present in other oriental cuisines. In recent years it has become one of the best alternatives for vegetarians, since its protein content is very high and is a good substitute for meat.
As for vegetables, you shouldn't visit a Chinese and not ask for eggplants . Boiled green leafy vegetables are also a typical dish.
In meats, the most common is pork , although veal is gaining more and more followers. Inside the birds, the chicken but especially the duck , the favorite for the Chinese.
Drinks and desserts typical of China
In the kitchen of the West it is usual to finish the meal with a sweet dish as a dessert. On the other hand, in oriental cuisine, and especially Chinese, we can enjoy sweet or sweet and sour dishes throughout the meal.
In many Chinese restaurants, the dessert menu does not include any typical oriental dessert, although few, there are.
Many of the Chinese desserts include, how could it be otherwise, rice in its preparation. That is the case of one named Tom Yuen , very popular in Hong Kong. They are rice balls stuffed with mango and covered with fruit juices . Another dessert with rice is the rice pudding.
Almost at the same level of popularity as desserts with rice is the fruit salad with almond jelly topping . And if what you are looking for is a sweeter option, you can not stop trying the fried bananas with caramel . The last dessert to highlight are the well-known lucky cookies.
The shot they serve in Chinese restaurants is the perfect excuse to talk about drinks in China. The most consumed beverage in China is tea , but others are also taken, such as Baijiu , a liquor distilled from rice or other cereals that has been consumed for thousands of years. Huangjiu, meanwhile, is Chinese wine , it is produced from rice, millet or wheat but instead of distilled, it is fermented. And his graduation is lower than in the case of Baijiu.
Chopsticks, Chinese eating utensils
The last sign that Chinese cuisine has been "westernized" is the fact that it is becoming less common to find oriental restaurants where chopsticks are used . Unless it is a restaurant of a high gastronomic level or the place is in a neighborhood with a high percentage of Chinese population who come to it frequently, chopsticks are almost a tool in extinction.
Chopsticks are the cutlery that oriental people use to eat . For those who do not have experience, eating with chopsticks can be an odyssey, but the truth is that their use has a practical sense, most oriental dishes are eaten properly with these utensils.
There are some tricks and some rules for eating with chopsticks, such as: they should not come into contact with the mouth , between bites they should not rest their sticks on the palm rest, the chopsticks should not cross each other and finally, do not know You must prick the food with them.
It can be very fun to learn to eat with chopsticks, it is also about approaching in a more faithful way to oriental food.