Asian cuisine is very rich and varied, as there are many regions that make up this country with ancient traditions Restaurant. Many people think of this place as a source of exotic dishes , and the truth is that you will encounter a very different food culture if you visit. Next we are going to tell you about some curiosities about Asian cuisine and then we are going to focus on the Shanghai region, in the east of the country.
Curiosities of Asian cuisine
The first thing we are going to tell you, although I am sure you already know it, is that in China we eat with chopsticks. But not only that: the Asian are very scrupulous in this regard, so you should take from the common plate everything that you have touched with your chopsticks.
Furthermore, it is not acceptable to poke food with a toothpick or pick it up with your hand , so we recommend that you practice the technique before entering the Asian country.
Regarding the ingredients used in cooking , in China it is very common to eat vegetables, which gives its inhabitants very good intestinal health. Likewise, they prefer fresh and natural products to frozen ones, and take advantage of all the food, including bones and cartilage.
Do you want us to talk to you about a specific ingredient? It turns out that tofu, made from soybeans and highly valued in the vegetarian diet, was invented in China. Indeed, it is very popular in the country.
Finally, we have to tell you that it is common in the country for the drink to be hot. The meal is not usually accompanied with water, but with soup or tea, and these are always served at the end.
Cocina de Huaiyang
Next we are going to focus on the region of the eastern coast of China, that is, the one that covers Shanghai and its surroundings. It is an area very rich in both agriculture and fish, so it is common for fresh vegetables and seafood such as shrimp and crabs to be used in cooking.
In fact, did you know that this region is known for offering the best crab in the country? Let’s see some of the characteristic elements of this region.
Red cuisine and hong-shao
Red cuisine is very characteristic of this region of China and basically consists of simmering food in soy sauce. In this way, the food takes on the red color that gives its name to the technique.
Another method used in the area is hong-shao or red braising . It is a sautéing method in which the ingredients are slowly cooked with a sauce made with rice wine and soy sauce.
Basic ingredients
You should know that in Huaiyang gastronomy a lot of importance is given to the soups that serve as an accompaniment to the main dish, leading to very interesting recipes being devised. Lard and peanut oil also occupy an important place in the kitchen.
Finally, as we told you, vegetables, fish and seafood play a great role in many traditional dishes.
exotic dishes
One of the star dishes in Shanghai and surrounding areas is soy duck . A curiosity about this is that it takes a long time to prepare, since the duck is marinated in soy sauce for three days and then steamed for as many hours.
However, there are more dishes you should try in the area:
Xiaolongbao , a ravioli whose filling is soup.
Centenary eggs, a dish for which chicken or duck eggs are used.
Dim sum, classic steamed dumplings.
Gu lo yuk , or sweet and sour beef.
Da zha xie or steamed crab, using one of the area’s star ingredients.
Smoked fish fillet.
Sweet and sour pork chops.
Of course, these are just some of the dishes that can be consumed in the area. As we told you, fish, seafood and vegetables are very present in local gastronomy due to the characteristics of the region. However, there are many other delicacies that you cannot miss if you travel to this part of China.
We have already explained to you some curiosities about Asian cuisine, in general, and about the cuisine of the region around Shanghai, specifically. This way you will know which dishes you can’t miss if you make a trip to the area.
In any case, if you dare to recreate any of these recipes at home, you will need a well-equipped kitchen. Do not hesitate to come to us to fulfill this objective, and we always offer you the best qualities.