Oriental cuisine is considered one of the oldest since history tells us that it has existed for 3 thousand years.
When
we talk about oriental
cuisine, we mainly refer to that from China, Japan, Thailand
and India. Among the notable characteristics of oriental cuisine, we
find:
- Use of healthy and fresh
ingredients
- High consumption of fruits and
vegetables
- Use of easily digestible cooking
methods (steaming, stewing, sautéing)
- Low consumption of sweets
- High consumption of rice
- Use of sauces, condiments and
spices
- Great presence of vegan and
vegetarian dishes
Given
the main characteristics, it is not difficult to intuit that it is one of the
healthiest cuisines, and it is also curious to know that the use of chopsticks
helps you eat more slowly, thus facilitating digestion.
5 curiosities about oriental gastronomy
- Chinese chopsticks emerged before
the fork and spoon.
- In Japan, it is men who prepare
sushi, because the temperature of men's hands is lower than that of women
and in this way, the flavour of the fish is not altered.
- Meals are not usually accompanied
by drinks. Only at the end is tea, broth or soup served.
- The use of a knife at the table
is frowned upon, as it is considered a weapon of war.
- Soy sauce is for fish and not
rice.
Typical ingredients of oriental
cuisine
The
star ingredient of oriental
cuisine are cereals, among which we find rice (the most
consumed) and bread made with wheat flour, rice or chickpeas. Legumes are also
consumed in abundance in the East, especially soybeans, which are used to make
well-known foods such as tofu, tempeh and soy sauce.
Within
the category of legumes, the most common ones also appear in oriental cuisine dishes:
beans, chickpeas and lentils.
As
we have said, one of the characteristics of oriental cuisine is
the high consumption of fruits and vegetables and, among the latter, we
frequently find sea vegetables (seaweed), used especially in Japanese dishes.
As
for meat and fish, not all types of meat are consumed, especially due to
religious culture, so it is typical to find meat from less traditional animals
compared to Western
cuisine, such as frogs, insects, larvae, etc. On the other
hand, the types of fish used are similar to those of Western cuisine: salmon,
tuna and shrimp mainly.
Finally,
the use of spices is very common in Indian and Indonesian cuisine, where curry,
cardamom and cinnamon usually star in most dishes.
Although
it is not about ingredients, it is also worth noting that in the Eastern
tradition, it is common to use different types of utensils, both to cook and to
eat the delicious dishes of this culture.
Some
examples of typical utensils of oriental cuisine are the bamboo mat, for
preparing sushi; Chinese chopsticks for eating; the Shamoji, a paddle to mix
the rice and prevent it from sticking; the Hangiri, a wooden bowl used next to
the Shamoji, where rice is mixed; the bamboo pot, to steam vegetables or the
famous gyozas; and the Suribachi, a ceramic mortar used to grind and crush
ingredients.
At Sizzling Shihai, you
can enjoy a rich buffet/lunch of typical dishes of oriental cuisine, among
others:
- Chinese salad
- Spring rolls
- Chinese fried bread
- Prawn bread
- Rice or noodles are three
delicacies
- All kinds of sushi