Asian cuisine is a huge part of the culture and history of Asia. However, there are some food commonalities between these various cultures. In Asian cooking, the emphasis is on smaller portions, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and small amounts of meat.
While there are a few similarities that bind Asian cuisines, the differences are based primarily on location. East Asian cuisine encompasses Chinese and Japanese cuisines.Â
Japanese cuisine focuses on the quality of ingredients, and foods are prepared more simply but with a great deal of finesse. Japanese cuisine is also very healthy, and they are known for eating varieties of fresh fish. Chinese cuisine consists of many different styles such as Shandong or Cantonese. Chinese cuisine is most famous for its Peking Duck, steamed buns, as well as dumplings. China is also renowned for its many varieties of tea such as oolong and green tea. Stir-frying foods are essential in many Chinese traditional dishes.
South Asian cuisine includes the exotic flavors of India, a nation in which street food culture remains ever popular. On a more global scale, a popular type of South Asian food is Thai. Pad Thai is universally recognized as the national dish of Thailand, and the Philippines is well known for the adobo cooking style which is a preparation of chicken or pork, braised slowly in oil, vinegar, garlic, and soy sauce until very tender and dry. In Vietnam, pho is of course the national specialty of its country. It is a type of Vietnamese soup that usually consists of bone broth, various spices, thinly sliced beef, and thin rice noodles.
Asian cuisine is flavorful and exotic. The clever use of cooking techniques and spices has transformed what were originally humble food dishes into specialties that are now known all around the world. If you ever travel to Asia, you will not only go on a tour of wildly exotic countries but foods that are distinctly unique from country to country.