Southeast Asian Cuisine
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This is a list of Asian cuisines, by region. A cuisine is a characteristic style of
cooking Cooking, cookery, or culinary arts is the art, science and craft of using heat to Outline of food preparation, prepare food for consumption. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely, from grilling food over an open fire to using electric ...
practices and traditions, usually associated with a specific
culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
or region. Asia, being the largest, most populous and culturally diverse
continent A continent is any of several large landmasses. Generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, up to seven geographical regions are commonly regarded as continents. Ordered from largest in area to smallest, these seven ...
, has a great diversity of cuisines associated with its different regions.


Central Asian cuisine

* Central Asian cuisine includes food from
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
,
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the east. ...
,
Tajikistan Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...
,
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...
and
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
. **
Bukharan Jewish cuisine Bukharan Jewish cuisine is the traditional cuisine originating from the Bukharian Jewish community of Central Asia, who now mostly reside in Bukharian Jews in Israel, Israel, and the Bukharan Jews, United States. Overview The cooking of Bukharan ...
- cuisine of the
Bukharan Jews Bukharan Jews ( Bukharian: יהודיאני בוכארא/яҳудиёни Бухоро, ''Yahudiyoni Bukhoro''; he, יהודי בוכרה, ''Yehudey Bukhara''), in modern times also called Bukharian Jews ( Bukharian: יהודיאני בוכאר ...
with great influence from Uzbek cuisine. **
Kazakh cuisine Traditional Kazakh cuisine is the traditional food of the Kazakh people. It is focused on mutton and horse meat, as well as various milk products. For hundreds of years, Kazakhs were herders who raised fat-tailed sheep, Bactrian camels, and hors ...
– cuisine of
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
. Traditional Kazakh cuisine revolves around
mutton Lamb, hogget, and mutton, generically sheep meat, are the meat of domestic sheep, ''Ovis aries''. A sheep in its first year is a lamb and its meat is also lamb. The meat from sheep in their second year is hogget. Older sheep meat is mutton. Gen ...
and
horse meat Horse meat forms a significant part of the culinary traditions of many countries, particularly in Eurasia. The eight countries that consume the most horse meat consume about 4.3 million horses a year. For the majority of humanity's early existen ...
, as well as various
milk products Dairy products or milk products, also known as lacticinia, are food products made from (or containing) milk. The most common dairy animals are cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe. Dairy products include common grocery store food items in th ...
. For hundreds of years, Kazakhs were herders who raised fat-tailed sheep, Bactrian camels, and horses, relying on these animals for transportation, clothing, and food. ***
Kazakh wine Kazakh wine is wine made in Kazakhstan. The roots of the Kazakh wine industry can be traced to the 7th century AD when grapevines ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 79 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. ...
**
Kyrgyz cuisine Kyrgyz cuisine is the cuisine of the Kyrgyz, who comprise a majority of the population of Kyrgyzstan. The cuisine is similar in many aspects to that of their neighbors. Traditional Kyrgyz food revolves around mutton, beef and horse meat, as ...
– originating in
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the east. ...
, is similar in many respects to that of its neighbors, particularly Kazakh cuisine. Traditional Kyrgyz food includes mutton and horse meat, as well as milk products. The cooking techniques and major ingredients have been strongly influenced by the nation's nomadic way of life. **
Tajik cuisine Tajik cuisine is a traditional cuisine of Tajikistan, and has much in common with Russian, Afghan, Iranian and Uzbek cuisines. ''Plov'' ( pilaf) ( tg, палав, uz, palov), also called ''osh'' ( tg, ош), is the national dish in Tajikistan, ...
– traditional cuisine of
Tajikistan Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...
, has much in common with Afghan, Russian, and Uzbek cuisines. ''
Plov Pilaf ( US spelling) or pilau ( UK spelling) is a rice dish, or in some regions, a wheat dish, whose recipe usually involves cooking in stock or broth, adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat, and employing some techni ...
'', also called ''
osh Osh (Kyrgyz: Ош, romanised Osh; uz, O‘sh/Ўш) is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country and often referred to as the "capital of the south". It is the oldest city in the country (e ...
'', is the national dish in Tajikistan, as in other countries in the region. It consists of chunks of mutton,
carrot The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in color, though purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild carrot, ''Daucus carota'', nat ...
s and rice fried in a large cast-iron cauldron similar to a Dutch oven.
Green tea Green tea is a type of tea that is made from '' Camellia sinensis'' leaves and buds that have not undergone the same withering and oxidation process which is used to make oolong teas and black teas. Green tea originated in China, and since the ...
is the national drink. Traditional Tajik meals start with a spread of dried fruit, nuts, halva, and other sweets arrayed on the table in small dishes, and then progress to soup and meat, before finishing with plov. **
Turkmen cuisine Turkmen cuisine, the cuisine of Turkmenistan, is similar to that of the rest of Central Asia. ''Plov'' (pilaf) is the staple, everyday food, which is also served at celebrations. It consists of chunks of mutton, carrots and rice fried in a larg ...
– cuisine of
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...
. It is similar to that of the rest of
Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
. Plov is the staple, everyday food, which is also served at celebrations. Turkmenistan is perhaps most famous for its
melon A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The ...
s, especially in the former
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, where it was once the major supplier. Meals are almost always served with
naan Naan ( fa, نان, nān, ur, , ps, نان, ug, نان, hi, नान, bn, নান) is a leavened, oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread which is found in the cuisines mainly of Western Asia, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, ...
, Central Asian
flat bread A flatbread is a bread made with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pizza and pita bread. Flatbreads ra ...
, known locally as "çörek". **
Uzbek cuisine Uzbek cuisine shares the culinary traditions of peoples across Central Asia. There is a great deal of grain farming in Uzbekistan, so breads and noodles are of importance, and Uzbek cuisine has been characterized as "noodle-rich". Mutton is a pop ...
– cuisine influenced by local
agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
, as in most nations. There is a great deal of grain farming in Uzbekistan, so bread and noodles are of importance, and Uzbek cuisine has been characterized as "noodle-rich". Mutton is a popular variety of meat due to the abundance of sheep in the country and it is a part of various Uzbek dishes. Uzbekistan's signature dish is '' palov'' (''
osh Osh (Kyrgyz: Ош, romanised Osh; uz, O‘sh/Ўш) is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country and often referred to as the "capital of the south". It is the oldest city in the country (e ...
'') made with rice, pieces of meat, grated carrots and onions. Horsemeat platter.jpg,
Horse meat Horse meat forms a significant part of the culinary traditions of many countries, particularly in Eurasia. The eight countries that consume the most horse meat consume about 4.3 million horses a year. For the majority of humanity's early existen ...
platter.
Kazakh cuisine Traditional Kazakh cuisine is the traditional food of the Kazakh people. It is focused on mutton and horse meat, as well as various milk products. For hundreds of years, Kazakhs were herders who raised fat-tailed sheep, Bactrian camels, and hors ...
revolves around mutton, horse meat and various
milk products Dairy products or milk products, also known as lacticinia, are food products made from (or containing) milk. The most common dairy animals are cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe. Dairy products include common grocery store food items in th ...
. Tajik dastarkhan meal.jpg, A Tajik feast Sturgeon Kebab (2887202689).jpg,
Sturgeon Sturgeon is the common name for the 27 species of fish belonging to the family Acipenseridae. The earliest sturgeon fossils date to the Late Cretaceous The Late Cretaceous (100.5–66 Ma) is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretace ...
kebabs cooking in
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...
Uzbek Manti (bright).jpg, Uzbek manti


East Asian cuisine

East Asian cuisine has evolved with common usage of oils, fats and sauces in the preparation of dishes. *
Chinese cuisine Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many ot ...
– Traditional
Chinese cuisine Chinese cuisine encompasses the numerous cuisines originating from China, as well as overseas cuisines created by the Chinese diaspora. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many ot ...
s include
Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
,
Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...
,
Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
,
Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to ...
,
Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...
,
Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
,
Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...
, and
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
,"Fujian Cuisine.Beautyfujian.com
. Accessed June 2011.
all of which are defined and termed per the respective regions within China where they developed. A number of different styles contribute to Chinese cuisine, but perhaps the best known and most influential are the Sichuan, Shandong, Jiangsu and Guangdong cuisines. These styles are distinctive from one another due to factors such as available resources,
climate Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologic ...
,
geography Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
,
history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
, cooking techniques and lifestyle. Many Chinese traditional regional cuisines rely on basic methods of
food preservation Food preservation includes processes that make food more resistant to microorganism growth and slow the oxidation of fats. This slows down the decomposition and rancidification process. Food preservation may also include processes that inhibit ...
such as
drying Drying is a mass transfer process consisting of the removal of water or another solvent by evaporation from a solid, semi-solid or liquid. This process is often used as a final production step before selling or packaging products. To be consider ...
, salting,
pickling Pickling is the process of preserving or extending the shelf life of food by either anaerobic fermentation in brine or immersion in vinegar. The pickling procedure typically affects the food's texture and flavor. The resulting food is cal ...
and fermentation.J. Li & Y. Hsieh. ''Traditional Chinese Food Technology and Cuisine''. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ** Chinese cuisine originated in what is known as the Eight Great Traditions, though it can be generalized into northern styles that feature oils and strong flavors derived from ingredients such as vinegar and garlic, while southern styles tend to favor fresh ingredients that are lightly prepared. It has become widespread throughout many other parts of the world — from
Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
to the
Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...
, Australia,
Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...
and
Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...
. In recent years, connoisseurs of Chinese cuisine have also sprouted in
Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russ ...
and
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
. American Chinese cuisine and
Canadian Chinese food Canadian Chinese cuisine (french: Cuisine chinoise canadienne) is a popular style of Canadian cooking original to take-out and dine-in eateries found across Canada. It was the first form of commercially available Chinese food in Canada. This co ...
are popular examples of local varieties. Local ingredients would be adopted while maintaining the style and preparation technique. **
Wine in China Wine ( Chinese: ''pútáojiǔ'' lit. "grape alcohol") has a long history in China. Although long overshadowed by ''huangjiu'' (sometimes translated as "yellow wine") and the much stronger distilled spirit ''baijiu'', wine consumption has g ...
** Great Traditions *** Eight Great Traditions – Regional cultural differences vary greatly amongst the different regions of China, giving rise to eight main regional
cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
s, or Eight Great Traditions (八大菜系, Bā Dà Cài Xì) ***#
Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
is derived from the native cooking styles of the
Huangshan Mountains Huangshan (),Bernstein, pp. 125–127. literally meaning the Yellow Mountain(s), is a mountain range in southern Anhui Province in eastern China. It was originally called “Yishan”, and it was renamed because of a legend that Emperor Xuany ...
region in China and is similar to Jiangsu cuisine. It is known for the use of wild herbs, from both land and sea, and simple methods of preparation. ***#
Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...
comes from Guangdong Province in southern China.Hsiung, Deh-Ta. Simonds, Nina. Lowe, Jason. 005(2005). The food of China: a journey for food lovers. Bay Books. . p17. Due to
Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
's location on the southern coast of China, fresh live seafood is prominent in Cantonese cuisine. Canton has long been a trading port and many imported foods and ingredients are used in Cantonese cuisine.
Char siu ''Char siu'' () is a Chinese, specifically Cantonese–style of barbecued pork. Originating in Guangdong, it is eaten with rice, used as an ingredient for noodle dishes or in stir fries, and as a filling for '' chasiu baau'' or '' pineapple ...
is a popular way to flavor and prepare pork in Cantonese cuisine. ***#
Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
is one of the native Chinese cuisines derived from the native cooking style of the
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...
, China. Many diverse
seafood Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including fish and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of molluscs (e.g. bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters and mussels, and cephalopods such as octopus an ...
s and woodland delicacies are used, including a myriad of fish, shellfish and turtles, along with
edible mushroom Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruit bodies of several species of macrofungi (fungi which bear fruiting structures that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye). They can appear either below ground (hypogeous) or above ground ...
s and
bamboo shoot Bamboo shoots or bamboo sprouts are the edible shoots (new bamboo culms that come out of the ground) of many bamboo species including ''Bambusa vulgaris'' and ''Phyllostachys edulis''. They are used as vegetables in numerous Asian dishes and ...
s, provided by the coastal and mountainous regions of Fujian. ***#
Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to ...
, sometimes called Xiang cuisine, consists of the cuisines of the
Xiang River The Xiang River is the chief river of the Dongting Lake, Lake Dongting Drainage basin, drainage system of the middle Yangtze, the largest river in Hunan, Hunan Province, China. It is the 2nd largest tributary (after Min River (Sichuan), Min River ...
region,
Dongting Lake Dongting Lake () is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan Province, China. It is a flood basin of the Yangtze River, so its volume depends on the season. The provinces of Hubei and Hunan are named after their location relative to the la ...
and western
Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to ...
Province, in China. The cuisine is well known for its hot spicy flavor, fresh aroma and deep color. Common cooking techniques include stewing, frying, pot-roasting, braising, and smoking. Due to the high agricultural output of the region, ingredients for Hunan dishes are many and varied. ***#
Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...
is derived from the native cooking styles of the
Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...
region in China. Food texture is often soft, but not to the point of mushy or falling apart. Other characters include the strict selection of ingredients according to the seasons, emphasis on the matching color and shape of each dish and emphasis on using soup to improve the flavor. ***#
Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
in Chinese is more commonly known as Lu cuisine, and is derived from the native cooking styles of
Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
, an eastern coastal province of China. Possibly Shandong's greatest contribution to Chinese cuisine has been in the area of brewing vinegar. Hundreds of years of experience combined with unique local methods have led to Shandong's prominence as one of the premier regions for vinegar production in China. ***#
Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...
is a style of Chinese cuisine originating in the
Sichuan Province Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...
of southwestern China famed for bold flavors, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of
garlic Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Allium fistulosum, Welsh onion and Allium chinense, Chinese onion. It is native to South A ...
and
chili pepper Chili peppers (also chile, chile pepper, chilli pepper, or chilli), from Nahuatl '' chīlli'' (), are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus ''Capsicum'', which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for ...
s, as well as the unique flavor of the Sichuan peppercorn (花椒).
Peanut The peanut (''Arachis hypogaea''), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible Seed, seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, important to both small ...
s,
sesame paste Tahini () or tahina (, ) is a Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame. It is served by itself (as a dip) or as a major ingredient in hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. Tahini is used in the cuisines of the Levant and Eas ...
, and
ginger Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices ...
are also prominent ingredients in Sichuan cooking. ***#
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
is derived from the native cooking styles of the
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
region in China. Food made in the Zhejiang style is not greasy, having instead a fresh and soft flavor with a mellow fragrance. **** Four Great Traditions – often considered the standouts of Chinese cuisine and due to their influence are proclaimed as the Four Great Traditions (四大菜系, Sì Dà Cài Xì). ****#
Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...
****#
Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...
****#
Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
****# Huaiyang cuisine – often viewed as the representation of the entire Jiangsu cuisine. *** Chinese cultural subcuisines **** Chinese Buddhist cuisine ****
Chinese Islamic cuisine Cuisine of Chinese Muslims (, Dungan: Чыңжән цаы or , Dungan: Ҳуэйзў цаы) is the cuisine of the Hui (ethnic Chinese Muslims) and other Muslims living in China such as Bonan, Dongxiang, Salar and Uyghurs as well as Dungans ...
*** Chinese cuisines, by region ****
Anhui cuisine Anhui cuisine, alternatively referred to as Hui cuisine, is one of the Eight Culinary Traditions of Chinese cuisine. It is derived from the native cooking styles of the Huangshan region in southern Anhui Province. Methods and ingredients Anhu ...
****
Beijing cuisine Beijing cuisine, also known as Jing cuisine, Mandarin cuisine and Peking cuisine and formerly as Beiping cuisine, is the local cuisine of Beijing, the national capital of China. Background As Beijing has been the capital of China for centuries, ...
*****
Chinese aristocrat cuisine Chinese aristocrat cuisine () traces its origin to the Ming and Qing dynasties when imperial officials stationed in Beijing brought their private chefs and such different varieties of culinary styles mixed and developed over time to form a unique ...
*****
Chinese imperial cuisine Chinese imperial cuisine is derived from a variety of cooking styles of the regions in China, mainly from the cuisines of Shandong and Jiangsu provinces. The style originated from various Emperors' Kitchen and the Empress Dowagers' Kitchen, and it ...
*****
Liaoning cuisine Liaoning cuisine is derived from the native cooking styles of the Liaoning Province in China. It is the most famous Northeastern Chinese cuisine. Characteristic features The main characteristics of Liaoning cuisine is that it is colorful, tastes ...
**** Cantonese cuisine ****
Chaozhou cuisine Chaoshan cuisine, also known as Chiuchow cuisine, Chaozhou cuisine or Teo-swa cuisine, originated from the Chaoshan region in the eastern part of China's Guangdong Province, which includes the cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang. Chao ...
**** Chiuchow cuisine **** Fujian cuisine ****
Guizhou cuisine Guizhou cuisine, or Qian cuisine, consists of cooking traditions and dishes from Guizhou Province in southwestern China. Guizhou cuisine shares many features with Sichuan cuisine and Hunan cuisine, especially in bringing the sensation of sp ...
**** Hainan cuisine ****
Hakka cuisine Hakka cuisine is the cooking style of the Hakka people, and it may also be found in parts of Taiwan and in countries with significant overseas Hakka communities. There are numerous restaurants in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, M ...
**** Henan cuisine ****
Hubei cuisine Hubei cuisine, also known as Chu cuisine or E cuisine, is derived from the native cooking styles of Hubei Province in China. History Hubei cuisine has a history of more than 2,000 years. The names of dishes and cuisine styles can be found in ...
**** Hunan cuisine **** Jiangsu cuisine ***** Huaiyang cuisine ****
Jiangxi cuisine Jiangxi cuisine (), also known as Gan cuisine (), is a style of Chinese cuisine derived from the native cooking styles of Jiangxi province in southern China. According to the East China Travel Guide published in 1983, Jiangxi Cuisine has its uniqu ...
****
Northeastern Chinese cuisine Northeastern Chinese cuisine is a style of Chinese cuisine in Northeast China. While many dishes originated from Shandong cuisine and Manchu cuisine, it is also influenced by the cuisines of Russia, Beijing, Mongolia, and North Korea. It partial ...
****
Shaanxi cuisine Shaanxi cuisine, or Qin cuisine, is derived from the native cooking styles of Shaanxi Province and parts of northwestern China. Description Shaanxi cuisine makes elaborate use of ordinary materials, and is best known for its noodles and lamb/mu ...
**** Shandong cuisine ****
Shanghai cuisine Shanghai cuisine (; Shanghainese: ''zaon⁶ he⁵ tshe¹''; IPA: ɑ̃¹¹ he⁴⁴ tsʰᴇ¹¹, also known as Hu cuisine (; Shanghainese: ''wu⁶ tshe¹''; IPA: u¹¹ tsʰᴇ⁴⁴, is a popular style of Chinese food. In a narrow sense, Sh ...
****
Shanxi cuisine Shanxi cuisine, or Jin cuisine, is derived from the native cooking styles of Shanxi Province in China. It is famous for noodles, fried flatbread (''da bing'') and sour tastes. The cuisine is also famed for using its locally produced vinegar, jus ...
**** Sichuan cuisine (Sichuan) ****
Tianjin cuisine Tianjin cuisine (Tientsin cuisine), also known as Jin cuisine, refers to the native cooking styles of Tianjin, the largest port city in North China, Northern China. Though heavily influenced by Beijing cuisine, Tianjin cuisine differs by being mo ...
****
Tibetan cuisine Tibetan cuisine includes the culinary traditions and practices and its peoples. The cuisine reflects the Tibetan landscape of mountains and plateaus and includes influences from neighbors (including India and Nepal where many Tibetans abide) ...
****
Xinjiang cuisine Uyghur cuisine ( ug, ئۇيغۇر تائاملىرى, , ; zh, s=維吾爾菜, p=Wéiwú'ěr Cài, links=no) is a cuisine of the Uyghur people, which is also consumed outside of Xinjiang. Signature ingredients include roasted mutton, kebabs, and r ...
(Uyghur) ****
Yunnan cuisine Yunnan cuisine, alternatively known as Dian cuisine, is an amalgam of the cuisines of the Han Chinese and other ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province in southwestern China. As the province with the largest number of ethnic minority gr ...
**** Zhejiang cuisine **
Hong Kong cuisine Hong Kong cuisine is mainly influenced by Cantonese cuisine, European cuisines (especially British cuisine) and non-Cantonese Chinese cuisines (especially Hakka, Teochew, Hokkien and Shanghainese), as well as Japanese, Korean and Southeast ...
is mainly influenced by Cantonese cuisine, non-Cantonese Chinese cuisine (especially Teochew, Hakka, Hokkien and the Jiangsu & Zhejiang), the Western world, Japan, and Southeast Asia, due to Hong Kong's past as a British colony and long history of being an international city of commerce.
Fish balls Fish balls are rounded meat balls made from fish paste which are then boiled or deep fried. Similar in composition to fishcake, fish balls are often made from fish mince or surimi, salt, and a culinary binder such as tapioca flour, corn, or ...
,
Wonton noodle Wonton noodles (, also called wanton mee or wanton mein) is a noodle dish of Cantonese origin. Wonton noodles were given their name, ''húntún'' (), in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). The dish is popular in Southern China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, ...
,
Egg waffle An egg waffle is a spherical egg-based waffle popular in Hong Kong and Macau, consisting of an eggy leavened batter cooked between two plates of semi-spherical cells. They are usually served hot, and often eaten plain, although they may be serv ...
, and
milk tea Milk tea refers to several forms of beverage found in many cultures, consisting of some combination of tea and milk. The term milk tea is used for both hot and cold drinks that can be combined with various kinds of milks and a variety of spices. ...
are some of the most notable dishes, snacks, and drinks. **
Macau cuisine Macanese cuisine ( zh, 澳門土生葡菜, pt, culinária macaense) is mainly influenced by Chinese cuisine, especially Cantonese cuisine and European cuisine, especially Portuguese cuisine and influences from Southeast Asia and the Lusophone wor ...
*
Japanese cuisine Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (Japanese: ) is based on rice with miso soup and other ...
is known for its emphasis on seasonality of food ( , ''shun''), quality of ingredients and presentation. Japanese regional cuisine includes a vast array of regional specialties known as ''kyōdo ryōri'' in Japanese, many of them originating from dishes prepared using local ingredients and traditional recipes.
Sushi is a Japanese dish of prepared , usually with some sugar and salt, accompanied by a variety of , such as seafood, often raw, and vegetables. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the one key ingredient is "sushi rice," also ...
and
sashimi is a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce. Origin The word ''sashimi'' means "pierced body", i.e. " 刺身" = ''sashimi'', where 刺 し = ''sashi'' (pierced, stu ...
are both part of the cuisine of the island nation. The
Michelin Guide The Michelin Guides ( ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin star (classification), stars for excellence to a select few establishments. The ac ...
has awarded Japanese cities by far the most Michelin stars of any country in the world (for example, Tokyo alone has more Michelin stars than Paris, Hong Kong, New York, LA and London combined)."「ミシュランガイド東京・横浜・鎌倉2011」を発行 三つ星が14軒、二つ星が54軒、一つ星が198軒に"
, Michelin Japan, November 24, 2010.
** Traditional cooking methods eschew the use of oils and fats, with a focus on featuring the delicate flavors of the natural ingredients. Due to an abundant seafood supply, the traditional Japanese diet featured minimal use of meat; however, modern Japanese cuisine includes an extensive variety of popular meat dishes. Japanese cuisine offers a vast array of regional specialties that use traditional recipes and local ingredients. **
Japanese wine Although viticulture and the cultivation of grapes for table consumption has a long history in Japan, domestic wine production using locally produced grapes only really began with the adoption of Western culture during the Meiji restoration in th ...
**
Okinawan cuisine is the cuisine of the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. The cuisine is also known as , a reference to the Ryukyu Kingdom. Due to differences in culture, historical contact between other regions, climate, vegetables and other ingredients, Okinawan cu ...
is the cuisine of the Japanese island of Okinawa. Due to the difference in culture, climate, vegetables and other ingredients between Okinawa and mainland Japan, Okinawan cuisine is very different from Japanese cuisine. The cuisine incorporated influence from Chinese cuisine and
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
n cuisine due to trade. The sweet potato, introduced in Okinawa in 1605, became a staple food there until the beginning of the 20th century. An article about Okinawan food written by
Kikkoman is a Japanese food manufacturer. Its main products and services include soy sauce, food seasoning and flavoring, mirin, , and sake, juice and other beverages, pharmaceuticals, and restaurant management services. Kikkoman has production plan ...
stated that Goya (
bitter melon ''Momordica charantia'' (commonly called bitter melon; Goya; bitter apple; bitter gourd; bitter squash; balsam-pear; with many more names listed below) is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Afr ...
) and Nabera (
luffa ''Luffa'' is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah, usually refers to the fruits of the species '' Luffa aegyptiaca'' and '' Luffa acuta ...
or towel gourd) were "likely" introduced to Okinawa from Southeast Asia. Since
Ryūkyū The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Geography of Taiwan, Taiwan: the Ōsumi Islands, Ōsumi, Tokara Islands, Tokara, Amami Islands, Amami, Okinawa Islands, Okinawa, and Sakis ...
had served as a tributary state to China, Okinawan cooks traveled to
Fujian Province Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...
to learn how to cook Chinese food; Chinese influence seeped into Okinawa in that manner. The same Kikkoman article states that the method of
distillation Distillation, or classical distillation, is the process of separation process, separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation, usually inside an apparatus known as a still. Dry distilla ...
of
awamori ''Awamori'' (, Okinawan: , āmui'') is an alcoholic beverage indigenous and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from long grain indica rice, and is not a direct product of brewing (like ''sake'') but of distillation (like ''shōchū''). The ...
likely originated from
Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 mi ...
(
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
) and traveled to Okinawa during the 15th century. After the lord of the
Kagoshima , abbreviated to , is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Kyushu, Kagoshima is the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the "Naples of the Eastern wor ...
Domain subjugated Ryūkyū, Okinawan cooks traveled to Japan to study
Japanese cuisine Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (Japanese: ) is based on rice with miso soup and other ...
, causing that influence to seep into Okinawan cuisine.Ishige, Naomichi.
Food Forum Okinawa
." ''
Kikkoman is a Japanese food manufacturer. Its main products and services include soy sauce, food seasoning and flavoring, mirin, , and sake, juice and other beverages, pharmaceuticals, and restaurant management services. Kikkoman has production plan ...
''. Retrieved on November 30, 2009.
** Nagoya cuisine ** Ainu cuisine *
Korean cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural envi ...
originated from ancient prehistoric traditions in the
Korean peninsula Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
, evolving through a complex interaction of environmental, political, and cultural trends. Korean cuisine is largely based upon rice, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of
side dish A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order, side item, or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.banchan ''Banchan'' (, from Korean: ) or bansang are small side dishes served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine. As the Korean language does not distinguish between singular and plural grammatically, the word is used for both one such dish o ...
'') that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice.
Kimchi ''Kimchi'' (; ko, 김치, gimchi, ), is a traditional Korean side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings are used, including '' gochugaru'' (Korean chili powder), ...
is served often, sometimes at every meal. Commonly used ingredients include
sesame oil Sesame oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from sesame seeds. The oil is one of the earliest-known crop-based oils. Worldwide mass modern production is limited due to the inefficient manual harvesting process required to extract the oil. O ...
, ''
doenjang ''Doenjang'' * (; "thick sauce") or soybean paste is a type of fermented bean paste made entirely of soybean and brine. It is also a byproduct of soup soy sauce production. It is sometimes used as a relish. History The earliest soybean fer ...
'' (
fermented bean paste Fermented bean paste is a category of fermented foods typically made from ground soybeans, which are indigenous to the cuisines of East, South and Southeast Asia. In some cases, such as the production of ''miso'', other varieties of beans, such ...
),
soy sauce Soy sauce (also called simply soy in American English and soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and '' Aspergillus oryzae'' or ''Asp ...
, salt, garlic, ginger,
pepper Pepper or peppers may refer to: Food and spice * Piperaceae or the pepper family, a large family of flowering plant ** Black pepper * ''Capsicum'' or pepper, a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae ** Bell pepper ** Chili ...
flakes, and '' gochujang'' (fermented red chili paste).
Korean regional cuisine Korean regional cuisines () are characterized by local specialties and distinctive styles within Korean cuisine. The divisions reflected historical boundaries of the provinces where these food and culinary traditions were preserved until modern ...
(Korean: ''hyangto eumsik'', literally "native local foods"), is characterized by local specialties and distinctive styles within Korean cuisine. The divisions reflected historical boundaries of the provinces where these food and culinary traditions were preserved until modern times.
Korean barbecue Korean barbecue ( ko, 고기구이, ''gogi-gui,'' 'meat roast') is a popular method in Korean cuisine of grilling meat, typically beef, pork or chicken. Such dishes are often prepared on gas or charcoal grills built into the dining table itself. So ...
, or ''gogi gui'', refers to the Korean method of grilling beef, pork, chicken, or other types of meat. Such dishes are often prepared at the diner's table on gas or charcoal grills that are built into the center of the table itself. It features cooking methods such as
sautéing Sautéing or sauteing (, ; in reference to tossing while cooking) is a method of cooking that uses a relatively small amount of oil or fat in a shallow pan over relatively high heat. Various sauté methods exist. Description Ingredients for ...
and what is known in the West as barbecue. Strong flavors featuring spices derived from chili peppers can also be found in dishes such as
kimchi ''Kimchi'' (; ko, 김치, gimchi, ), is a traditional Korean side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings are used, including '' gochugaru'' (Korean chili powder), ...
. **
North Korean cuisine Some dishes are shared by the two Koreas; however, availability and quality of Northern cuisine is much more significantly affected by sociopolitical class divides. Historically, Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and politic ...
**
South Korean cuisine South Korea is a country in East Asia constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is bordered to the north by North Korea, and the two countries are separated by the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Some dishes are shared by the two Korea ...
*
Mongolian cuisine Mongolian cuisine predominantly consists of dairy products, meat, and animal fats. The most common rural dish is cooked mutton. In the city, steamed dumplings filled with meat—"buuz"— are popular. The extreme continental climate of M ...
– local culinary traditions of
Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...
and Mongolian styled dishes. The extreme
continental climate Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 north), within large landmasses where prevailing winds blow overland bringing som ...
has affected the traditional diet, so the Mongolian cuisine primarily consists of
dairy product Dairy products or milk products, also known as lacticinia, are food products made from (or containing) milk. The most common dairy animals are cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe. Dairy products include common grocery store food items in th ...
s,
meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...
, and animal fats. Use of
vegetable Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, ...
s and
spice A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices a ...
s are limited. *
Taiwanese cuisine Taiwanese cuisine (, Bopomofo:ㄊㄞˊㄨㄢˉㄌㄧㄠˋㄌㄧˇ, or , Bopomofo:ㄊㄞˊㄨㄢˉㄘㄞˋ) has several variations. The earliest known cuisines of Taiwan are that of the Taiwanese indigenous peoples. Over hundred years of histor ...
– Majority Han Taiwanese cuisine and the
Aboriginal Taiwanese Taiwanese indigenous peoples (formerly Taiwanese aborigines), also known as Formosan people, Austronesian Taiwanese, Yuanzhumin or Gaoshan people, are the indigenous peoples of Taiwan, with the nationally recognized subgroups numbering about 5 ...
cuisine, however mixed with part of Japanese cuisine due to Imperial Japanese colonial legacies.CantoneseRestaurantSeafood.jpg, Due to
Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
's location on the southern coast of China, fresh live seafood is a specialty in Cantonese cuisine. Chengdu Hotpot.jpg, Sichuan cuisine – A Chengdu-style, hot-pot stew. Khorkhog 7.JPG,
Khorkhog Khorkhog ( mn, Xopxoг) is a barbecue dish in Mongolian cuisine. Khorkhog is made by cooking pieces of meat inside a container which also contains hot stones and water, and is often also heated from the outside. Preparation To make khorkhog, Mon ...
, a barbecue dish consumed in
Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...
Taiwanesesausages.JPG, Many flavors of Taiwanese sausages are sold by night market vendors.


South Asian cuisine

South Asian cuisine South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
includes the
cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
s from the
Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
and when included in the definition, also that of
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
. It has roots in South Asia, including practices taken from the
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
beliefs practiced by the large population found in the region, alongside in some regional cuisines, certain influences from neighboring regions and cultures, particularly from Muslim cultures of the Middle East and Central Asia. Dishes in this area of the world are known for their use of hot peppers, black pepper, cloves, and other strong spices along with the flavored butter
ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from India. It is commonly used in India for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by simmering butter, which is churned from c ...
. Common meats include lamb, goat and chicken; beef is not as common as in western cuisines because the tenets of the Hindu faith prohibit its consumption. Other staples of many of the cuisines include rice,
chapati Chapati (alternatively spelled chapatti, chappati, chapathi, or chappathi; pronounced as IAST: ), also known as ''roti'', ''rotli'', ''safati'', ''shabaati'', ''phulka'', (in East Africa) ''chapo'', (in Marathi) ''poli'', and (in the Maldives) ...
made from wheat and barley, and beans. The cuisine of South Asia has mostly indigenous roots, as well as influences practices taken from foreign origin empires.
Naan Naan ( fa, نان, nān, ur, , ps, نان, ug, نان, hi, नान, bn, নান) is a leavened, oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread which is found in the cuisines mainly of Western Asia, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, ...
, a type of
flat bread A flatbread is a bread made with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pizza and pita bread. Flatbreads ra ...
from the former regions, is a common part of meals in many parts of South Asia. * Afghan cuisine – cuisine of the Afghan people, largely based upon Afghanistan's chief crops: cereals like wheat, maize, barley and rice. Accompanying these staples are dairy products (yogurt and wheat), various nuts, and native vegetables, as well as fresh and dried fruits. Lamb is the primary meat for many Afghans, although Turkic peoples also eat horse. Afghanistan is also well known for its grapes. * Bangladeshi cuisine is dominated by Bengali cuisine and has been shaped by the diverse History of Bangladesh, history and riverine geography of Bangladesh. The country has a tropical monsoon climate. Rice is the main staple food of Bangladeshi people and it is served with a wide range of Curry, curries. Sublime (philosophy), Sublime Bangladeshi dishes exhibit strong aromatic flavours; and often include Egg (food), eggs, potatoes, tomatoes and aubergines. A variety of spices and herbs, along with mustard oil and
ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from India. It is commonly used in India for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by simmering butter, which is churned from c ...
, is used in Bangladeshi cooking. The main breads are
naan Naan ( fa, نان, nān, ur, , ps, نان, ug, نان, hi, नान, bn, নান) is a leavened, oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread which is found in the cuisines mainly of Western Asia, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, ...
, paratha, porota, roti, bakarkhani and luchi. Dal is the second most important staple food which is served with rice/porota/luchi. Fish as food, Fish is a staple in Bangladeshi cuisine, especially freshwater fish, which is a distinctive feature of the country's gastronomy. Major fish dishes include ''ilish'' (ilish, hilsa'')'', ' (Pacific rudderfish, butterfish), ''rui'' (rohu), ''pangash'' (pangas catfish), ' (clown knifefish), ''magur'' (walking catfish), ''bhetki'' (barramundi) and tilapia. Meat consumption includes beef, Lamb and mutton, lamb, venison, Chicken (food), chicken, Duck (food), duck, Squab (food), squab and koel. Vegetable dishes, either mashed (''bhorta''), boiled (''sabji''), or leaf-based (''saag''), are widely served. Seafood such as Lobster#As food, lobsters and shrimp#As food, shrimps are also often prevalent. * Bhutanese cuisine employs a lot of red rice (like brown rice in texture, but with a nutty taste, the only variety of rice that grows at high altitudes), buckwheat, and increasingly maize. The diet in the hills also includes chicken, yak meat, dried beef, pork, pork fat, and mutton. When offered food, one says ''meshu meshu'', covering one's mouth with the hands in refusal according to Bhutanese manners, and then gives in on the second or third offer. * Hazaragi cuisine refers to the food and cuisine of the Hazaras, Hazara people in Afghanistan and western Pakistan (Balochistan province). The food of the Hazara people is strongly influenced by Central Asian, South Asian and Persian cuisines and shares similarities with neighboring regional cuisines in Afghanistan and Central Asia, however, there are certain dishes, culinary methods and styles of cooking that are unique to the Hazara people. It is largely centered on bread, meats and dairy products, and uses a large amount of oil in its cooking. * Indian cuisine is characterized by its sophisticated and subtle use of many List of Indian spices, Indian spices"Indian Cuisine."VisitSingapore.com
. Accessed July 2011.
and
vegetable Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, ...
s, herbs, and fruits grown across India. There is also the widespread practice of vegetarianism across its society. Considered by some to be one of the world's most diverse cuisines, each family of this cuisine is characterized by a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. As a consequence, Indian cuisine varies from region to region, reflecting the Demographics of India, varied demographics of the ethnically diverse
Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
. India's Indian religions, religious beliefs and Indian culture, culture has played an influential role in the evolution of its cuisine. However, cuisine across India has also evolved with the Indian subcontinent's cross-cultural interactions with the neighboring Middle Eastern cuisine, Middle East,
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
, East Asia, and
Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
, making it a unique blend of various cuisines across
Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
. The Colonial India, colonial period introduced European cooking styles to India adding to its flexibility and diversity. Indian cuisine has also influenced cuisines across the world, especially those from
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
. In particular, curry has been widely adopted in cuisines around the world. **Indian wine ** North Indian cuisines ****Awadhi cuisine **** Punjabi cuisine **** Cuisine of Uttar Pradesh **** Rajasthani cuisine **** Mughlai cuisine **** Bhojpuri cuisine **** Bihari cuisine **** Kashmiri cuisine *** South Indian cuisines **** Kerala cuisine - Sadhya means "banquet" in Malayalam. It is a typical feast of the people of Kerala. **** Tamil cuisine **** Andhra cuisine **** Cuisine of Karnataka **** Hyderabadi cuisine, Telangana - Hyderabadi cuisine *** East India#Cuisine, East Indian cuisines ****Bengali cuisine is a style of food preparation originating in Bengal, a region in eastern
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
which is now divided between the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Barak Valley of Assam and the independent country of Bangladesh. Bengali food has inherited a large number of influences, both foreign and South Asian, arising from historical and strong trade links with many parts of the world. **** Traditional Cuisines of Jharkhand, Cuisine of Jharkhand **** Oriya cuisine *** North East Indian cuisines **** Sikkimese cuisine **** Assamese cuisine **** Tripuri cuisine **** Naga cuisine *** West Indian cuisines ****Maharashtrian cuisine *****Malvani cuisine *****East Indian Cuisine (East Indians are an ethnic group from Bombay in the West of India) The East Indian cuisine is distinct to the community and includes delicacies such as the vajri curry or goat tripe curry, chicken tope, sorpotel, khudi curries and many more. ****Goan cuisine ****Parsi cuisine ****Gujarati cuisine ****Rajasthani cuisine *** Other Indian cuisines **** Indian Chinese cuisine **** Jain (Satvika) ****Sindhi cuisine **** Chettinad cuisine **** Udupi cuisine **** Indian fast food * Maithil cuisine * Maldivian cuisine * Nepalese cuisine ** Newari cuisine * Pakistani cuisine ** Balochi cuisine ** Kashmiri cuisine ** Pashtun cuisine ** Muhajir cuisine ** Punjabi cuisine ** Lahori cuisine ** Mughlai cuisine ** Sindhi cuisine * Sri Lankan cuisine Afghan cuisine.jpg, Some of the popular Afghan dishes, from left to right: 1. Lamb grilled kebab (List of kebabs, seekh kabab); 2. Kabuli palaw and salad; 3. Tandoori chicken; and 4. Manti (dumpling), Mantu (dumplings). Bangladeshi cuisine.png, Traditional Bangladeshi meal: mustard seed ilish curry, Dhakai biryani and pitha; similar to East Indian cuisine. Vegetarian Andhra Meal.jpg, South Indian cuisine, South Indian style vegetarian ''thali''. Vegetarian Curry.jpeg, North Indian cuisine, North Indian style vegetarian ''thali''. Vindalho.jpg, Pork ''vindaloo'' is a popular curry dish from the Indian state of Goa and around the world.


Southeast Asian cuisine

Southeast Asian cuisine emphasizes lightly prepared dishes with strong aromas, featuring such flavors as lemongrass, List of fish sauces, fermented fish sauce and fish paste, pastes, and
ginger Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices ...
. Ingredients in the region contrast with the ones in the Eastern Asian cuisines, substituting fish sauces for soy sauce and including such ingredients as galangal, tamarind and Cymbopogon, lemongrass. Cooking methods include stir frying, boiling and steaming. * Bruneian cuisine is similar to, and heavily influenced by, the cuisine of neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, with additional influences from China, India and Arab. * Burmese cuisine has been influenced greatly by China, India and Thailand. However, Burmese cuisine has retained unique preparation techniques and distinct flavors, and there are many regional variations of "standard" dishes. The Burmese eat with their right hand, forming rice into a small ball with only the fingertips and mixing this with various morsels before popping it into their mouths. The Burmese eat a great variety of vegetables and fruits, and a variety of meat. A very popular vegetable is the jengkol, danyin thi, which is usually boiled or roasted and dipped in salt, oil and sometimes, cooked coconut fat. * Cambodian cuisine encompasses the cuisines of all ethnic groups in Cambodia, whereas Khmer cuisine refers specifically to the cuisine of the ethnic Khmer people, Khmers. Over time, Khmer cuisine has absorbed elements from Indian, Chinese and more recently French cuisine, and due to historic interaction and shared influences, Cambodian cuisine has many similarities with neighboring Thai, Vietnamese, and Lao cuisines. * Christmas Island cuisine has influences from both Australian cuisine and other Asian cuisines, particularly Malaysian and Indonesian. * Cuisine of East Timor is the cuisine of one of the newest Southeast Asian countries. * Filipino cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Austronesian peoples, Austronesian origins to a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate. For more information refer to: Filipino cuisine#Regional specialties, Filipino cuisine; regional specialties. ** Kapampangan cuisine is the cuisine native to the Kapampangan people originating from the province of Pampanga, in Central Luzon. One of the best examples of Kapampangan dish is ''sisig'', which is a popular dish across the Philippines. **Bicol Region, Bicol's cuisine is noted for its gastronomic appetite for the fiery or chili-hot dishes and coconut milk dishes. Perhaps the most well-known Bicolano dish is the very spicy Bicol Express. The region is also the well-known home of ''Natong (food), natong'' also known as ''laing'' or ''Laing (food), pinangat'' (pork or fish stew in taro leaves). **Being surrounded by waters and rich land, Visayas is abundant in marine and land products as indicated in various ''Visayan cuisines''. Few examples of famous Visayan foods include Cebu City, Cebu's Lechon variant, Iloilo City, Iloilo's Batchoy, La Paz batchoy, Bacolod's inasal and Piaya (food), piaya, and Leyte (province), Leyte's Roscas (Filipino cuisine), roscas, humba, Moron (food), moron, and bukayo. **Mindanao cuisine's dishes are richly flavored with the spices common to
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
. Some parts of Mindanao are predominantly Muslims, Muslim, where pork is rarely consumed. Most notable dishes in Mindanao cuisine are: Satti (food), Satti, Sambal, Tiyula itum, and Zamboanga City, Zamboanga's Alfajor, curacha, and rebosao. * Indonesian cuisine is diverse, in part because Indonesia is composed of approximately 6,000 populated islands."Indonesian Cuisine."
. Accessed July 2011.
Many regional cuisines exist, often based upon Culture of Indonesia, cultural and foreign influences."Indonesian food."Belindo.com
. Accessed July 2011.
For example, Sumatran cuisine often has Middle Eastern and Indian influences, featuring curried meat and vegetables, while Javanese cuisine and Sundanese cuisine are more indigenous. ** Acehnese cuisine is the cuisine of the Acehnese people of Aceh in most western Sumatra. ** Balinese cuisine is the cuisine and culinary traditions of Balinese people from the volcanic island of Bali. ** Banjar cuisine: is the cooking tradition and cuisine of Banjar people of South Kalimantan in Indonesia. ** Batak cuisine is the cuisine and cooking traditions of Batak (Indonesia), Batak ethnic groups, predominantly found in North Sumatra region. ** Indo cuisine is a Fusion cuisine, fusion cooking and cuisine tradition, mainly existing in Indonesia (nationwide) and the Netherlands, as well as Belgium, South Africa and Suriname. ** Indonesian Arab cuisine is characterized by the mixture of Middle Eastern cuisine with local Indonesian cuisine, Indonesian style. Arab Indonesians, Indonesian Arabs brought their legacy of Arab cuisine originally from Hadhramaut, Hejaz and Egypt. ** Indonesian Chinese cuisine is characterized by the mixture of Chinese cuisine, Chinese with local Indonesian cuisine, Indonesian style. Chinese Indonesians bring their Chinese cuisine legacy. ** Indonesian Indian cuisine is characterized by the mixture of Indian cuisine with local Indonesian cuisine, Indonesian style. Indian Indonesians bring their Indian cuisine legacy. ** Javanese cuisine is the cuisine of Javanese people. In wider sense, Javanese cuisine might also refer to the cuisine of the whole people of Java Island, Indonesia; which also includes Sundanese in West Java, Betawi people, Betawi in Jakarta and Madurese people, Madurese on Madura Island off East Java. *** Betawi cuisine is rich, diverse and eclectic cuisine of Betawi people in Jakarta due to the Betawi people that create them were composed from numbers of regional immigrants that came from various places in the archipelago. *** Madurese cuisine is the cuisine tradition of Madurese people in Madura island on the northeastern coast of Java. *** Sundanese cuisine is the cuisine of Sundanese people of West Java, Indonesia. In Sundanese restaurants, it is common to eat with one's hands. They usually serve ''kobokan'', a bowl of tap water with a slice of lime for handwashing. ** Makassar cuisine is the cuisine of the Buginese people and Makassar people in South Sulawesi. ** Malay cuisine is the cuisine of Malay people with many regional and foreign influences. ** Manado cuisine is the cooking tradition of the Minahasan people of North Sulawesi. This cuisine has influences by Eurasian cuisine, especially Dutch cuisine. ** Padang food, also known as Minangkabau cuisine, is the cuisine of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is among the most popular food in Maritime Southeast Asia. It is known across Indonesia as ''masakan Padang''. ** Palembang cuisine is the cuisine of the Palembang people in South Sumatra. ** Peranakan cuisine combines Chinese Indonesians, Chinese, Malay people, Malay, Javanese people, Javanese and other influences into a unique blend. * Lao cuisine, Laotian cuisine is the
cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
of Laos, which is distinct from other Southeast Asian cuisines. Laos shares borders with neighboring countries and as a result, Lao cuisine has strongly influenced the neighboring cuisine of Northeastern Thailand (Isan) and some Lao culinary influences have also reached Cambodia and Northern Thailand (Lanna). **Hmong cuisine is the cuisine of the Hmong people of China,
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
and the Hmong Americans, Hmong American community in the United States. * Malaysian cuisine reflects the multicultural aspects of Malaysia. Malaysia is an amalgamation of three major races, Malay, Chinese and Indian, as well as a myriad of ethnic groups from Sabah and Sarawak. The potpourri is enriched further with the influence of the Thai from the north, Indonesian from the south, Filipino from the east, and British, Dutch and Portuguese through hundred years of colonization. ** Malay cuisine is the cuisine of Malay people with many regional and foreign influences. For examples, cuisine of Johor often has Middle Eastern and Javanese influences while cuisine of Kelantan often has Thai influences. ** Malaysian Chinese cuisine is characterized by the mixture of Chinese cuisine, Chinese with local ingredients. ** Malaysian Indian cuisine is characterized by the mixture of Indian cuisine, Indian with local ingredients. ** Sarawakian cuisine is the cuisine of Sarawak, Malaysia ** Sabahan cuisine is the cuisine of Sabah, Malaysia with influences from Filipino cuisine and Indonesian cuisine ** Peranakan cuisine combines Chinese, Malay people, Malay and other influences into a unique blend. Peranakan in Penang often has Thai influences while Melaka and Singapore often has Indonesian influences. ** Eurasian cuisine combines Kristang people, Kristang, Netherlands, Dutch, British people, British, Malay people, Malay and other influences into a unique blend, predominantly found in Melaka * Singaporean cuisine is similar to, and heavily influenced by the cuisine of neighboring Malaysia, as a product of centuries of cultural interaction owing to Singapore's strategic location."Singapore Food."

Singaporefoodhistory.com
. Accessed July 2011.
The predominant cuisine in Singapore is Chinese cuisine, Chinese, along with Malay cuisine, Malay, Indian cuisine, Indian and English cuisine, English traditions since the founding of Singapore by the British in the early 19th century. * Thai cuisine can be described as four regional cuisines corresponding to the four main regions of the country: Northern Thailand, Northern, Northeastern (or Isan), Central Thailand, Central, and Southern Thailand, Southern."Modern Thai"
(food)
Sabaiaz.com
. Accessed July 2011.
A fifth cuisine is Thai royal cuisine, based on the palace cuisine of the Ayutthaya kingdom (1351–1767 CE), which was influential upon the cuisine of the Central Thai plains. Each cuisine has similarities to foods and cuisines in neighboring countries and regions, including the Burmese cuisine, Cuisine of Burma,
Yunnan cuisine Yunnan cuisine, alternatively known as Dian cuisine, is an amalgam of the cuisines of the Han Chinese and other ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province in southwestern China. As the province with the largest number of ethnic minority gr ...
, Lao cuisine, Cambodian cuisine and Malaysian cuisine. * Vietnamese cuisine is a style of cooking derived from Vietnam with Chinese and French influence. Fish sauce, soy sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables are commonly used. Vietnamese recipes utilize a diverse range of herbs, including Cymbopogon, lemongrass, Mentha, mint, Vietnamese mint, Eryngium foetidum, long coriander and Thai basil leaves. ** Vietnamese wine Somlorkoko.jpg, Cambodian ''Samlar kako'' Nasi Campur.jpg, Personal serving of Nasi Campur, Nasi Balinese cuisine, Bali, in Indonesian cuisine, Indonesia, rice surrounded by numbers of side dishes including Satay#Sate Lilit, sate lilit. Red roast duck curry.jpg, Thailand, Thai ''Kaeng phet pet yang'': roast Duck (food), duck in red curry. Chicken adobo.jpg, Philippine adobo is a popular Filipino dish and cooking process in Filipino cuisine. NasiLemak.JPG, Malaysian cuisine, Malaysian nasi lemak, is served with anchovies, peanuts, boiled egg, lamb curry, cucumber, and sambal. Thai market food 01.jpg, Food stall in Chiang Mai,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
selling ready-cooked food. Bò 7 món.jpg, Bò 7 món (literally "seven courses of beef" in Vietnamese language, Vietnamese) is a set selection of beef dishes in Vietnamese cuisine.


West Asian cuisine

* West Asian cuisine, is the cuisine of the various countries and peoples of West Asia. Despite their similarities, there are considerable differences in
climate Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologic ...
and
culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
, so the term is not definitive. The cuisine of the region is diverse while having a degree of homogeneity."The Middle East: Background."

Globalgourmet.com
. Accessed January 2007.
Many West Asian dishes are made with a paste called tahini. Tahini is a sesame paste made with hulled seeds, unlike its East Asian counterpart. It is used to make such popular meze, or appetizers, as baba ghanoush and hummus along with pungent dipping sauces served with falafel, Keftes (Sephardic), keftes or kofta and vegetables. Hummus is made from chickpeas, which are staples of the diet. Some commonly used ingredients include olives and olive oil, lamb, pitas, honey, sesame seeds, Phoenix dactylifera, dates, sumac, chickpeas, mentha, mint and parsley. Some popular dishes include kibbeh and shawarma. **Arab cuisine of the Persian Gulf - Arab cuisine of the Persian Gulf today is the result of combination of diverse cuisines, incorporating Levantine, Indian, Chinese, and Persian cooking styles, and many items not originally indigenous to the Persian Gulf region, which were most probably imported on the dhows and the Caravan (travellers), caravans. ** Assyrian cuisine ** Bahraini cuisine refers to the cuisine of Bahrain, The Kingdom of Bahrain, a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. Bahrain produces only a small amount of its food requirements due to limited land space, and imports much of its food.Cuisine in Bahrain

Allo' Expat Bahrain
(Website). Accessed April 2011.
Its primary crops are Phoenix dactylifera, dates, bananas, citrus, citrus fruits, pomegranates, mangoes, cucumbers and tomatoes. ** Cypriot cuisine ** Egyptian cuisine ** Emirati cuisine ** Iranian cuisine - Persian cuisine is diverse, with each province featuring dishes, culinary traditions and styles distinct to its region. *** Abgoosht is an Iranian stew usually made with lamb and vegetables *** Caspian cuisine ** Iraqi cuisine or ''Mesopotamian cuisine'', has a long history going back some 10,000 years - to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. Clay tablet, Tablets found in ancient ruins in Iraq show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals - the first cookbooks in the world. *** Kurdish cuisine consists of a wide variety of foods prepared by the Kurdish people that have got many traditions from their homeland, Kurdistan. ** Kuwaiti cuisine - the national dish of Kuwait known as machboos ( ar, مكبوس) consists mainly of mutton or Chicken (food), chicken placed over or mixed in a large mass of well-cooked and prepared rice. ** Mizrahi Jewish cuisine is based largely on fresh ingredients, as marketing was done in the local ''souq''. ** Omani cuisine is generally very simple, with the aid of many spices and marinades to complete a dish, which usually consists of chicken, fish, and mutton. Unlike many other Asian nations, Omani cuisine is not spicy, and varies between regions. ** Qatari cuisine ** Saudi Arabian cuisine - Food staples include lamb, Chicken (food), grilled chicken, falafel (deep-fried chickpea balls), shawarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), Murtabak, mutabbaq and Ful medames."Food in Saudi Arabia"
. Food in Every Country (website). Accessed May 2010.
Arabic unleavened bread, or Khubz, khobz (خبز), is eaten with almost all meals, and is often used as an edible utensil to scoop foods. *** Kabsa is considered by many as Saudi Arabia's national dish. ** Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian cuisine, Central Asian, West Asian cuisine, West Asian and Balkan cuisine, Balkan cuisines. Turkish cuisine has in turn influenced those and other neighboring cuisines, including that of western Europe. *** Turkish wine ** Yemeni cuisine - The most common Yemeni dishes include: Aseed, Bint Al-Sahn, Fahsa, Fatoot, Fatteh, Fattah, Ful medames, Hareesh, Jachnun, Kabsa, Karees, Komroh, Mandi (food), Mandi, Mateet, Murtabak, Mutabbaq, Saltah, Samak Mofa, Shafut, Shakshouka, Tharid, Thareed, and Zoam. *** Mandi (food), Mandi is a traditional Yemeni dish usually made from meat (lamb or chicken), basmati rice, and a mixture of spices. ** Levantine cuisine – traditional
cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
of Ottoman Syria, now usually called the Levant, known in Arabic as the Bilad ash-Sham. This region shared many culinary traditions under the Ottoman Empire which continue to be influential today. It covers the modern states of Syria, State of Palestine, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia, Northern Iraq, northwest Iraq (Ninawa Governorate, the province of Mosul), and parts of southern Turkey near Adana, Gaziantep, Antakya and Mardin. *** Palestinian cuisine consists of foods from or commonly eaten by Palestinians, whether in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, refugee camps in nearby countries, or by the Palestinian diaspora. *** Israeli cuisine comprises a mixture of Jewish cuisine, dishes—from those brought back to Israel by Jews from the Jewish diaspora, Diaspora, those from Jews who remained in the region, and those adopted from surrounding Arab inhabitants. Since before the establishment of the modern Israel, State of Israel in 1948, and particularly since the late 1970s, an Israeli fusion cuisine has developed.Gold, Rozann
''A Region's Tastes Commingle in Israel''
(July 20, 1994) in ''The New York Times'' Retrieved 2010–02–14
**** Israeli wine **** Ptitim – Israeli toasted pasta shaped like rice or little balls. *** Jordanian cuisine *** Lebanese cuisine includes an abundance of starches, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and
seafood Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including fish and shellfish. Shellfish include various species of molluscs (e.g. bivalve molluscs such as clams, oysters and mussels, and cephalopods such as octopus an ...
; animal fats are consumed sparingly. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten it is usually lamb on the coast and goat meat in the mountain regions. **** Lebanese wine *** Syrian cuisine is a diffusion of the cultures of civilizations that settled in Syria, particularly during and after the Islamic era beginning with the Arab Umayyad conquest, then the eventual Persian-influenced Abbasids and ending with the strong influences of Turkish cuisine, resulting from the coming of the Ottoman Turks. *** Syrian Jewish cuisine * List of dishes from the Caucasus, South Caucasus cuisine is the cuisine of the various countries and peoples of the South Caucasus, also known as Transcaucasia. ** Armenian cuisine ** Azerbaijani cuisine ** Georgian cuisine *** Ossetian cuisine Kabsa.jpg, Kabsa is a traditional Yemeni dish. Hummuswithpinenuts.jpg, Hummus with pine nuts at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa, Israel. Syrian apricot paste 01.jpg, Syrians are renowned for producing dried apricot paste Khoresht-e fesenjan.jpg, Chicken Fesenjān with Persian rice, an Iranian dish Fatayer.jpg, Fatayer is a meat pie or pastry that can alternatively be stuffed with spinach (sabaneq), or cheese (jibnah). It is eaten in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and other countries in West Asia. Fahsa.jpg, Fahsa is a famous Yemeni dish, containing beef or lamb meat cooked in a stony pot called Madara. Falafel.JPG, Falafel balls Döner in Istanbul (01.10.2008).jpg, Doner kebab, Istanbul, Turkey Adjaruli Khachapuri.jpg, Adjara, Adjarian Khachapuri from Georgia Ղափամա.JPG, Armenian Ghapama made with butternut squash, instead of pumpkin Azerbaijan Light snack.jpg, Light snacks of Azerbaijani cuisine


See also

* Eastern Arabian cuisine * Asian cuisine * Fusion cuisine * List of cuisines * List of dishes from the Caucasus * Mediterranean cuisine


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Asian Cuisines, List Of Asian cuisine, * Asia-related lists, Cuisine Cuisine by continent Food- and drink-related lists