Wednesday, May 11, 2005
PAN ASIAN CUISINES
Fine Dining Trends
Asian cuisines are no longer limited to 'Far Eastern' fare. In fact, cuisines from lands as varied as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Korea are fast becoming an integral part of global lifestyles. Intercontinental Eros Executive Sous Chef, RAJDEEP KAPOOR prepares an awesome spread for FnL readers, with Pan-Asian foods that are representative of today's fastest-growing cuisine category.
There's no simple way of defining the cuisine cultures of the largest and most diverse continent on earth. In Southeast Asia, for instance, the main entrée and side dishes are often blended into a one-pot meal, which may be a stew, soup, sauced noodles, or fried rice with onions, tofu, chillies, leftover meat, vegetables, or just about anything available with the cook - served with a spicy condiment. The entire exercise, however, is never random; it involves a need to create a balance of tastes and textures…
Nasi Goreng
Topped up with a fried egg, this South East Asian fried rice is often served as breakfast, lunch and dinner! Rice being the staple diet in many Asian diets - Malay, Nyonya, Indonesian and Thai. Accompanied by chicken or prawn curry, satay, fiery garlic sauce and prawn crackers on the side, it makes for a substantial meal.
Kaeng Masaman Kai
The melting pot that South East Asia is, this particular curry, the Chicken Matsaman Curry, is of 'mussalman' or Islamic origins, and probably owes its flavour to early Portuguese influences.
Prawn in Green Curry
Coconut milk is the rich base for many Thai curries, such as this popular sea food variation - Prawn in Green Curry.
Tempura
Tempura is made by deep-frying vegetables, fish and shellfish. This dish too owes its origins to the Portuguese missionaries of the 16th century. A popular fast food in Japan and South East Asia, tempura is often sold hot sold from sidewalk stalls and roaming pushcarts!
Satay
This Malay delicacy is usually served with hot and sweet peanut sauce. Satay, or charcoal barbequed skewers of marinated meat, is often eaten with cucumber and ketupat or palm leaf-wrapped rice cubes.
Phad Thai Noodles
A signature Thai dish, Phad Thai is Thai-style fried noodles.
Som Tom & Glass Noodle Salad
Som Tom is a Thai-style green papaya salad, while Glass Noodle Salad is an Indonesian specialty. South East Asian salads are usually seasoned with salt or fish sauce, lime juice and chillies.
Published in IMAGES FnL, May'05
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