When thinking about the Asian cuisine you’ll enjoy, there are many different choices you can make. Often, the cuisine is based on rice and soy sauce, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some dishes with a gluten-free version. Among the most popular desserts are Japanese mochi, a sweet rice ball, and Thai mango sticky rice. Asian desserts generally are healthier than the western desserts. This makes them a good choice for those on a gluten-free diet.
The cuisine of Vietnam is simple and seasonal, focusing on local ingredients such as rice and vegetables cooked in a variety of flavourful stocks. Pho is the most famous dish, as are rice paper rolls. Cambodian food is similar to Thai cooking, featuring bold flavours and curries made with coconut milk. Cambodian cuisine is known for its rich and flavorful fish dishes, like amok, which is a savoury soup. Whole fish preparations are common.
Northeast Asia is home to rice and noodles as the main staple food. Traditionally, meat is served on the side with rice, with vegetables and herbs flavored with soy sauce, ginger, chilies, and/or other spices. Other dishes in this region include satay, an Indonesian dish. It’s best served with a peanut sauce, lime juice, and jasmine rice. If you’re interested in trying Asian food, the possibilities are endless.
In Malaysia, beef rendang is a popular street food and a popular tea-house snack. The dish is made from thin rice noodles, spiced meat, and soup broth. Sides may include cucumber slices, tofu fritters, and deep-fried pork skins. Many Chinese restaurants feature this dish, and it is always a crowd-pleaser at Chinese New Year. A few other dishes to try in this country include kecap manis (a dark soy sauce) and sambal.
Whether you’re looking for a savory, sweet, or savoury dish, Asian cuisine has a wide variety of dishes to tempt your palate. The teriyaki sauce, for example, is a staple of Japanese cuisine and has found its way into the cuisine of many other countries. You can even make a delicious chicken meal at home in 15 minutes by making a simple teriyaki. For added taste, you can serve this dish with steamed broccoli and classic white rice.
In China, you can eat rice dishes and stir-fries – although these two are quite common in the region. The popular bibimbap dish, which was originally created out of necessity, has been around for many years. The bibimbap is a dish of different vegetables and meats with rice, which makes it particularly nutritious. In Japan, you can find spicy and hot versions of the jiaozi dumplings, called gyoza. These rice balls are often paired with a chicken tandoori dish.
Indonesian and Malaysian cuisines are similar to one another, although they have different influences. Both countries have rice-based dishes, and many of these cross-pollinated dishes are popular. In the Philippines, you can find the famous Cendol, which is a dessert made of shaved ice, coconut milk, and jelly noodles. In addition to being a popular dessert in Indonesia, Cendol is considered the Indonesian equivalent of the Filipino halo-halo.
