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If you love making new dishes with unusual ingredients and odd combinations, fusion cuisine is the cooking style you should try.
Fusion cuisine is not a new trend. Histories state that fusion cooking is an ancient practice. It makes it difficult to establish an exact origin. However, it is possible to identify some points in history.
This movement experienced some recognition by the 1970s in French restaurants. At that time, French chefs were looking for fresh ideas to offer unique menus with truly exceptional flavors. They decided to give the dishes a punch of intense taste by adding exotic Asian spices to their rigid and balance preparations.
Fusion has always been present in cooking history. Some of the most popular dishes resulted from mixing ingredients and other cultural influences.
It is not about mixing ingredients
Fusion cuisine is not about mixing different ingredients in a pot. This type of cooking comprises pairing ingredients, traditions, and techniques of various countries.
Nowadays, you may have heard or enjoyed some of the most famous mixed cuisines, to name a few:
- Tex-Mex: It brings together traditional Mexican foods with Texan cooking techniques.
- French-Vietnamese: It mixes French dishes with Vietnamese vegetables and seasonings.
- American sushi: It blends American ingredients in the typical Japanese sushi.
There are plenty more, and everyday people are making further combinations to get novel and exquisite dishes.
The preferred cuisine for fusing
If you notice, there is one common aspect in the previously mentioned fusion cooking. It is Asian flavors, it could not be otherwise.
Most Asian preparations distinguish with a varied use of spices, condiments, and herbs. They give typical taste, freshness, and aroma to all dishes. People are attracted by these distinctive flavors and try to incorporate them into their cuisine.
The success of mixing Asian cuisine with other´s countries is evident. In the last five years, Asian cuisine has increased its popularity. The newest dishes include Sushirrito, Korean Potato Salad, and Kamikaze Fries.
Rice: a key ingredient for fusion
Local herbs and species are not the only ingredients used for fusing. Asian regions can also boast of having a star ingredient in most of their dishes: Rice.
Rice is the most consumed grain in East countries, not only for being the place where rice was first cultivated but also for its versatility.
Rice is the main ingredient in several Asian dishes. Sushi, fried rice, pilaf, curry, and Kheer are just a few examples of food where rice is the principal component. Thus, it is not a big surprise; this grain is chosen too for practicing fusion.
Most Asian rice dishes are practically the object of mixing cooking. Among all options, curries have earned a preferential spot.
Curry is sauce or gravy made with vegetables, meat, and heavily spiced. It is served over rice to offer a balance of texture and flavor. This dish is renowned for its colorful and deep intense taste.
It is considered a preparation that embraces all Asian flavors and textures on a single plate. This is why fusion-style curry is found in any country. Pineapple and fish Curry, curry pork and sweet potatoes, red curry lentils, or even this https://riceselect.com/recipe/curry-risotto-baked-salmon, are the best examples of curry-based fusion.
Cooking fusion cuisine is not as complicated as you might think. You only need to handle the basics of some countries’ cuisine and blend the ingredients and techniques you think work together. Fusion cooking is all about trial and error. Don’t be disappointed if you fail.
As for curries, the idea is to fuse traditional rice and techniques with Asian seasonings. Be adventurous, and try some Asian fusion cooking with the following recipe.
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into small bites.
- 1 finely chopped onion.
- 3 minced garlic cloves.
- 2 teaspoons of finely minced ginger.
- 3/4 cup of Arborio rice.
- 3 tablespoons of red curry paste.
- 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth.
- 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk.
- Lime juice to taste.
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce.
- 4 sliced baby bok choy.
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes.
- Basil leaves for garnish.
- In a large saucepan, pour olive oil and heat at high temperature.
- Add chicken bites and cook for 10 minutes or until they are golden on all sides. Set aside.
- Reduce heat and incorporate onion, garlic, and ginger.
- Cook for 2 minutes and incorporate rice and red curry paste. Mix all ingredients very well.
- Pour ½ cup of chicken broth, and add more once it is absorbed. Stir constantly and pour more broth each time.
- Incorporate 1 cup of coconut milk, and cook until it is completely absorbed.
- In a bowl, combine 1 cup of coconut milk, brown sugar, lime juice, and soy sauce.
- Add this mixture, chicken bites, bok choy, and halves of cherry tomatoes to the saucepan with the rice. Combine them.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Serve with basil leaves at the top.
