Thursday 26 October 2017

Japan

Japan

Japanese Cuisine
 The cuisine of Japan has gone through centuries of development. Japanese cuisine comes from the traditional plate of rice served along side a number of other dishes with attention to numerous different seasonal ingredients. The typical side dish is composed of vegetables or fish that's cooked and served in a broth. One of the most popular dishes is seafood, which is usually either served raw or grilled. Another common food is Tempura, which consists of lightly battered vegetables and seafood that has been deep-fried. Similar to rice, noodles such as udon and soba are also staple foods. There is also a number of dishes in Japanese cuisine that consists of food, such as fish, that has been simmered in a broth. Several different foreign foods, such as hamburgers, curry, spaghetti, and even some Chinese food has also been introduced into Japanese cuisine. Even so, they usually have an added twist and are made with Japanese ingredients so they fit into Japan's cuisine. Likewise, Japanese cuisine has introduced many unique foods, such as sushi, to other cuisines from all over the world. 

Sushi
A traditional Japanese meal consists of steamed white rice served with clear or miso soup, as well as one or more main dishes and sides. Rice is served in a small bowl of its own, while every other dish is served in its own bowl or plate by portion. The reason each food is given its own individual dish is because having different foods coming into contact with each other on a single plate is frowned upon in the Japan. Japanese cuisine prefers to separate foods that vary in flavour. Traditional Japanese cuisine uses  dairy products, oils and fats, and red meats very sparingly. Most dishes also tend to contain high levels of sodium due to the addition of traditional ingredients such as miso, soy sauce, and umeboshi. Japanese cuisine is also seasonally based, so many dishes are created with the arrival of each of the four seasons in mind. 

Japanese Rice Dishes
Throughout history, rice has always been a staple food in Japanese cuisine. In fact, rice is such a significant food in Japan that the word for cooked rice, "gohan" and "meshi", is the same as the word for "meal". Even though many people in Japan would consume rice for pretty much every meal, recent studies have shown that the popularity of this food is slowly decreasing. This is due to the introduction of new foods into Japanese cuisine, which has left a growing portion of the population turning to wheat-based foods, such as noodles and bread, instead of bland, white rice. Given this, however, rice is still traditionally incorporated into a number of popular Japanese dishes. Be sure to check out this website for more information on rice and the various dishes it's used in!


Sources:

https://gurunavi.com/en/japanfoodie/2017/04/popular-japanese-rice-dishes.

https://www.insidejapantours.com/japanese-culture/food/

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2035.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine







Wednesday 25 October 2017

United Kingdom

United Kingdom


British Cuisine
British cuisine refers to the practices and traditions connected to preparing food in the United Kingdom. Traditional cuisine in Britain consists of easygoing dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients and basic sauces to help emphasize the flavours. Throughout time, however, the cuisine of the United Kingdom has been influenced by the cultural methods of those who settled in Britain. 

England's cuisine has gone through an extensive history of development. From the Iron Age all the way into the Middle Ages, the indigenous Celts and Britons obtained several different types of foods through the breeding of livestock, as well as Celtic agricultural practices. Methods for stewing savory herbs and meats were introduced in Anglo-Saxon England, and these methods soon became very popular all throughout Europe. Exotic spices were brought into Britain through the Norman Conquest during the Middle Ages, and soon later Britain acquired a knowledge of the bold herbs and spices that were staples of Indian cuisine. While today's British cuisine does display its own staple elements, it's cuisine has been broadened by cultural traditions and ingredients imported during the era of the British Empire by India, North America, and China. It's believed that food rationing policies active during the first and second world wars are mainly responsible for the weak reputation that British cuisine holds throughout the world.

British Foods
Some traditional British dishes that are recognized globally include fish and chips, Christmas dinner,and of course, the full English breakfast. A few other popular English foods include Shepard's pie, steak and kidney pie, bangers and mash, and Sunday roast. The cuisine of the United Kingdom also has several regional versions that originate from places like England, Wales, and Scotland. Each posses their own distinctive, regionally identified dishes like Yorkshire pudding, Welsh Cakes, Cornish Pasties, and Cumberland Sausage.


Yule Log
Roast turkeys first popped up at Christmas dinners throughout Britain during the late 16th century, and since then, turkey has been recognized as one of the most popular holiday foods. Some foods that are typically served alongside roast turkey include ham or roast beef, alongside roast vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing. While Christmas pudding is quite popular, yule log, mince pies, Christmas cake, and trifle are also desserts commonly served during the holiday season. Here is an excellent recipe for delicious Chocolate Yule Log to go with this year's Christmas dinner!

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Monday 23 October 2017

Greece

Greece

Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a part of Mediterranean cuisine and has been a culinary tradition throughout the history of Greek culture. It has had both Turkish and Persian influence over the centuries and also shares some of its staple foods such as tzatziki, and baklava with Turkey and a few other countries. Greek cuisine is a historical precursor of western cuisine, and has had a significant impact on culinary practices throughout Europe, as well as the rest of the world. Greece isn't typically fond of overly refining food since it's believed to squander the spirit of the timeless Greek cuisine. Even so, recent emerging trends have encouraged Greek cuisine to produce more refined food products.

Greek Dish
The flavours of Greek cuisine change depending on the geography and season. It consists of several different ingredients such as olive oil, wine, meat, fish, and vegetables, while some other notable foods include bread, herbs, eggplant, olives, cheese, yogurt, and zucchini. In Greece, wheat is the most popular grain, followed by barley. Some typical ingredients found in Greek desserts include fruits, nuts, filo pastry, and honey.

Some typical vegetables in Greek cuisine include okra, eggplant, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and green peppers. Greek honey is primarily  extracted as nectar from fruit trees like orange, and lemon trees. Greece also uses some seasonings more frequently than other cuisines in the Mediterranean. These include onion, bay laurel leaves, dill, oregano, garlic, and mint, while some other common spices and herbs are fennel seed, thyme, basil. A common garnish used for some foods is parsley. Several Greek dishes, mainly those originating from northern Greece, season meat with a mixture of sweet spices, such as cinnamon. 

Greek Food
Olive oil is a common ingredient in several different dishes, and it's the most distinctive element of Greek cuisine. The olives are picked from olive trees, which are very abundant throughout the country. The terrain and climate of Greece caters is more ideal for raising cattle, sheep, and goats, while fish is a very popular food on the Greek islands and coastal regions. Greece has also incorporated numurous different cheeses into its cuisine such as Metsovone, Feta, Manouri, and Kasseri. Greece has a wide variety of cheeses, so for more information be sure to take a look at this Guide to the Cheeses of Greece.

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Friday 20 October 2017

Thailand

Thailand

The cuisine of Thailand primarily focuses on intricacy, a variety of textures, and a balance of flavours within its dishes. It revolves around light dishes that feature plenty of spices and ingredients with bold aromas. Thai cuisine is described by Thai chef McDang as "demonstrating intricacy; attention to detail; colour; taste: and the use of ingredients with medicinal benefits, as well as good flavour". Thai food differs from other cuisines in the sense that it incorporates numerous different ingredients into its complex dishes. The dishes and traditions of Thai cuisine have been influenced by its nearby regions over the past few centuries. Five flavours are responsible for creating a balance in Thai food: spicy, sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Given all this, it will come as no surprise that Thailand utilizes a wide variety of ingredients to bring out there flavours within its cuisine.

Thai food is commonly known for its abundance of spices and herbs. Some of the standard ones include lemon grass, galangal, pepper, garlic, shrimp paste, coriander/cilantro, fish sauce, shallots, chilies,  and kaffir lime leaves. Some dishes are sweetened by the native ingredient known as palm sugar, while other foods are made sour by ingredients such as tamarind and lime. Pork and chicken are typical meats found in Thai dishes, however, water buffalo, beef, and duck are also incorporated into the food. Shellfish, crustaceans, and fish are traditional foods that are a key component within the average Thai diet.
Similar to most other Asian countries, rice is a central element within Thai food and is the most essential part of each meal. For this reason, Khluk is a crucial part of eating meals in Thailand. Khluk is a Thai practice that involves taking the rice from one's own plate and mixing it with various different textures and tastes from other dishes. This is done very often in Thai cuisine because of how common rice is. In fact, rice is such a staple food in the Thai culture that the word "khao" means both "rice" and "food". A regular greeting used in Thailand is "kin khao reu yang?' which means, "Have you eaten rice yet?"

Shrimp Pad Thai
One popular food from Thai cuisine is Pad Thai, which is a stir-fried rice dish commonly served with other ingredients such as garlic, tofu, dried shrimp, bean sprouts, eggs, and much more. If you're in the mood to try this delicious dish, here's a quick and easy recipe for tasty Shrimp Pad Thai.



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Thursday 19 October 2017

Italy

Italy

Italian Ingredients



Italian cuisine is quite diverse and the ingredients incorporated into these dishes primarily depend on the region of Italy that they originate from. The cuisine of Italy is known for keeping it simple, as most dishes only contain around three or four key ingredients. However, despite this simplicity, Italian food still displays copious amounts of flavour. Instead of focusing on the complexity of a dish, this type of cuisine revolves around the quality of ingredients incorporated within it. The ingredients used can greatly differ by region, but the central foods of Italian cuisine are pasta and produce, with protein amounting to more of a side dish. Even so, numerous dishes that were once exclusive to only a single region have now expanded out with different versions appearing in other parts of Italy, as well as the rest of the world. 

In Northen Italy, the most common ingredients include sausages, rice,  potatoes, pork, corn, a variety of cheeses, and fish. This region also has numerous types of stuffed pasta, with risotto and polenta being the most well-known kinds. Olive oil, basil, and nuts are frequently used ingredients, while many seafood dishes such as cod are also very popular. Tomatoes, pecorino cheese, and many kinds of meat and fish are common components in the local cuisine of the central Italian regions. In the southern regions of Italy, olives, zucchini, ricotta cheese, artichokes, tomatoes, garlic, eggplants, peppers, oranges, and select kinds of fish are all part of southern Italy's cuisine. 

Italian Pastas
Out of all of its dishes, Italian cuisine is primarily known for its pasta. Italy has a variety of types of pasta that comes in several of  sizes and forms, and its based on these shapes that the different pastas get their names. There are hundreds of different kinds but the main ones are spaghetti, lasagne, linguine, penne, maccheroni (macaroni), and fusilli. All these pastas are commonly served with tomato or meat sauces all throughout the country.

From Margherita pizza to carbonara, Italy has no shortage of unique and flavourful foods that would all be worth a try. If you're looking for a fantastic Italian meal, be sure to check out these delicious recipes by none other than Food Network host Giada De Laurentiis.

 

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