HUNAN cuisine
Hunan cuisine, also known as Xiang cuisine, consists of the cuisines from the Xiang River region, Dongting Lake and western Hunan Province in China. It is well known for its hot and spicy flavors, fresh aroma and deep colors. 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. The history of the cooking skills employed in Hunan cuisine dates back to the 17th century. During the course of its history, Hunan cuisine assimilated a variety of local forms and eventually evolving into its own style.
notable dishes in Hunan cuisine
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Spicy Chicken
Spicy Chicken is a home-cooked dish made with chicken legs that are cut into cubes. The color is brownish red. The texture is soft, the spicy taste is strong, and the salt is fresh and mellow. It has a high content of protein and easy to digest.
2. Dried Bean Steamed Pork
Dried Bean Steamed Pork is a traditional local dish in Hunan Province. Dry beans are cleaned and dried. Then it is seasoned with salt and sealed into a jar, which can be preserved for a long time. The dry beans should soak in warm water before cooking. There are a lot of ways to eat it, it can be fried or stew it. No matter how you cook it, you should pair it with meats because the bean can absorb the tastes of the meat.
3. Xiangxi Grandma’s Dish
Xiangxi Grandma’s Dish is a delicious dish. It is a common home-cooked dish in Xiangxi, and the raw materials were selected from a variety of wild vegetables in the Xiangxi area. Such as purslane, radish Ding, big leafy greens, Xiangxi soil, meat and so on.
4. Chop Bell Pepper Fish Head
Chop Bell Pepper Fish Head is a traditional dish in Hunan Province. According to legend, the origin is related to the Qing Dynasty literati Huang Zongxian. It is usually made from bighead carp fish head, chopped chili pepper with soy sauce, scallions, ginger, onion, garlic, and other accessories. The dishes are bright red, rich in flavor and tender in flesh. It is fat but not greasy and soft palate with spicy and palatable.