Asian Recipes: If Pan-Asian is your favourite cuisine and you are out looking for some inspiration to cook up a storm at home, then you've come to the right place. Explore the diverse cuisines of Asia, all synonymous with remarkable flavours and vibrant colours. Ingredients common to many cultures of the regions include rice, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, chillies and soy; while stir frying, steaming and deep frying are the most common cooking methods employed to make delectable dishes. And the rich curries that make pan-Asian cuisine such a rage around the globe are cooked with coconut milk that works brilliantly to accentuate the flavours.
(Also Read: Indian Chinese Move Over, the Pan Asian Food Trend is Here to Stay)
When it comes to Japanese cuisine, there's much more on offer than sushi. Right from crispy tempuras to silken tofu, there are many contrasting textures at play that help you enjoy the light, simple flavours and make the experience more exciting.
(Also Read: A Beginner's Guide to Eating Sushi)
Did you know: rice plays an important role in Pan-Asian cuisine? In Japan, apart from sushi, it is also used to make a popular alcoholic beverage called sake. In Korean and Thai cuisines, rice is the backbone of almost every meal.
(Also Read: 4 Tips to Keep In Mind If You're Ordering Sushi for the First Time)
Does Korean cuisine start and end at kimchi for you? While it forms an integral part of their meals, Korean food is also about artful presentation combined with bold and fiery flavours. It is about spices, seafood and side dishes (banchan). The most common spices used by the Koreans are sesame oil, chilli pepper paste, soy sauce and scallions.
Coming to Chinese food, which is probably the most loved in the Pan Asian food category, the cuisine offers an intelligent blend of flavours in their numerous preparations. From sizzling sea bass to simple stir-fries, make your own version at home. If you're looking for low-calorie cooking, then the process of steaming is just the ticket for you. Chinese food actually varies tremendously region by region- Sichuan cuisine is spicy, Shangdong is generally tangy and crispy, and Cantonese cuisine is sweet. Whether you're craving kung pao chicken or delicious dumplings, try your hand at rustling them up at home.
Thai cuisine is all about balancing bold flavours: think creamy curries and exotic notes brought about by blending fragrant lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, fish sauce and shallots. From simple Som Tum papaya salad to Pad Thai, every dish is a gastronomic delight. Malay and Indonesian cuisines too have their culinary foundations based on the art of balancing flavours. How can you forget Nasi Goreng, soul nourishing Laksa, Rendang and the like? And it isn't difficult to replicate these recipes in your own kitchen these days, thanks to the many specialty stores that have made these ingredients readily available.
Of the lesser known cuisines, there is Vietnamese which screams simplicity, where local seasonal produce are cooked in flavourful stocks. Pho, a noodle soup, is the most popular pick across the globe, followed by the rice paper rolls. Cambodian cuisine on the other hand is very similar to Thai cuisine, highlighting bold flavours and rich curries made with coconut milk. Amok is one of their most loved dishes, which is a delicious curry made either with fish or chicken. Cambodians are also known for their whole fish preparations such as sizzling red snapper curry made with pineapples.
So go on, and cook up a storm in your kitchen and get the best of Asian cuisine with our 10 best recipes.
Here are 13 Best Asian Recipes You Must Try At Home
1. Asian BBQ Chicken
Fire up your grill! Marinated in char siu and flavored with honey, spruce up our slightly sweet yet tangy recipe with some fried rice.
2. Vietnamese Dumplings
Easy-to-follow and just delectable, make these steamed dumplings stuffed with minced pork and mushrooms. Team them with spicy chilly garlic sauce and enjoy.
(Also Read: 10 Best Chinese Chicken Recipes)
3. Burmese Khao Suey
Garnish this one-pot meal with fried garlic, onion, peanuts, the works! And with a generous squeeze of lime, you'll have this Burmese delicacy bursting with authentic flavors in no time.
(Also Read:10 Best Dumpling Recipes)
4. Grilled Fish with South-East Asian Dressing
Grilled to perfection and made with sesame oil, serve these melt-in-your-mouth fish fillets with a tangy dressing, this fish preparation is every fish lover's delight.
Indo-Chinese and just divine, skip the take-out and savour this boneless chilli chicken in the comfort of your home. Team it with fried rice or just have it stand-alone, this spicy and delectable dish is a show-stealer.
6. Thai Fish Curry
Impress your guests no end with this ambrosial Thai green curry, cooked with coconut and tenderly cooked fish. Spicy, easy and nothing short of spectacular!
7. Diced Chicken in Black Bean Sauce
Chicken lovers, raise your hand! A favourite of many, this chicken dish is cooked with peppers and loaded with chilli. Serve on a bed of egg fried rice or noodles, and you're good to go.
8. Japanese Prawn Tempura
Crispy, crunchy and just perfect- This prawn tempura can get any party started! Serve with soya sauce and be the star of the evening.
9. Asian Sesame Chicken Salad
Simply scrumptious and topped with almonds, healthy and heavenly - this chicken salad is your new favourite. Chicken is counted among the best sources of lean protein. Protein helps induce the feeling of satiety, which further prevents you from bingeing. This eventually helps facilitate weight loss.
10. Hazelnut Asian Lettuce Wrap
Wrapped in Romaine lettuce and spruced up with coleslaw, you just can't get enough of this zesty chicken recipe.
11. Stir Fried Udon Noodle With Black Pepper Sauce
Udon is thick wheat flour noodle used extensively in Japanese cuisine. This flavoursome preparation is made in a delectable black pepper sauce and also packs the fresh goodness of bell peppers, mock duck and a host of other toothsome ingredients. Wholesome and delicious, this is a perfect recipe for a cozy dinner party
12. Asian Peanut Butter Noodles
This flavoured peanut butter noodles satisfies Asian take-out food cravings. They are so easy and quick to make.
13. Ca Cang Kho
This recipe of Ca Cang Kho, straight from the kitchen of The Spice Route in their Winter special menu, offers a treat for sea food lovers.
Try these delicious Asian recipes and tell us which ones did you enjoy the most in our comments section below.