Culinary traditions around the world: Exploring global cooking techniques

Culinary practices vary across the world. There are flavors, traditions, and techniques unique to different regions, each deeply rooted in the history, culture, and lifestyles of the people. Let’s take a journey to explore this distinctiveness from the lively kitchens of Asia to the warm hearths of Europe.

Stir frying

Stir frying is a technique that has its roots in Chinese culinary culture and is popular in the entire East Asia. It involves cooking ingredients quickly in hot oil. A wok is usually used. The key to successful stir-frying lies in the way ingredients are prepped. They should be cut uniformly and kept ready before heating the pan. An advantage of stir frying is that it retains the nutrients of vegetables.

Smoking

Smoking is a technique that is used worldwide. Food is cooked by exposing it to smoke from burning or smoldering wood. There are different types of woods that impart different flavors. It’s a low and slow process that gives a rich, smoky flavor to the ingredients, especially meat and fish.

Grilling 

This time-honored cooking technique involves cooking food over a direct source of dry heat, typically at high temperatures. It sears the surface of the ingredients, locks in the juices and creates a delicious smoky crust. It gives meat, seafood, vegetables and even fruits a distinct charred texture and rich flavor. More than a cooking technique, grilling is often a celebration, bringing together people in backyards and kitchens around the world.

Poaching

The gentle, low-temperature cooking method involves submerging food in a liquid at temperatures ranging from 140 to 190°F. Poaching is widely used to prepare French dishes. A steady temperature needs to be maintained ensuring that the liquid is hot but not boiling. Try in a flavorful liquid or broth to impart subtle flavors and keep your food moist and tender. It is ideal for delicate foods like eggs, fish, or fruit.

Tandoori

Tandoori cooking is named after the cylindrical Indian clay oven ‘tandoor.’ In this technique, meat is marinated in a spicy blend and cooked at high temperatures in the tandoor to get a tender, smoky, and charred flavor. While the authentic taste lies in cooking in a tandoor, this can also be adopted by using a hot oven or a barbecue grill. The key is the marinade and the high cooking temperature.

Exploring global cooking techniques offers more than just new recipes; it's a way to experience and appreciate cultures around the world. Each technique brings its unique flavor and story to the table. Which of these techniques do you think the chefs at Asmahan Restaurant Dubai are expert in?