5 Asian Cuisines You Won’t Believe You’ve Never Tried
Introduction
There’s a lot of talk these days about the ways in which globalization has made us more connected on a global scale. And yet, it’s rare that we get to experience the sort of cultural collision that can happen when two seemingly disparate cultures collide—except maybe at a food festival, or when one of your friends randomly decides to host an Indian dinner party. But what if I told you there were five different Asian cuisines you could try without traveling halfway around the world? Well: there are! These five cuisines are all popular in their home countries and have been making their way into American dining rooms over the past few decades: Korean, Pakistani, Filipino, Thai, and Indian. Let me give you a rundown on each one so you can decide whether or not they’re worth trying out yourself (spoiler alert: they definitely are).
Korean
Korean food is very healthy. It’s great for vegetarians and vegans, too! Korean dishes are high in protein, low in fat and calories, and contain little to no sodium. Plus they’re full of vitamins like A and C as well as iron–the perfect combo for a healthy diet.
Pakistani
Pakistani cuisine is a blend of Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. It’s also known for its spiciness, but not as spicy as Indian food.
The most common Pakistani dishes include curries made with chickpea flour (chana), lentils (dal) and potatoes (aloo). These are served over rice or flatbreads called naan. You can find these dishes at restaurants serving South Asian cuisine in your area – they’re pretty easy to find these days!
Filipino
If you’re a fan of spicy food and pork, then Filipino cuisine is the perfect place to start. The cuisine is a mix of Chinese, Spanish and Malay cooking styles, but it’s most well-known for its use of vinegar in dishes like adobo or sinigang (a soup made with vegetables).
Filipinos also love their meat–particularly pork! If you’re looking for something new to try when eating out at a Filipino restaurant, don’t hesitate to order some lechon: roasted pig that’s been baked slowly until tender enough to fall off the bone. And if it doesn’t get your mouth watering enough just thinking about it… think again! Most dishes will come with an assortment of sauces so you can add extra flavor if needed.
Thai
Thai cuisine is a blend of Chinese, Indian, and Malay influences. The food is known for its balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavors. Thai food also uses a lot of fresh herbs and spices that are often found growing in their country’s tropical climate.
Indian
Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world, with more than 1 billion people enjoying it every day. There are so many different regions, religions and cultures that make up Indian cuisine that it can be hard to know where to start if you’ve never tried it before.
Indian food is healthy and full of flavor–it uses spices like turmeric and cumin as well as yogurt or coconut milk instead of cream sauces for richness. There are also many vegetarian options available if you’re looking for something meatless (but don’t worry–the chicken tikka masala at your local Indian restaurant will still be on the menu).
You don’t have to travel all the way to Asia for these cuisines.
If you’ve ever wanted to try some of the world’s most exotic cuisines, but haven’t had the opportunity or resources to travel all the way to Asia, know that there are plenty of ways for you to enjoy these flavors right in your own city. You don’t have to go out on a limb and try something new–and potentially weird–just because it looks interesting; in fact, many of these dishes have become popular enough among Americans that they can be found easily at local restaurants.
In this article we’re going to talk about five Asian cuisines you won’t believe you’ve never tried before!
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about these five Asian cuisines and are ready to try them out. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our list of 10 other lesser-known cuisines that deserve your attention!