Which Asian dish is your favourite?
Asian cuisine is increasingly present in our lives. In recent years, dishes originating from countries like Japan, China and Thailand have become enormously popular throughout Europe and have even made their way into our homes. Oriental food is so varied that choosing is often the biggest challenge. To help you in this difficult task, we’ve selected some of Ta-Tung’s star products.
Spring rolls: the classic of classics
Did you know that the ancient Chinese ate spring rolls in early spring at the time of the Chinese New Year and the start of the planting season? They were a symbol of fruitful harvests to come. What’s more, their shape is inspired by the silkworm, a revered animal in China, because spring is when they begin to fatten up to make the cocoons from which silk is extracted.
The recipe for Chinese spring rolls is based on a wheat or rice dough that’s shaped and then filled with different vegetables, such as onion, cabbage or carrot (among others) cut into julienne and sometimes with the addition of minced meat. This traditional recipe has given rise to an endless number of variants developed across China by modifying the dough and filling. You can enjoy authentic Chinese spring rolls at home. Bake them in the oven (coated in oil) or deep fry them in sunflower or soybean oil in a frying pan or deep fryer. Enjoy their crispy texture and tasty filling!
Chicken yakisoba: a hearty Japanese meal
Yakisoba (fried noodles) was invented in China (chow mein), but the dish was widely adopted in Japan after the Pacific War as a result of scarce food supplies and depleted rice stocks. People in the different regions of the country adopted this recipe but in each area they added different ingredients depending on what they had (chicken, beef, fish or vegetables). That’s why yakisoba varies so greatly depending on where you are in Japan, though chicken, beef and vegetable yakisoba are definitely among the most popular versions.
Gyozas: exquisite mini bites
The Gyoza is another Chinese specialty though it was adapted to Japanese cuisine and began to gain world fame as a result of its popularity in Japan. Gyozas have more than a passing resemblance to the Spanish empanadilla, though the two are different in many ways. Gyozas are made of pastry filled with meat and steamed mixed vegetables. They’re usually served as nibbles or to accompany main dishes like ramen or yakisoba. While the Chinese normally boil or only steam this dish, in Japan, you can often find it deep fried, a technique that makes these dumplings crispy and truly irresistible. At home, you can easily prepare them in the microwave and enjoy exquisite chicken gyozas in pure Japanese style.
Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai … which variety of Asian food do you like best? You can combine all your favourites with Ta-Tung’s oriental specialties: the perfect way to discover new flavours without having to go out. And best of all, they’re quick and easy to prepare! What are you waiting for?
