Sichuan cuisine

Sichuan cuisine (Chinese: 四川菜; pinyin: Sìchuān cài), also known as Szechwan cuisine or Szechuan cuisine, is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from Sichuan Province. It has bold flavours, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavour of the Sichuan pepper.

History

Sichuan cuisine has a history stretching back to the Qin Dynasty. The cuisine was already famed for its variety and sophistication during the Tang Dynasty, when Sichuan was known as the "land of plenty". The modern form of Sichuan cuisine took shape during the Ming Dynasty, as techniques such as marinating, dry-steaming, and braising were developed.

Ingredients and Seasoning

The most commonly used ingredients in Sichuan cuisine are beef, pork, chicken, tofu, and various vegetables. The cuisine is known for its liberal use of various seasonings, including Sichuan pepper, garlic, chili peppers, ginger, star anise, and fermented black beans. Sichuan cuisine also makes extensive use of pickling, fermentation, and smoking.

Cooking Techniques

Sichuan cuisine is characterized by a variety of cooking techniques, including stir-frying, steaming, braising, baking, and the unique "dry-frying" and "double-cooking" techniques. The "dry-frying" technique involves frying the ingredients on high heat with a small amount of oil until they are dry and crispy, while the "double-cooking" technique involves cooking the ingredients twice, usually by boiling and then stir-frying.

Famous Dishes

Some of the most famous dishes in Sichuan cuisine include Kung Pao chicken, Mapo tofu, Twice cooked pork, Sichuan hotpot, and Dan dan noodles. These dishes are known for their bold and complex flavours, combining the pungency and spiciness of Sichuan pepper and chili peppers with the richness of meats and vegetables.

See Also

• Chinese cuisine
• Hunan cuisine
• Cantonese cuisine
• Shandong cuisine