Sichuan cuisine is famous throughout the world for being HOT and SPICY! Even if this is
your first visit to Sichuan, if you have spent any time in China (or in any major
immigrant nation in the world for that matter) you are sure to have tasted Sichuan food in
some manner or form before! Sichuan food is one of China"s four great cuisines along with
Beijing, Canton and Huaiyang and hugely popular throughout the country. The predominant ingredient here is CHILI. Locals claim that chili is beneficial both in
summer to help cool you down, and in winter, as a warmer. According to Chinese legend,
chili also has medicinal properties and helps protect against illnesses which result from
wet or damp conditions. For those unaccustomed to spicy food, Sichuan dishes can be hard to handle. Chili used
correctly however, is not supposed to be overbearing, but to bring out the flavors of a
dish. Once you get used to the spice, it becomes easier to enjoy Sichuan food. The most
famous dishes from the region include Spicy
chicken with peanuts(Gong bao ji ding), and spicy tofu with chili(Ma po dou fu).
Many dishes here are served in a fish flavored (Yu xiang) sauce which is made from
vinegar, ginger, sesame and soy. The texture of food here is also important. Sichuan dishes are characterized by their
rubbery and very dry taste. This is largely the result of prolonged cooking and, although
it doesn"t sound that appetizing, in fact the long cooking process can enhance the taste
of some foods. |