Hunan cuisine has always attached importance to the collocation of raw materials and the mutual penetration of tastes. Hunan cuisine is particularly spicy when seasoned. Due to the geographical location, Hunan has a mild and humid climate, so people like to eat peppers to refresh themselves and get rid of dampness. At the same time, stir-frying is also a major feature of Hunan cooking.
Cooking characteristics
Dongan Chicken
Dongan Chicken
It has a long history. Among the three cooking techniques, namely, hot cooking, cold cooking and sweet blending, there are only a few kinds of each technique, and dozens of others. Relatively speaking, the simmering kung fu of Hunan cuisine is better, almost reaching the point of perfection. Stew can be divided into red stew and white stew in color change, and clear soup stew, thick soup stew and milk soup stew in seasoning. Slow stew, original flavor. Some dishes are crystal clear and mellow, some dishes are pure and nourishing, some dishes are soft and delicious, and many braised dishes have become famous dishes and delicious in Hunan cuisine.
Generally speaking, the dietary customs in Hunan mainly have the following backgrounds and characteristics:
(1) In Hunan, "eating" has rich social significance.
First of all, eating is always an important content in people's weddings. Marriage is called "having a wedding banquet"; The dead, commonly known as "eating tofu"; If you add population, you must eat a "full moon"; Eat poached eggs and "birthday noodles" for your birthday. Secondly, "eating" is also one of people's important social means. When friends and acquaintances meet, the first greeting is often: "Have you eaten?" When you visit a friend's house, you can eat 10 or 12 dishes, which means that you are warmly received by the host.
(2) In Hunan, due to geography, climate and other reasons, rice is cultivated in most areas, and people take rice as the staple food in their daily diet. However, in a few mountainous areas, especially in some places in northern Hunan, corn, sweet potato and potato can only be used as the staple food for growing dry food crops. With the gradual economic development in these areas, the produced flue-cured tobacco or medicinal materials can be exchanged for rice when sold nationwide, so rice and corn are gradually used as staple foods. Sweet potato and potato are gradually separated from staple food and become raw materials for making starchy food, brewing wine and drying vegetables. Or feed for raising livestock. In Hunan, people eat three meals a day, whether in urban or rural areas. The difference is that in cities, breakfast is more casual, the heaviest dinner in a day and the heaviest weekend diet in a week. In rural areas, there is no obvious difference between three meals a day. During the Lunar New Year holidays or solar terms, the diet is generally more grand than that in the city. Within a year, the diet around the Spring Festival is the most important. In addition, no matter in urban or rural areas, almost every household has to make some pickles, dried vegetables, pickles, pickles and pickles according to the season. Whenever a guest arrives, the table is always served to show the housewife's skills and housekeeping ability.
(3) Regardless of gender, age and age, they are generally addicted to spicy food. Whether it's three meals on weekdays, a banquet in a restaurant, or a drink between three friends and four friends, one or two Chili dishes are indispensable.
It is said that pepper originated in tropical South America and was introduced to China in the late Ming Dynasty. Hunan's geographical environment is called "lowly and wet land" in ancient times, which is rainy and humid. Pepper has the effect of keeping out cold and expelling wind and dampness; In addition, Hunan people take rice as their staple food all year round, which can directly stimulate saliva secretion and stimulate appetite. More people eat, and the custom of eating spicy food is formed. People in Hunan eat peppers in various ways. Soak the red pepper in a sealed acid jar, and it is sour and spicy, which is called "hot and sour"; Combine red and spicy, pepper and garlic, which is called "spicy"; Chop the big red pepper and marinate it in a sealed jar, which is salty and delicious, so it is called "salty and spicy"; Chop the red pepper, mix the dried rice flour and marinate it in a sealed jar. When eating, it can be fried or mashed, which is called "spicy"; After the red pepper is crushed, garlic seeds and fragrant black beans are added and soaked in tea oil, which has a strong fragrance and is called "oily spicy"; Barbecue the big red pepper in the fire, then tear off the thin skin and mix it with sesame oil and soy sauce. It is spicy and sweet, so it is called "fresh and spicy". In addition, dried peppers and fresh peppers can also be used as cooking ingredients, and there are many ways to eat them. Hunan cuisine is very popular with customers in Europe, America and Southeast Asia, especially in the United States and Canada. In the United States, in front of some Hunan restaurants, there is a sign painted with big red pepper, which says Hunan pepper. The apron of the waitress in the museum is also embroidered with big red pepper.
Steamed multiple bacon
Steamed multiple bacon
(4) Hunan people love bitterness. According to documents, its origin can be traced back to the pre-Qin period. There is a poem in "The Songs of the South Evocation" that says, "Make a difference through hard work". The "great bitterness" here is said to be lobster sauce. So this condiment made of beans has a history of more than 2000 years. Hunan people like to eat lobster sauce, such as Liuyang lobster sauce, which is one of the famous local specialties. Others such as bitter gourd and bitter buckwheat are also favorite foods of Hunan people. The bitterness of Hunan customs not only has its historical origin, but also has its local characteristics. Hunan is located in the subtropical zone, with a long hot summer. Traditional Chinese medicine explains the meaning of summer heat: weather dominates heat, local qi dominates dampness, and damp heat steams up, which is called summer heat; When people are in the communication of qi, they will feel sick, which is summer disease. There are also "bitterness can purge fire", "bitterness can dry dampness" and "bitterness can strengthen the stomach". Therefore, people eat some bitter food properly, which is helpful for clearing heat, removing dampness and regulating stomach, and is of great benefit to health care. Looking at the topography of Hunan, the northern part of Hunan is mostly a lake area, the southern part of Hunan is mostly a mountainous area, and the central part of Hunan is a typical hilly area. This geographical difference leads to the diversity of dietary customs in various parts of Hunan. We divide it into three areas, namely, Xiangxi area, central and southern Hunan area and northern Hunan area.