If you’re looking to have your culinary repertoire expanded, then there are few better ways than to look outside of your own cultural experience. The world is a vast and diverse place. This means that there are tons upon tons of recipes that you can try, which can help you learn from other cultures. But, how do you get started? Here are a few ways to explore the world through your cuisine.
Start with the Basics
The first way to explore the world through your cuisine is to start with the basics. You may want to start getting into the most complex and extravagant meals of another country’s tradition. However, you might not be well equipped with the skills to do it right just yet. Take into consideration the level of difficulty of the recipe.
Aside from being able to cook in methods that are new to you, you want to be able to get used to how certain ingredients are supposed to taste. This means that you should start with something that uses foods that are a little better suited to newcomers. For the taste of galangal, for example, a good tom kha gai recipe is going to be a lot simpler than a percik or the like. Give yourself the opportunity to acclimate a little more gently, at first.
Use the Right Ingredients
First of all, you have to realize that cuisines around the world are going to come with a variety of different components for the meal. You may not be able to adapt many of these to work in ways that you’re confident with. At least, initially, that’s not always the case. This is especially true when it comes to ingredients. For instance, if you are having a Korean meal that uses kimchi, you need to use kimchi. There really is no replacement for it.
The same goes for any Thai dishes that use galangal. If you can’t find fresh ingredients anywhere near you, it might be worth looking at the growing world of meal prep delivery kits, which can provide any ingredient. These services are speaking to a much wider and more cultured audience, so they’re starting to carry a lot of choices from across the world of cuisine.
Explore the Cuisine Beforehand
Before you try to become an expert in another nationality’s cuisine, you should try it. Also, make sure that you really know how it tastes when done authentically. One of the best ways to do this is to eat at the table with people who have grown up with that cuisine. Another thing you can do is visit a restaurant that serves authentic food from that country and attend food festivals and cultural events in your area or travel to destinations known for their culinary celebrations. These events showcase traditional dishes, street food, and culinary traditions from various cultures.
If you can’t do any of those, then taking international interactive cooking courses might be the next best thing. Following a recipe is one thing, but being able to engage with those who have the tradition of cooking that food is even better.
It can be a little tough to get used to some of the different culinary traditions of places around the world. It can also be hard to get your hands on some of the ingredients that might be rare in your own cuisine but that are common in the cuisine of other countries. However, becoming a taste globetrotter can be fun and satisfying. Hopefully, the tips above can help you to explore the world through your cuisine.
To a Fitter Healthier You,
The Fitness Wellness Mentor
