Asian Cooking Made Easy

Asian food has been part of American culture for as long as we can remember. We\'ve all tried those spicy Thai noodles, Chinese fried rice, and Japan\'s famous sushi, at least at restaurants. But not many have tried making their own-most people think it\'s too complicated or requires those exotic spices. That\'s not always the case; in fact, you can whip up a good Asian meal using whatever ingredients you have in the fridge.

That\'s the best thing about Asian cuisine: it\'s so simple and versatile that you can make it from just about anything. While some recipes do call for specific ingredients or spices, they\'re not that hard to find-and when you can\'t, there\'s usually a viable replacement. So whether you like meat or veggies, spicy or sweet, there\'s always an Asian dish you can make on your own.

Most Asian foods are either very light or very heavy. You\'ve got butter chicken and curry from India, which are pretty much one-dish meals. But then you have Chinese soups and stir-fried vegetables, which are more like appetizers. That\'s why it\'s usually best to cook them in combination. A lot of Asian recipes are meant to complement each other on the table. Look for recipes that offer a nice contrast and try making them together.

Slow cooking is a great way to improve your Asian dishes. Although it\'s seldom used in authentic Asian cuisine, it helps amplify the flavor and gives it the strong taste that makes Asian food so appetizing. Often, you can use half the amount of spices and still get the same flavor. It\'s also a great solution for busy cooks who don\'t have time to work in the kitchen-you just turn it on in the morning and come home to a ready-made Asian meal.

To give your meals a real Asian touch, why not start in the kitchen? Invest in traditional Asian tools such as woks for stir-frying and wooden pots for steaming. If you like wine, a sake set would be a great accompaniment to a Japanese sushi meal. Bamboo placemats, chopsticks, and deep bowls all look great on the table and add a real Asian feel.

Asian cuisine is a great way to explore new flavors in everyday cooking. Most Asian meals are easy to make and use readily available ingredients. Start spicing up your dinners with these simple Asian cooking tips.