There’s nothing quite like exploring the world through food and music. In fact, some say that if you are a true lover of both of these, it’s impossible to be bigoted or dismissive to someone elses’ culture, because each and every culture out there has contributed at least something worth seeing to these most human of passions.
Yet it can sometimes seem, especially in these times, that diving into another culture should be performed in the right way. No one wants to be disrespectful, or tokenize history, or to come across as someone who is insincere about their desire to learn.
Don’t worry about that. After all, having passion and genuine interest is enough. In this post, we’ll discuss the three best ways for getting involved and learning about authentic cuisine, as well as what this can give to you in the long run.
Over time, you’ll begin to naturally integrate certain dishes and ingredients into your recipes, and widen your repertoire of cooking worth going forward:
Look To The Most Fundamental Staples
It’s healthy to look to the most fundamental staples of authentic cuisine, those essentials which helped a culture define itself on the world stage through its cooking. For instance, Iberian cured meats can provide such wonderful flavors that can be added to any kind of tapas or lunchtime menus can be a great investment, particularly if you install a hanging hook in your pantry for them, and a meat slicer so that individual slices of such fantastic meats can easily be placed on larger sandwiches. If you can work with treasured national ingredients, you’re halfway there.
Consider All Meals Of The Day
A great means of learning any cultural cuisine is to focus on different mealtimes of each day, so that you get a full, three-sixty-degree view of what kind of foods a culture may indulge in from morning to night. A beautiful chilaquiles rojos recipe, for example, can add some much needed colorful vibrance, enjoyable textures and high-protein, high healthy fat content to your morning meal, allowing you and your family to share a beautiful creation and eat breakfast like kings and queens. Looking at a cuisine from every angle, not just with staples like tacos and fajitas during lunch or evening meals, can help you gain a better understanding of it.
Consider Serving Suggestions & Traditions
It’s also worthwhile to consider not only the recipes, but how these foods are actualized at the dinner table. Understanding tapas, for instance, means learning how to properly portion food in tapas bowls, where to place them on the table, and how to divide certain ingredients more readily.
It also means understanding what wines or other beverages are served with each meal traditionally. This can get you out of your comfort zone – for instance, instead of serving three-course dinners you may decide to serve a dozen smaller courses for fun just as many French dinner parties do. In the long run, this is sure to help you thrive.
With this approach, you’re certain to get involved in authentic cuisine through and through, and in absolutely the best way.
