View source for Hunan cuisine

{{Short description|Branch of Chinese traditional cuisine native to Hunan province}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2019}}
{{Chinese|pic=Hunan Cured Ham.jpg|picsize=230px|piccap=Hunan cured ham with pickled yardlong beans
|c=湖南菜|p=Húnán cài|w=Hu-nan ts'ai
|altname=Xiang cuisine|c2=湘菜|p2=xiāng cài|w2=hsiang ts'ai}}
{{Cuisine of China}}
'''Hunan cuisine''', also known as '''Xiang cuisine''', consists of the cuisines of the [[Xiang River]] region, [[Dongting Lake]] and western [[Hunan|Hunan Province]] in China. It is one of the Eight Great Traditions of [[Chinese cuisine]] and is well known for its hot and spicy flavours,<ref name=Serious>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/02/introduction-hunan-chinese-cuisine.html|title = A Song of Spice and Fire: The Real Deal with Hunan Cuisine}}</ref> fresh aroma and deep colours. Despite this, only about 20% of the cuisine uses capsicum to produce a strong spicy taste.<ref>{{Cite book |last=王 |first=墨泉 |title=湘菜本色 |date=March 2018 |publisher=湖南人民出版社 |year=2018 |isbn=978-7-5438-9232-3}}</ref> Common cooking techniques include [[stewing]], [[frying]], pot-[[roasting]], [[braising]] and [[Smoking (cooking)|smoking]]. Due to the high agricultural output of the region, ingredients for Hunan dishes are many and varied.
==History==
The history of the cooking skills employed in Hunan cuisine dates back to the 17th century.<ref name="Serious" /> The first mention of [[Chili pepper|chili peppers]] in local gazettes in the province date to 1684, 21st year of the [[Kangxi Emperor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nautil.us/issue/35/boundaries/why-revolutionaries-love-spicy-food|title=Why Revolutionaries Love Spicy Food|date=14 April 2016|access-date=21 May 2019|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923004411/http://nautil.us/issue/35/Boundaries/why-revolutionaries-love-spicy-food|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the course of its history, Hunan cuisine assimilated a variety of local forms, eventually evolving into its own style. Some well-known dishes include fried chicken with Sichuan spicy sauce ({{zh|s=麻辣鸡丁|t=麻辣雞丁|p=málà jīdīng|labels=no}}) and smoked pork with dried long green beans ({{zh|s=干豆角蒸腊肉|t=乾豆角蒸臘肉|p=gāndòujiǎo zhēng làròu|labels=no}}).
Hunan cuisine consists of three primary styles:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Hunan Government Website International-enghunan.gov.cn Hunan Cuisine |url=http://www.enghunan.gov.cn/hneng/AboutHunan/HistoryCulture/CTC/201507/t20150714_1796385.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=www.enghunan.gov.cn}}</ref>
* [[Xiang River]] style: Originating from [[Changsha]], [[Xiangtan]] and [[Hengyang]]
* [[Dongting Lake]] style: Originating from [[Yueyang]], [[Yiyang]] and [[Changde]]
* Western Hunan style: Originating from [[Zhangjiajie]], [[Jishou]] and [[Huaihua]]
Cities near the Xiang River, such as Changsha, Xiangtan and Hengyang have spicier and oilier flavours, whereas people in places in Western Hunan like Zhangjiajie, Jishou and Huaihua use more preserved ingredients and prefer less spicy.
== Features ==
[[File:Changsha rice noodles (20160324062840).jpg|left|thumb|204x204px|A bowl of Changsha rice noodles]]
With its liberal use of [[chili pepper]]s, [[shallot]]s and [[garlic]], Hunan cuisine is known for being ''gan la'' ({{zh|c=干辣|p=gān là|l=dry and spicy|labels=no}})<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=B |first=Ivan |date=2019-07-28 |title=China Spice Wars: Sichuan Cuisine vs. Hunan Cuisine |url=http://countryandahalf.com/china-spice-wars-sichuan-cuisine-vs-hunan-cuisine/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Country and a Half |language=en-US}}</ref> or purely hot, as opposed to [[Sichuan cuisine]], to which it is often compared.<ref name="Serious" /> Sichuan cuisine uses its distinctive ''[[Sichuan mala|ma la]]'' ({{zh|c=麻辣|p=má là|l=spicy and numbing|labels=no}})<ref name=":1" /> seasoning and other complex flavour combinations, frequently employs [[Sichuan pepper]]<ref name="Serious" /> along with chilies which are often dried. It also utilises more dried or preserved ingredients and condiments. Hunan cuisine, on the other hand, is often spicier by pure chili content and contains a larger variety of fresh ingredients. Both Hunan and Sichuan cuisine are perhaps significantly oilier than the other cuisines in China, but Sichuan dishes are generally oilier than Hunan dishes.<ref name=":1" /> Another characteristic distinguishing Hunan cuisine from Sichuan cuisine is that Hunan cuisine uses smoked and cured goods in its dishes much more frequently.<ref name=":0" />
Hunan cuisine's menu changes with the seasons. In a hot and humid summer, a meal will usually start with cold dishes or a platter holding a selection of cold meats with chilies for opening the pores and keeping cool in the summer. In winter, a popular choice is [[hot pot]], thought to heat the blood in the cold months. A special hot pot called ''yuanyang huoguo'' ({{zh|s=鸳鸯火锅|t=鴛鴦火鍋|p=yuānyāng hǔogūo|l=[[Mandarin duck#Chinese culture|Mandarin ducks]] hot pot|labels=no}}) is notable for splitting the pot into a spicy and a mild side.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-09 |title=Hunan cuisine {{!}} China & Asia Cultural Travel |url=https://www.asiaculturaltravel.co.uk/hunan-cuisine/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> One of the classic dishes in Hunan cuisine served in restaurants and at home is farmer pepper fried pork. It is made with several common ingredients: pork belly, green pepper, [[douchi|fermented black beans]] and other spices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guo |first=Wei |date=2021-02-26 |title=Hunan Pork Stir-fry (湖南小炒肉) |url=https://redhousespice.com/hunan-pork/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Red House Spice |language=en-US}}</ref>
== List of notable dishes ==
[[File:Sautéed Pork with Chili Pepper at Chef Fei's (20190319121754).jpg|thumb|Sautéed pork with chili pepper]]
[[File:Yongzhou Xueya at Beijing Yongzhou Guild Hall (20240204130200).jpg|thumb|''Xueya'', sautéed duck with duck blood, originated from [[Yongzhou]]]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! English !! Traditional Chinese !! Simplified Chinese !! Pinyin !! Notes
|-
| Changsha-style [[rice vermicelli]] || {{lang|zh-hant|長沙米粉}} || {{lang|zh-hans|长沙米粉}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|chǎngshā mǐfěn}} ||
|-
| Changde-style stewed beef with rice vermicelli || {{lang|zh-hant|常德牛肉粉}} || {{lang|zh-hans|常德牛肉粉}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|chángdé niúròu fěn}} ||
|-
| [[Changsha stinky tofu]] || {{lang|zh-hant|長沙臭豆腐}} || {{lang|zh-hans|长沙臭豆腐}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|chǎngshā chòu dòufu}} ||
|-
| Cured ham with [[cowpea]]s || {{lang|zh-hant|酸豆角炒臘肉}} || {{lang|zh-hans|酸豆角炒腊肉}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|suān dòujiǎo chǎo làròu}} ||
|-
| [[Dong'an chicken]] || {{lang|zh-hant|東安子雞}} || {{lang|zh-hans|东安子鸡}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|dōng'ān zǐjī}} ||
|-
| "Dry-wok" chicken || {{lang|zh-hant|乾鍋雞}} || {{lang|zh-hans|干锅鸡}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|gānguō jī}} ||
|-
| Home-style [[tofu]] || {{lang|zh-hant|家常豆腐}} || {{lang|zh-hans|家常豆腐}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|jiācháng dòufǔ}} ||
|-
| [[Lotus seed]]s in [[Rock candy|rock sugar]] syrup || {{lang|zh-hant|冰糖湘蓮}} || {{lang|zh-hans|冰糖湘莲}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|bīngtáng xiānglián}} ||
|-
| [[Hongshao rou|Mao's braised pork]] || {{lang|zh-hant|毛氏紅燒肉}} || {{lang|zh-hans|毛氏红烧肉}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|Máo shì hóngshāo ròu}} ||
|-
| Mala chicken || {{lang|zh-hant|麻辣子雞}} || {{lang|zh-hans|麻辣子鸡}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|málà zǐjī}} ||
|-
| Mashed shrimp in lotus pod || {{lang|zh-hans|蓮藕蝦仁}} ||{{lang|zh-hans|莲藕虾仁}} ||  {{lang|zh-Latn| lián'ǒu xiārén}}||
|-
| Pearly meatballs || {{lang|zh-hant|珍珠肉丸}} || {{lang|zh-hans|珍珠肉丸}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|zhēnzhū ròuwán}} ||
|-
| Pumpkin cake || {{lang|zh-hant|南瓜餅}} || {{lang|zh-hans|南瓜饼}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|nánguā bǐng}} ||
|-
| Sautéed pork with chili pepper || {{lang|zh-hant|農家小炒肉}} || {{lang|zh-hans|农家小炒肉}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|nóngjiā xiǎo chǎoròu}} ||
|-
| Smoky flavours steamed together || {{lang|zh-hant|臘味合蒸}} || {{lang|zh-hans|腊味合蒸}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|làwèi hézhēng}} ||
|-
| [[Spare ribs]] steamed in bamboo ||  {{lang|zh-hant|竹筒蒸排骨}} ||  {{lang|zh-hans|竹筒蒸排骨}}  || {{lang|zh-Latn|zhútǒng zhēng páigǔ}} ||
|-
|Spicy crawfish
|香辣口味蝦
|香辣口味虾
|''xiāng là kǒu wèi xiā''
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=一城一味丨长沙：最令人神魂颠倒的，是口味虾的那口香辣 - 寻味湖湘 - 新湖南|url=https://www.hunantoday.cn/article/201901/201901081631492719001.html|access-date=2021-08-31|website=www.hunantoday.cn}}</ref>
|-
| Steamed fish head in chili sauce || {{lang|zh-hant|剁椒蒸魚頭}} || {{lang|zh-hans|剁椒蒸鱼头}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|duòjiāo zhēng yútóu}} ||
|-
| Stir fried duck blood || {{lang|zh-hant|炒血鴨}} || {{lang|zh-hans|炒血鸭}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|chǎoxuéyā}} ||
|-
| Stir fried meat with [[douchi]] and [[chili pepper]]s || {{lang|zh-hant|豆豉辣椒炒肉}} || {{lang|zh-hans|豆豉辣椒炒肉}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|dòuchǐ làjiāo chǎoròu}} ||
|-
|[[Yongfeng chili sauce]]|| {{lang|zh-hant|永豐辣醬}} || {{lang|zh-hans|永丰辣酱}} || {{lang|zh-Latn|yǒng fēng làjiàng}} ||
|-
|}
A discussion of Hunan cuisine overall may list a number of piquant dishes, usually but not always very hot and spicy.<ref>{{cite web | last=Jiang | first=Yan | title=Top 10 Hunan dishes you have to taste | website=Discover.china.org.cn | date=Apr 27, 2016 | url=https://discover.china.org.cn/food-drink/top-10-hunan-dishes-you-have-to-taste/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814204703/https://discover.china.org.cn/food-drink/top-10-hunan-dishes-you-have-to-taste/ | archive-date=2016-08-14 | url-status=dead | access-date=}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Chinese cuisine]]
* [[Sichuan cuisine]]
* [[List of Chinese dishes]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Hunan cuisine}}
{{Hunan topics}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Hunan cuisine| ]]
[[Category:Chinese cuisine| ]]
[[Category:Regional cuisines of China]]