Asian food is a culinary trend that combines different cultural flavours to create new dishes. You can find it in restaurants worldwide, but this particular cooking style has been especially popular in Auckland, New Zealand. This guide will take you through some of the best dishes of Asian fusion in Auckland, including what makes them so unique.
Soto Ayam Bening
- A popular dish in Indonesia and Malaysia, Soto Ayam Bening is a chicken soup with a spicy broth. The broth is made of lemongrass, galangal root, turmeric root, shallots and garlic.
- The chicken is cooked in coconut milk until tender and added to the soup along with vegetables such as cabbage and carrots. It is served over rice noodles garnished with cilantro leaves.
Peking Duck
- Peking duck is a Chinese dish that consists of roasted duck. It is served with pancakes, scallions, cucumber and hoisin sauce. The duck is roasted in an oven and then steamed with scallions and ginger.
- It’s one of the most popular Asian fusion dishes in Auckland because it’s crispy on the outside while super tender on the inside thanks to its marinade consisting of soy sauce and spices like sesame oil or five spice powder.
- The best part about ordering this dish is that you can choose how you want your duck cooked. The options range from soft and crispy, medium-well has done to well-done.
Yakitori Chicken
- Yakitori is a Japanese dish of skewered and grilled meat, often chicken. It’s a popular dish in New Zealand and also in Japan.
- In New Zealand, yakitori refers to chicken dishes cooked with teriyaki or other marinades before being grilled on skewers over hot charcoal.
- Chicken thighs are usually cut into bite-sized pieces for this grilling style; the meat is tender and juicy when eaten right off the grill!
Kimchi Fries with Bacon and Cheese
- Kimchi fries are a popular Asian fusion dish served as an appetiser or side.
- Kimchi is a spicy fermented cabbage that is a staple of Korean cuisine, and you can find it in many Asian dishes, including kimchi fried rice, kimchi ramen, and kimchi stew.
- Kimchi fries are made by serving French fries with cheese, bacon, and kimchi on top.
- The ingredients used in Kimchi Fries are easily found at any grocery store or farmers market: potatoes (or sweet potatoes) for the base; veggie oil to fry them in; salt for seasoning; mozzarella cheese for topping; cheddar cheese for topping; bacon to add flavour/texture; and finally—the star ingredient—kimchi!
Bulalo-Lugaw
- Bulalo-Lugaw is a combination of beef soup and rice porridge. It is a popular dish in the Philippines and has also been gaining popularity in New Zealand.
- The origin of bulalo can be traced back to Pampanga, where people traditionally ate it during fiestas and other celebrations.
- The recipe includes a beef shank, marrow bones or ox tails, onions and garlic sautéed in oil until browned; then water is added to boil for about two hours until it becomes tender.
- It is done until most of the liquid evaporates, leaving behind a thick broth full of flavour from all its ingredients.
Laing Pasta
- Laing Pasta is a traditional Filipino dish made from bitter melon, coconut milk and shrimp paste.
- The dish is popular in the Philippines and Auckland, where it’s often served over noodles.
- The recipe for Laing Pasta starts with slicing the bitter melon into cubes or strips before boiling it until it is soft enough to blend into a paste.
- Next comes the addition of boiled rice noodles (or rice noodles you’ve soaked) along with onions and garlic until they’re slightly browned, then add some lime juice for tanginess before pureeing everything together in a blender until smooth.
- Finally, add some shrimp paste (optional), seasonings like salt & pepper, plus any other ingredients you’d like, such as carrots/carrots!
Seafood Curry Bowl
- Seafood Curry Bowl is a fusion of Asian and Indian cuisine served in a bowl.
- The dish is made with a curry base, a blend of spices such as coriander, turmeric and cinnamon.
- The curry is cooked with vegetables, seafood and some coconut milk for added flavour. It’s served over a bed of rice or noodles.
Conclusion
Hence, Asian fusion in Auckland is not just about the food but also the way of life. All above mention dishes are very much a part of the Asian culture and heritage, but when they are combined with other cuisine styles, they become even more interesting. Asian fusion combines different ingredients and flavours to create new and exciting dishes.
