Chinese salad is essentially a salad from the Chinese or Oriental cuisine. The salads in Chinese or Asian cuisine are very different from those generally found in the Western cuisines. Right from the ingredients used and the preparation methods followed to the presentation, everything is different. Even the courses in which the salads are served tend to differ.
Salads have been an essential part of the Chinese culinary tradition since the ancient times. Various sources credit Asia, specifically the Orient, as the inventor of salads and soups. While this claim has often been disputed, one fact which is known for sure is that salads have been an important aspect of the Chinese cuisine for centuries and their preparation is generally as elaborate as any common main course dish's would be.
Chinese Salad Recipe: Common Ingredients Used
A Chinese salad can be vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian. In fact, in a lot of cases, there are both vegetarian and meat versions of one salad recipe. Everything from beans, tomatoes and lettuce to chicken, fish and seafood are used to make the various salad recipes in Oriental cuisine. The dressings and seasoning agents are also numerous and their use depends on the recipe being followed and the type of salad being prepared.
Noodles, bean, carrot, scallion, chicken, fish, shrimp, onion, tomato and ginger are some of the most commonly used ingredients. Lime juice, soy sauce, cilantro or Chinese parsley, chili and sesame oil are common dressings and seasonings.
Chinese Salads: Preparation Overview
Based on the recipe being followed and the ingredients used, a Chinese salad can be prepared in various ways. While a salad in the Western cuisine generally consists of raw vegetables which are tossed together, and cooked meat in case the recipe is for a non-vegetarian preparation, Chinese salads mostly use vegetables which are blanched before being tossed together and fried meats. The preparation time can range from a few minutes to as much as an hour, especially if the recipe and presentation are elaborate.
Serving and Eating Chinese Salads
While salads are mostly an appetizer in the Western culinary traditions, a Chinese salad can actually make up the entire main course. It can also be a part of a major lunch or dinner meal.
Popular Chinese Salads
While there are over a hundred recipes, some are more popular than others and have a more global reach.