Hunan Chinese Cuisine

Hunan cuisine, also known as Xiang cuisine, originates from the Hunan province in South Central China. It's known for its bold flavors, spiciness, and the use of fresh ingredients.  Here are some key characteristics: 1. Spicy and Hot: Hunan cuisine is famous for its spicy dishes, often using fresh chili peppers, pickled chilies, and chili paste to create a fiery flavor profile. Unlike Sichuan cuisine, which uses numbing Sichuan peppercorns, Hunan cuisine focuses more on intense heat. 2. Fresh Ingredients: The cuisine emphasizes the use of fresh and aromatic ingredients such as garlic, shallots, ginger, and scallions. Meats commonly used include pork, chicken, fish, and duck. 3. Diverse Cooking Techniques: Hunan cuisine incorporates a variety of cooking techniques including stir-frying, steaming, braising, and smoking. This diversity allows for a wide range of textures and flavors in dishes. 4. Sour and Savory: In addition to spicy flavors, Hunan dishes often incorporate sour elemen