Crock Pot Asian Cooking
Asians are known for a lot of things, but no doubt what we’re most familiar with is their food. Whether you’re into sushi or curry, seafood or stir-fries, you’ve probably had your share of Asian food from time to time. But quite surprisingly, very few Americans actually try to make Asian food at home. Some think it’s too complicated, and others think the ingredients are too hard to find. Well, none of those is true—in fact, Asian foods are among the easiest to prepare. If you’re not sure how, Asian crock pot recipes are a great way to start.
Crock pots seem to be tailor-made for Asian cooking. The slow cooking process helps bring out the unique spices that make Asian food so appetizing, and creates that warm, inviting scent that stovetop recipes seldom have. And the best part is that it saves you a lot of time. Just chuck in all your ingredients, set the timer, and let the crock pot do its job. By the time you’re home, you have a hot Asian meal waiting to be served—how much simpler can it get? Start recreating your favorite Asian foods with these quick tips.
Use new spices on old recipes.
Much of Asian cuisine is based on the same main ingredients as Western food. Often, the difference lies in the spices used and sometimes the cuts of different ingredients. So if you know which seasonings to use, even classic recipes can be given an Asian twist. Take a crock pot pork chop recipe and change up the spices to turn it into an Asian delicacy. Since the crock pot amplifies the flavors, the difference will be even more noticeable.
Of course, you have to familiarize yourself with Asian spices if you want to use them right. Cumin, coriander and turmeric are widely used in Indian cuisine, while black sesame seeds are common in Chinese and Japanese food. Filipino food, which is heavily influenced by the Chinese, uses a lot of pepper and soy sauce. Before experimenting, try making a few simple Asian recipes so you’ll know what each spice can do.
Discover seafood.
When you think of Asian seafood, you probably think of the raw fish they put in sushi. But there’s more to it than just that. Asians like their seafood simple, seasoned only with fresh ingredients and a few strong flavors. This makes them quite different from Western seafood, which is often prepared with heavy creams and sauces. Asian crock pot seafood recipes usually take a bit of ginger, which helps counter the strong taste of most fish.
Most seafood will cook faster than meat, so you’ll have to adjust your crock pot settings accordingly. Fish usually takes about four hours in the pot, depending on the cut. They also absorb flavors more easily so take care not to put in too much. To avoid overcooking, cut them in larger slices, or even put the fish whole if possible. Don’t limit yourself to just fish, either—you can also try shrimp, squid, clams, and other seafood types.
Go for rich flavors.
Since many Asian ingredients are quite simple, they make up for it with rich, distinctive flavors. That’s why even small portions of Asian food can be very satisfying. However, this is often achieved with thick batters, deep frying, and a generous dose of flavorings—definitely not for the health-conscious! The crock pot offers a nice alternative by eliminating the need for additional flavorings. Since each ingredient retains its full flavor, you can get away with half of the flavoring and still get the same rich taste.
Crock pot butter chicken is a good example of healthy Asian alternatives. Known mostly within South Asia, butter chicken traditionally uses nuts, sour cream, butter, and a long list of spices and add-ons. But with the crock pot, you can make a lot of replacements—use skim milk instead of full cream, use fresh garlic and ginger instead of powder, and replace the sour cream with plain yogurt. The taste will be pretty much the same—you can’t even tell it’s got half the fat!
Make your own replacements.
If you’re new to Asian food, you may want to start with a few small replacements. Instead of making a full Asian meal, try taking a recipe and substituting some ingredients with foods you’re more familiar with. Many Asian recipes are versatile and easily adjusted to people’s tastes. You can use different meats, replace meat with seafood and vice versa, or even make a vegetarian version.
Crock pot cooking allows you to make these replacements without losing any of the flavor. Slow cooker chicken dumplings, for example, are a nice variation to the pork and beef versions commonly served in Asian restaurants. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time, as chicken cooks faster than other meats. Use low heat to keep it from drying, and use more broth to deepen the flavor.
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