Global culture has provided an opportunity for diners to experience amazing and diverse cuisines without ever having to book a flight. Whether the dishes are rustic or elegant, the blending of multiple cultural foods may include a mix of intense flavors or subtle nuances, while incorporating differing regional ingredients and a mix of traditional cooking methods.
Blends sometimes share a similar tone, or they may bring an exotic, new burst of flavor from contrasting elements, such as sweet and savory, creamy and textured, or even spicy and mellow.
Regardless of the specifics, quality fusion food always marries the best elements of cultural and regional food diversity.
Fusion Cuisine: What Is Fusion Food?
California cuisine is often a mixture of offerings that vary from European to Mexican dishes. Cajun recipes include influence from the French, and throughout the Southwest, there are busy establishments serving popular Tex-Mex meals to their happy customers.
Although people have been blending cultural dishes for as long as there has been travel, a haphazard effort occasionally creates what’s referred to as “Con-Fusion” cooking. However, when dishes and ingredients are married in a complimentary way(even if blended in a contrasting fashion), they lend to lift the excitement level of the meal to a much broader and desirable intensity.
Historic Fusion Breakthroughs
A leading resurgence of fusion cooking was influenced by Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant in the 1980s with his famous and much-loved blend of cultural dishes and ingredients — predominantly Asian and French. Although fusion cuisine was certainly not new, Wolfgang Puck brought the concept to a whole new level for American dining enjoyment.
Cultural flavors and ingredients have always made their way across the globe; the Aztecs shared cocoa with the Europeans, the Chinese gave the Italians spaghetti, and coffee found its glorious path to Europe via the Arabian Peninsula.
However, sharing global ingredients rose to a higher scope with the creation of new and exciting recipes that blended the best of two or more cultures into unique, edible masterpieces.
Professional chefs and creative home cooks have discovered the magic of fresh and exciting fusion food that has managed to skyrocket boredom right out of the kitchen.
If you’re looking for a simple fusion recipe to serve at your next poolside party, here’s an easy-to-make-at-home appetizer that’s perfect for a gathering of good friends.
South Indian Bruschetta Recipe
Ingredients:
• 1 quality sliced baguette
• 2 medium cloves of garlic
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp minced onion
• 1 medium chopped tomato
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup cubed paneer
• kosher salt to taste
• red chili flakes to taste
Directions:
Toast the sliced bread in the oven until crisp and golden.
Rub the garlic cloves over the toasted bread, just enough to add a distinct underlying flavor.
Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the onions until they are soft. (Just a couple minutes).
Then add the cilantro and tomatoes, and cook another couple of minutes, stirring gently to avoid crushing the tomatoes. Immediately add the other ingredients and sauté.
Place the warm mixture over the bread slices and serve while hot. Delicious!
Casa Sensei offers the best of Pan Asian and Latin Fusion Cooking in a spectacular yet comfortable waterfront setting. Join us on the patio, where you can try new and exciting fusion dishes, sip a cocktail or two, and, of course, enjoy our beautiful view.
We are located in Fort Lauderdale, at 1200 East Las Olas. For reservations, give us a call at 954.994.1668 and we’ll have the perfect table set just for you.
