Burma is a country in Asia and officially the Republic of Myanmar. While it is known for its extensive Buddhist population, it also known for a wide variety of rich cuisine that appeals to many palates. Whether you are looking to experiment with a new form of cuisine or if you are hosting some Burmese dinner guests, you can make several Burmese dishes. Once you become familiar with the ingredients, you can make Burmese foods that are simple in their preparation yet complex in their flavors.
Step 1
Grind selected spices for use in cooking. Burmese dishes include basic ingredients but use a variety of spices to season them. Burmese citizens often shop in traditional markets, where spices are still "raw" and must be ground manually. For consistent texture and optimal flavor, grind spices with a burr grinder or a coffee grinder as an alternative.
Step 2
Prepare fundamental salad ingredients for hand mixing. Hand mixing is a traditional method of preparing Burmese foods where each ingredient choice is prepared beforehand. Instead of mixing them together and presenting the completed dish for your guests, each ingredients is presented separately on a plate. Guests choose their preferred type and quantity of ingredients and mix them on their individual plates with their hands. You can often make these ingredients a day in advance to save you time.
Step 3
Use a large non-stick skillet, or preferable a wok to cook curries or stir fried dishes. Like other Asian recipes, sauces and combination recipe such as stir-fries are prepared in a wok to quickly cook ingredients and combine flavors. Woks are designed to heat cooking oils and cook ingredients at a higher temperature without burning them. Peanut or sesame oil is often used to keep fat content at a minimal level.
Step 4
Boil dishes such as dumplings with a medium to large saucepan and slotted spoon. Dumplings are also traditional Burmese entrees that are usually made with rice flour. You can sweeten dumplings for a dessert, or season them in a savory manner to serve as an entree. The saucepan should be heat-resistant to maintain the temperature as the dumplings are cooked in batches. The slotted spoon helps you to safely add and remove the dumplings.
Step 5
Combine spices and aromatic ingredients such as onions, garlic and other vegetables to yield a complex flavor in a short amount of time. Burmese dishes often include or are served with curry-like sauces. While their flavors are robust, you do not need to cook them for an extended period of time to develop these flavors like curries or other sauces.
Tips and Warnings
- Freshly ground spices are often more potent than commercially ground spices so be sure to add then with caution. You can substitute a large non-stick skillet if you don't have a wok but you must maintain a high temperature to cook the foods as they are intended. For dishes such as hand-mixed salads, you must have ample dishes for serving the selected ingredients.
Things You'll Need
- Burr spice grinder or coffee grinder
- Wok or nonstick skillet
- Medium or large saucepan
- Slotted spoon
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