Japanese sake comes in many different flavors and sizes, therefore, it can be paired with many different types of food. We’d like to introduce another type of cuisine from around the world that goes well with sake.
Today, let’s talk about Sichuan dishes. A Chinese dish must-ingredient is Shaoxing rice wine that has been aged for a long period of time. Japanese sake gets a similar aroma to Shaoxing rice wine when it has been aged, as the main ingredient, rice, is the same.
We previously mentioned how sake generally goes well with Chinese food, but this time, we are focusing on Sichuan cuisine that is known for being spicy. Read more to find out the details.
Characteristics of Sichuan Cuisine
Sichuan dishes are known to leave a tingle on your tongue. Red chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, and black peppers are the three peppers that are staples in cooking. If you’ve tried Sichuan dishes before, you’re familiar with the stimulation in your nose and the perfect spiciness that makes the dishes aromatic and delicious.
An Unexpected Match
Does the sensation of a tingling aroma stimulate your nose sound familiar? The answer should be yes, as sake also gives us a similar feeling. The strong flavor and dryness of sake match Sichuan dishes. Aside from the flavor itself, the coldness and scent of sake will make the dishes’ spiciness mellow and give you a refreshing taste.
So Which Dishes?
There are so many Sichuan dishes like there are sake. Each person has their own preference of course, which means we’re not sure you’ll like our recommendations, but we’ll tell you our personal favorites anyway. That’s the whole point of this article, right?
Mouthwatering Chicken
Mouthwatering chicken is simply chicken with a spicy sauce poured on top of it. The chicken is chewy and the flavor is strong, making it a perfect dish with sake.
Mapo Tofu
Have you ever heard of this dish before? Mapo tofu is also widely known for the aromatic three peppers used and is very flavorful. It’ll give you a savory and aromatic experience!
Shuizhu
This dish is meat cut into large pieces, boiled with soup and oil. Pork is often used. Because many vegetables are boiled with the meat, there is a richness between the spiciness. Choose jukushu or junshu, sake with a strong flavor to go with shuizhu.
What did you think? You may not have thought that Sichuan dishes would go well with sake, but you have to try it for yourself to find out.
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