Home Gastronomy Chifa food, an interesting miscegenation

Chifa food, an interesting miscegenation

La Peruvian gastronomy It has always provided us with interesting gastronomic proposals. For a few years now, it has already reached almost every corner of the world. A very rich and diverse cuisine like the country. Peru it has been able to integrate a multitude of cultures and with it products from many parts of the planet. Thus, the chifa food is one of the most interesting since it has a own identity and that every time it seduces more lovers of good food. Here we tell you how it is and what its most typical dishes are.

A Little History

La chifa food has its origin in the abolition of slavery in America. The large landowners of Peru They looked for a solution for a country that in the mid-nineteenth century had great growth and a high need for labor. China was one of the countries that signed an agreement with the Latin country to embrace to many people who wanted to seek a better future.

The agreements and contracts were for eight years to ensure a substantial return on the cost of the trip. Macau It was one of the departure points for a large part of this first Chinese immigration to Peru. All these people were popularly called coolies. The signed contracts They contemplated that Chinese people could have plots to be able to grow your vegetables and thus have a diet more similar to that of their country of origin. From there came some ingredients of Chifa cuisine.

The work to which the original Chinese immigrants were subjected were very harsh. For all this, when contracts expired, they tried to find their livelihood in other ways. In this way, small family inns appeared that began to elaborate this fusion cuisine.

The small restaurants they had a great acceptance in the Peruvian population. The quality of the kitchen and the great adaptation to tastes of Peruvians ensured the success of this chifa food. Today, it is part of the great Peruvian gastronomic culture and extends to many parts of the world.

Peruvian neighborhood restaurant in Puente de Vallecas, Madrid
Peruvian neighborhood restaurant in Puente de Vallecas

This is chifa food

The name Chifa comes from the Cantonese Chinese Chi which means eating and Fan what does it mean rice. They used it and shouted to call Chinese customers installed in Peru and that they ran small restaurants. Peruvians adopted the name of chifa for these establishments and are fans of this cuisine. The chifa food It is of Chinese origin and is adapted to the use of many ingredients from Peru and also to the palate of its inhabitants.

This kitchen is based on the chinese culinary techniques and in many oriental ingredients but undoubtedly the king of all products is the long grain rice. Also other ingredients such as sesame oil, soy sauce, rice noodles, garlic, tomato, prawns or shrimp. Of course, vegetables, mushrooms and meats in general are also essential in this food pantry.

As for Utensils and techniques most important chifa cuisine highlights the wok. For the elaboration, it is important to have a good fire since this is a key component to obtain good results. The use and elaboration of different broths To cook many chifa dishes, it is essential to have that rice mentioned, as well.

peruvian food dish
Typical dish of Chifa cuisine

The most popular chifa dishes

Although there are hundreds of dishes In the Chifa kitchen, we are going to highlight the More popular and those that have adapted more to current gastronomic times. Watch out for the following recipe names.

-Hoop rice: is the most popular dish. The rice chaufa is a rice fried and sautéed with onion. Soy sauce and egg are added.

-Noodles: As the name suggests, they are sautéed noodles that can be served with vegetables in the wok, mushrooms and beef.

-Airport: this dish is the mixture of chaufa rice and sauteed noodles. It is one of the most popular dishes of this chifa food. In addition, it is accompanied with the Chinese bean.

chifa food plate
Chifa food plate

-Cau Cau. a meat stew made with onion, parsley, yellow pepper and potatoes cut into small pieces.

-Wantan soup- A Chinese noodle chicken broth that includes vegetables, mushrooms, ginger, and a meat-filled pasta.

-Min Pao: It is the best known dessert in Chifa cuisine. Is a cooked bun steamed and stuffed with a typical Peruvian sweet such as strained fejol.

Now you know a little more about the chifa gastronomy, Peruvian but with serious oriental influences. Would you like to try any of the delicacies that we have mentioned?

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