Cooking Up Something Different Crock Pot
One thing that makes every culture unique is their food. When visiting a new country, try their native fare at least once. You may even find that it appeals to you so much that creating them at home for a change of pace might be an idea. Sometimes that can seem like a lot of work, but don’t be so sure. Crock pots can be used to create many ethnic dishes. Let’s talk about Asian and American foods that can be cooked in a crock pot.
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Cooking Up Something Different in a Crock Pot
The United States has been called a “melting pot.” The country is a hodgepodge of people from all walks of life, races, nations and religions. No where else can you go and find people who can prepare an authentic dish from several countries around the world.
There are some foods that can be termed “American” dishes. We were once a nation of meat and potatoes. Working hard all day tilling the land needed a filling meal to keep hunger away and energy levels up. Farms raised pigs, cows and chickens for eggs, milk and dinner meats. Meat was traditionally slaughtered and salted and stored right at home.
Pork, chicken and beef dishes cook very well in a crock pot. Pulled pork and chicken are favorite dishes in the South. Meat can be slow cooked in a bit of water. Broth makes a great water substitute for type of meat. When the meat is tender and most of the liquid is gone, the meat can be removed and shredded to make a pulled meat dish. This is done with two forks or two knives. The meat is teased apart or chopped with the knives. Barbecue sauce or a sauce with a vinegar base is then added to flavor the meat.
Crock pots are great for and probably best known for preparing a pot roast dinner. Searing the meat prior to cooking locks in the flavor and creates a wonderful base that can be added to the water or broth that’s necessary in crock pot cooking. Fresh ground pepper, a pinch of salt, oregano, and garlic can be used to season the meal. Potatoes, carrots, celery and onions go into the cooker with the meat. Cook all the ingredients together for eight hours and serve a meal fit for a king.
Asian foods can also be adapted to the slow cooker. The rice or noodles can be cooked on the stove and the noodles added when the food is done cooking and ready to eat. Asian cooking makes use of fresh ginger, fish sauce, mushrooms, corn, and Asian cabbage, tofu, noodles and several spices. The taste can be mild and flavorful or hot and spicy depending on the preference of those who will be eating the meal. Peanuts are also employed in Chinese cooking.
All meats, including seafood, are common to Asian dishes. When adding seafood to a crock pot, it is best to wait until the sauce and vegetables are close to being done. Seafood and fish cook quickly and can turn rubbery if overcooked.
To achieve a smoother consistency, sauces are thickened with cornstarch for these dishes. Adding fresh ginger gives Asian meals a lemony taste. Ground ginger can be used, but the taste will not be as distinctive. Soy sauce and sesame oil can be used to flavor soups and noodle dishes. Japanese soups or hot and spicy chicken with peanuts can also be made in a crock pot.
Ethnic foods can be adapted for the crock pot once you know the basic ways that each food should be prepared. As always, test your crock pot with some ethnic dishes while
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