The main difference between oriental and continental food is that oriental food is food from the Southeast Asian region, whereas continental food is food from the European region. In general, oriental food uses more spices than continental food.
Oriental food and continental food refer to cuisines from two parts of the world. Generally, cuisines like Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Korean are categorized as oriental food, whereas cuisines like Italian, French, and Spanish are categorized as continental food.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Oriental Food
– Definition, Features
2. What is Continental Food
– Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Oriental and Continental Food
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Asian Food, Oriental Food, Continental Food
What is Oriental Food
Oriental food refers to food made and consumed in Southeast Asian countries. The term usually includes dishes from the Orient, i.e., regions of East Asia. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean cuisines are some types of oriental food. Chow mein, chop suey, sushi, kimbap, dumplings, spring rolls, Kung pao chicken, and kimchi, are some popular oriental foods.
It’s important to note that the term oriental food is now generally replaced by the term Asian food. Asia is a large continent that includes not only countries of the Orient but countries of other Asian regions. However, there are many similarities between the cuisines of Asian countries. The staple food in oriental cuisine includes rice, noodles, seafood, soybeans, mung beans, bok choy, and tea. Most oriental cuisine also uses ingredients like garlic, onion, soy, tofu, and sesame seeds. Another important feature of oriental food is that it uses a lot of spices. Moreover, the main cooking methods in oriental food include boiling, stir-frying, and quick frying. This type of food also uses a variety of fermented sauces and pickled products.
What is Continental Food
Continental food refers to food made and consumed in Europe. This includes cuisines from countries like France, Spain, and Italy. The main distinguishing feature between oriental and continental food is that continental food uses minimal spices. Moreover, it focuses more on ingredients like herbs, olive oil, garlic, and wine. Generally, the food tends to be rich and high in calories.
Cooking techniques in continental food involve frying, roasting, and baking. Baking is used for baked goods like pastries, cakes, pies, etc. In continental meals, breakfast tends to be the heaviest meal, with an assortment of cold meats, bread, pastries, jam, butter, and eggs. Lunch and dinner are lighter meals than breakfast. Some popular lunch dishes include sandwiches, turkey rolls, chicken and cheese salad, and sautéed vegetables, while dinner may include soup, boiled or grilled meat, bread, etc.
Difference Between Oriental and Continental Food
Definition
Oriental food refers to food made and consumed in Southeast Asian countries, while continental food refers to food made and consumed in European countries.
Use of Spices
In general, oriental food uses more spices than continental food.
Staples
Staple food in oriental cuisine includes rice, noodles, seafood, soybeans, mung beans, bok choy, and tea, while staple food in continental food includes meat, steak, bread, and other cereal-based products, olive oil, wine, and herbs.
Main Cooking Methods
The main cooking methods in oriental cuisine include boiling, stir-frying, and quick frying, while the main cooking methods in continental cuisine include baking, grilling, and roasting.
Sauces
In oriental food, sauces are used as a part of the dish, but in continental food, sauces are used as seasoning or condiments.
Conclusion
The main difference between oriental and continental food is that oriental food is food from the Southeast Asian region, whereas continental food is food from the European region. In general, oriental food uses more spices than continental food.
Reference:
1. “Asian Cuisine.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “What is Continental Food?” Foodism.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Free Chinese dim sum image” (CC0) via Raw Pixel
2. “Courtabœuf Cedex, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France” by Julie Aagaard (CC0) via Pexels
Leave a Reply