Have you ever wondered what makes grilled food so scrumptiously mouth-watering? Well, let us tells you to the secret ingredient: CHARCOAL! The black, porous substance that is produced when wood or other organic materials are burned in a low-oxygen environment.
Charcoal is a popular cooking fuel because it burns hotter and longer than wood, produces less smoke, giving food that delicious smoky flavor we all love. As it counts as biomass fuel, charcoal is known with its eco-friendly and affordable, making it a go-to choice for many grilling enthusiasts! Actually, charcoal not only adds flavor to your food, it also has the health benefits. When charcoal is burned to grill your foods, it removes impurities and toxic substances, making it a safer alternative to gas grilling.
As it gives different taste and special aroma, charcoal is widely used in traditional cooking methods in many countries, especially in Asia, particularly in countries with a strong barbecue culture and traditional cooking method. Some of the traditional delicious grilled foods made with charcoal in Asia are:
Korean barbeque
Korean barbeque or gogi-gui (고기구이) is a popular dish in which meat, such as beef or chicken, is grilled over a charcoal fire.
Japanese Yakitori
Who doesn't know yakitori? This food's name literally consists of yaki 焼き(grill) and tori 鳥chicken). Yakitori is a traditional Japanese dish made with skewered chicken that is grilled over a charcoal fire.
Satay
Satay is a skewered meat dish that originates from Southeast Asia. Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, even some area of Thailand also this tasty grilled food. The meat is usually chicken, beef or goat, which is grilled over a charcoal fire and served with a peanut sauce or sweet soy sauce!
Shish Kebab
Shish kebab is a popular dish in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, in which meat, usually beef or lamb, is grilled over a charcoal fire and served with vegetables. Well, we can say everywhere has its own yakitori, right?
Biryani
Biryani rice is a popular dish in Indian, Pakistan, and South Asian cuisine, in which the rice is cooked with spices and meat, such as chicken or beef, and is sometimes flavored with charcoal smoke.
So, these are some of the traditional foods made with charcoal in Asia. Although there are many other regional dishes that also incorporate charcoal cooking, but which one is your favorite? Or, do you have any preference which foods are perfectly combined with our particular charcoal? Let us know!
Keywords: Charcoal, grill foods with charcoal, asia grill foods, grill with charcoal, charcoal briquette