Although Japanese and Chinese cuisine are widely enjoyed in the United States and Europe, it is worth considering whether the dishes we consume in the West are comparable to those consumed in their countries of origin.
Despite originating from similar regions, do Japanese and Chinese cuisine share similarities in terms of taste and cooking techniques?
When comparing Japanese and Chinese food, the primary distinctions lie in their cooking techniques, preferred meat choices, and ingredient combinations. Generally, Japanese cuisine avoids frying and separates starches from sauces and broths, while Chinese dishes often involve frying and mixing rice or noodles with other ingredients.
Japanese and Chinese cuisines have several commonalities, particularly in terms of the ingredients they utilize. This is the ideal place for you if you’re interested in learning about their most popular dishes and cooking methods!
Japanese Food Traits
Japanese cuisine typically consists of lighter and fresher dishes that often incorporate raw or uncooked meats, with several key components forming the foundation of its structure.
Sashimi
Washoku
Tempura
Soba and udon
Sashimi is a Japanese technique of slicing and preparing uncooked meats, renowned for its visually pleasing presentation, as well as the high-grade quality of the meat.
One of the main aspects emphasized in this technique is that the meat is presented entirely uncooked with minimal alterations, except for the method of slicing it.
Japanese food has a significant spiritual meaning in the country, and it usually includes freshly harvested vegetables and meats that are cooked in a gentle and light way.
However, even before the food is brought to the kitchen, the process of preparing washoku starts with ensuring that it is raised and grown in a responsible manner, which involves providing a sustainable and equitable growing environment.
Tempura is a popular Japanese cooking method that involves coating food in a light flour batter and deep-frying it in oil, resulting in a heavier texture. This technique is commonly used to prepare vegetables and meat, which are cooked in one to two inches of oil.
Soba and udon are the typical noodles utilized in various Japanese meals, which are conventionally made of whole wheat pasta that is abundant in invigorating carbohydrates and essential nutrients.
Chinese Food Traits
Chinese food is renowned for its vibrant colors, rich flavors, and meticulous preparation. The country places great emphasis on the sensory experience of dining, incorporating elements such as visual appeal, aroma, and taste to create a truly immersive culinary experience.
Chinese food aims to entice the senses in order to activate the concept of “Qi,” which is widely recognized for its connection with martial arts in Western culture, but is considered a fundamental element of all aspects of life in Asian culture.
Essentially, it refers to the essential life force that can be improved and activated through consuming appropriate food and beverages.
Chinese food aims to excite the Four Natures and the Five Senses or Tastes, which consist of:
Four Natures:
Hot
Warm
Cool
Cold
Five Senses/Tastes
Sweet
Sour
Pungent
Salty
Bitter
According to Chinese beliefs, certain types of food can affect the four natures and enhance different aspects of one’s health and overall well-being. It is a common practice for Chinese medical practitioners to classify some foods as “cooling” while others as “warming.”
Japanese cuisine tends to favor lighter, more delicate flavors and cooking techniques, while Chinese cuisine often incorporates bold, rich flavors and heavier ingredients.
In terms of traditional beliefs about food’s effects on the body, Japanese cuisine leans towards “cooling” foods that are believed to promote health and balance, while Chinese cuisine leans towards “warming” foods that are believed to be healing and comforting.
This can be seen in the types of ingredients used – Japanese dishes often feature fresh seafood, vegetables, and rice, while Chinese dishes may include heavier meats like pork or beef and richer sauces.
(Source: What’s the Difference Between Japanese and Chinese Food? by The Spruce Eats)
The Differences Between Japanese and Chinese Food
The main contrast between Japanese and Chinese cuisine lies in the cooking techniques utilized. Generally, Chinese dishes are heavier as they are usually fried or sauteed in oil, while Japanese cuisine is served fresh and lightly sauteed or boiled instead of being fried.
Furthermore, in comparison to Chinese cuisine, Japanese food incorporates a greater amount of fish and uncooked ingredients. Conversely, Chinese cuisine tends to utilize more pork, beef, and chicken that are typically prepared through baking or frying methods.
When it comes to Japanese cuisine, rice is the staple food, while Chinese dishes often incorporate fried bread, noodles, or other types of starches.
Compared to their neighboring country, Japanese cuisine incorporates more western foods such as burgers, french fries, and other similar dishes, indicating a greater acceptance of western cuisine in Japanese culture.
What Similarities Exist Between Japanese and Chinese Food?
One similarity between Japanese and Chinese food is their utilization of comparable ingredients, including rice. Both cultures incorporate a significant amount of rice in their dishes and typically present it plain alongside tasty and savory entrees.
On the other hand, in Chinese cooking, it is more typical to fry or saute the rice together with the dish, while in Japanese cuisine, the rice is usually served separately.
Chinese and Japanese food share common ingredients, but the primary contrast lies in their cooking and presentation methods. The two cuisines use comparable ingredients such as:
Types of fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and eel
Octopus and squid
Leeks, napa cabbage, and spinach are among the fresh vegetables commonly used in Japanese and Chinese cuisine.
Bone broth
Whole grain pasta
Rice
Although bone broth and seaweed stock are popular ingredients in both Japanese and Chinese cuisine, their preparation and usage methods tend to differ.
While bone broth is a frequent ingredient in Chinese soups like bok choy soup and oxtail soup, it is utilized by the Japanese in soups such as ramen and udon.
While seaweed is utilized in both Japanese and Chinese cuisine, it is more prevalent in Japanese dishes, particularly for sushi and soup broth like miso soup. On the other hand, the Chinese tend to use seaweed as a salad, in fermented dishes, and as a garnish for meat.
What’s the Most Popular Chinese Dish?
GrubHub statistics reveal that General Tso’s Chicken is the most favored Chinese cuisine in the U.S., whereas in China, people prefer lighter and healthier daily dishes that differ significantly from the Americanized version.
Some of the dishes that fall under the category of Chinese food, which is different from Japanese cuisine, are basic breakfast options like youtiao, ma po tofu, sweet and sour pork, and Peking duck.
Authentic Chinese food differs significantly from Chinese American cuisine, just as the fusion of native Peruvian dishes with immigrant Chinese cuisine gave rise to “Chifa”.
These dishes have resemblances with traditional Chinese and local cuisine, modifying the flavor of the conventional dishes to suit the likings of the local populace.
However, in China, the cuisine is distinct as it features unconventional meats like duck, shark fins, and even chicken feet, along with lesser-known dishes such as larva and Chinese caterpillar.
What’s the Most Popular Japanese Dish?
Primarily, sushi is the most favored Japanese cuisine not just in Japan but also in the United States.
Japanese cuisine typically features fresh cuts of tuna or salmon, seaweed, and marinated rice in sushi, as well as other favorites like sashimi, shabu-shabu, and miso soup.
Western-style sushi, commonly consumed in the U.S., is characterized by its heavy use of soy sauce, mustard, and mayo, as well as the inclusion of cooked or fried meats like sesame chicken; whereas traditional sushi features raw meat that is sliced ceremonially.
Sashimi is prepared without any cooking or seasoning, with the intention of highlighting the meat’s inherent colors and attractiveness through a unique cutting technique.
The meat used in sashimi is typically of the highest quality, as the dish aims to showcase the natural flavors and quality of the meat.
Japanese food is known for its lightness and lack of heavy cooking methods. Although they do consume buns, such as those made with semi-sweet rice glutinous flour filled with leek or pork, which are then steamed on the stove.
Gyoza is a well-liked type of dumpling in the area that typically contains marinated pork, onion, and spinach as filling, and can be fried or occasionally boiled or steamed.
Although originating from China, ramen has become a beloved dish in Japan and is one of the most popular foreign dishes that Japanese people have adapted to suit their own preferences.
The Chinese version of this dish, known as “lo mein,” is a well-liked noodle dish that features noodles with gravy instead of broth.
You can also check this video about “What’s the Difference Between Japanese and Chinese Food?”
