| Fusion food has been the culinary 'flavour of the | | | | Stir-fried Squid with Herbs and Spinach |
| month' for quite a while now. The trend began in the | | | | Ingredients: |
| late 1980s but truly developed in the late 1990s as | | | | 450g squid, cleaned and sliced into rings |
| chefs travelled more widely for their inspirations and | | | | 1 tbsp olive oil |
| brought the foods and cooking techniques of many | | | | 1 tsp sesame oil |
| other cultures and continents back with them. In | | | | 1 tbsp mustard seeds |
| many ways, fusion cuisine began in the kitchens of | | | | 4 spring onions, sliced |
| Australasia with a blending of European and | | | | 1 tsp garlic, chopped |
| South-east Asian cooking styles and techniques and | | | | 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated |
| this 'Asian Fusion' style simply became 'Fusion'. | | | | 1/2 red bell pepper, finely sliced |
| However, there is, really nothing new in Fusion cuisine. | | | | 8 mange tout, trimmed and halved lengthways |
| As long as two human cultures have come into | | | | 115g baby spinach, washed and drained. |
| contact they have been experimenting with each | | | | 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely shredded |
| others' cookery styles and dishes. For example, the | | | | 1 tsp fresh basil, finely shredded |
| Portuguese brought deep fat frying of foods in | | | | 2 tsp lemon juice |
| batter into Japan and thus Tempura was born. Sushi | | | | Method: |
| was brought to the Western USA where it has | | | | Combine the olive oil and sesame oils in a wok and |
| developed its own style and character. | | | | when hot add the mustard seeds. As son as the |
| Curries were brought from India to Britain, where it | | | | mustard seeds begin to 'pop' add the squid, garlic and |
| has now assumed the status of a national dish. | | | | ginger and stir-fry briskly for 2 minutes before adding |
| Cross-cultural exchanges like this are happening all the | | | | the bell pepper and spring onions. Cook for 1 minute |
| time. However, most melding and exchanges of food | | | | more then add the mange tout and spinach. Cook for |
| ideas come with the migration of peoples. Fusion | | | | 1 minute more then drizzle the lemon juice over |
| food is different in that a single chef goes out to | | | | everything. |
| examine the techniques and ingredients of other | | | | Remove from the heat and stir-in the parsley and |
| cultures before incorporating those techniques and | | | | basil. Serve immediately. |
| ingredients into their own style of cooking. As a | | | | This is a classic Fusion recipe as it combines both |
| result something truly unique and individual emerges. | | | | European and Asian flavours and ingredients but is |
| Below is a recipe for a classic Fusion dish originating in | | | | cooked in an Asiatic style by stir-frying. |
| Australia: | | | | |