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| Macanese cuisine | |||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 澳門土生葡菜 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 澳门土生葡菜 | ||||||||||
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| Portuguese name | |||||||||||
| Portuguese | Culinária macaense | ||||||||||
Macanese cuisine (Chinese:澳門土生葡菜,Portuguese:culinária macaense) is mainly influenced byChinese cuisine, especiallyCantonese cuisine, andEuropean cuisine, predominantlyPortuguese cuisine, and influences fromSoutheast Asia and the Lusophone world, due to Macau's past as a Portuguese colony and long history of being an international tourist gambling centre.
It is an early example of a fusion cuisine and dates to the 16th century.[1]
Minchi,egg tarts, pork chop buns, ginger milk and almond cakes are some of the region's most common delicacies. Common cooking methods make use of various spices such asturmeric,coconut milk, andcinnamon to give dishes an extra kick of aroma and enhancement of taste. Many routinely consumed dishes in Macau belong to a subclass (Heungshan) of Cantonese cuisine. Many Macanese dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to replicate European dishes with local Chinese ingredients and seasonings.
Typically, Macanese food is seasoned with various spices includingturmeric,coconut milk, andcinnamon, and dried cod (bacalhau), giving special aromas and tastes. Popular dishes includegalinha à Portuguesa,galinha à Africana (African chicken),bacalhau (traditional Portuguese salt cod),pato de cabidela, Macanese chili shrimps,minchi,[2][3][4] stir-fried curry crab; pig's ear and papaya salad, and rabbit stewed in wine, cinnamon and star anise.
Cha Gordo (literally "Fat Tea"[5]) is a culinary tradition amongst theMacanese community inMacau that is likened toafternoon tea.[5] Historically, families with Portuguese heritage in Macau would host aCha Gordo for a number of occasions, includingCatholic holidays,christening, or birthdays, but they can be held for any reason.[6] Historically, some families would even host one on a weekly basis.[5] ACha Gordo would take place following a Macanesewedding, instead of the elaboratebanquet seen in Chinese weddings.[7]
